The NSWIS marches on

After departing for China last week, the NSWIS men’s basketball team has made a rocky start to the 2011 Four Nations tournament against full strength opposition.

The team played their first match against New Zealand less than 24 hours after arriving in Guandong Province against New Zealand, who fielded a full strength team. The NSWIS team lost the match 49-74, however there were plenty of bright sparks in the game included Daniel Trist’s 11 points and Jordan Barry’s 10 points.

The second match of the tour was against China. The Chinese obviously took no chances for the tournament, playing the same team that is expected to compete for China at the 2011 U19 FIBA World Championships later this year.

China skipped to an 18-6 lead in the first quarter before the NSWIS came back to win the second quarter. NSWIS coach Damian Cotter made particular note of the Institute’s defensive prowess against a full strength national team, being able to force turnovers and create pressure at the defensive end without being able to fully execute offensive plays. Despite an improved performance the NSWIS fell 53-74.

The Institute’s third match was against arguably the strongest team in the competition, the USA, whose team included a number of college basketballers and fringe professional players. It was always going to be an uphill battle for the NSWIS, who were gallant in the 101-61 defeat against a much stronger opponent. 

NSWIS highlights from the match included an 8-2 run in the second quarter and the play of Stuart McEwen and Matt Logan, however the team could not stop the creative flair and high scoring percentage from the Americans.

The NSWIS face a repeat match against the Americans tonight in Huizhou before taking on China on the 13th and New Zealand on the 14th.

The NSWIS team is: Matt Logan, Andy Allen, Adam Stranger, Joshua Clifford, Jordan Barry, Anthony Mustapic, Phil Chircu, Daniel Trist, Stuart McEwen, Nathaniel Musters, Andrija Dumovic and Matt Andronicos.