Australia-Vs-Japan 27/09/22

 

The game starts with Japan winning the tap and scoring the first bucket of the game.

 

The first scoring chance for the Opals sees a turnover and gives the ball back to Japan.

 

Japan shoots a 3 but miss, which has Steph Talbot get the ball and score a 3 to give the Opals a 1 point lead.

 

On the next trip down Japans end, Marianna Tolo fouls Japan where they sink 2 from 2.

 

Japan get the next two shots in a row seeing the Opals trail by two points 9 – 5

Marianna Tolo is the next to get a 2 along with Steph Talbot.

 

Australia really can’t let their guard down on the shooters as that still has Japan the lead 12 – 9.

 

A bigger line up seems to be working better for the Opals as it means Japan can’t get easy opportunities.

 

The game plan of Australia of working for the easy shots down low means the Opals get players like Tolo to the line who is basically automatic.

 

Any miss, the Opals are able to clean up and to get the second chance opportunity and go back down to non-other than Marianna Tolo.

 

Australia now has the lead 13 – 12 but not for long as Japan scores a 2.

 

The Opals will need to be disciplined as Tolo went too hard on defence while Japans Stephanie Mawuli was shooting a 3. Mawuli makes the triple and converts the extra free throw.

 

After a both teams try their hand at scoring on both ends, the recent substitution of Lauren Jackson sees her score a brilliant 3 to peg back the deficit to 2 points.

 

The first quarter finishes with Japan holding a 2-point lead 18 – 16.

 

The Opals need to stay composed and make sure they look after their offensive opportunities for the second quarter.

 

The first possession out of the second quarter seeing Australia take possession but miss their opportunity.

 

The shooters are really killing the Opals as Japan score a 3, however Cayla Geroge puts the breaks on their run by scoring a two to bring the deficit back to 3 points.

 

Sami Whitcomb scores Australia’s next deuce, followed by Kristy Wallace going to the free-throw line to go 2 from 2.

 

Australia now have the lead 22 – 21 for a moment until Tess Magden accidentally fouls Japan at the three where they sink all 3 shots to get back in front 24 – 22.

 

Great, simple defence wins Australia the ball back which sees Kristy Wallace bring the ball down in transition where she passes the ball to Tolo who gets fouled but misses both opportunities.

 

The Opals next opportunity to score sees Whitcomb get Australia ahead with a 3, however the lead goes back to Japan after a few plays later a no call on Ezi Magbegor gives the Japanese a chance for 2 points.

As revenge, Magbegor scores a 2 to give the Opals back the one-point lead 27 – 26.

 

After an offensive foul by Japan to give the Opals the ball, Ezi scores the next two points to bring out the Aussies lead by 3 points 29 – 26 which triggers a time out by Japan as Australia are building a ferocious momentum.

 

Japan isn’t letting the Opals take hold of the momentum as they even the score at 29 all with a 3 pointer.

 

Marianna Tolo scores the next bucket with a 2.

 

On the defensive end, Steph Talbot was unlucky to get called for a foul while the shooter was outside the three. Japan makes all 3 shots and get back in front by 1 point lead with 2 minutes to go.

 

A few possessions later, Darcee Garbin is the next to score with a 3 which triggers a Japan timeout with 75 seconds left as the Opals now have a 2-point lead.

 

After the time out, Darcee Garbin scores again off an offensive rebound but then Japan make a quick 2 down the other end to finish the half.

 

Australia holds a 2-point lead 36-34.

 

The keys for the next half will need to focus on the few points scorers Japan have on their team.

 

Number 99 Monika Okoye has been great for Japan, she is shooting at lethal 60%, if the Opals can focus on the shooters and watch the fouls for the second half, Australia maybe able to get a bigger lead as Japan made 9/9 from the free-throw line.

 

The Japanese free-throws have predominantly come from the 3-point line which should be the area of focus for the next half.

Japan have the first possession of the half, they turn the ball over off a missed shot the goes out of bounds.

 

The Opals look poised and take advantage of the miss with Tolo scoring down low.

 

Some great defence from Australia keeps the ball going back the Opals way and eventually sets up Sami Whitcomb for a pointer.

 

Out of the half the Opals defence has drastically improved. The defence leads to Ezi Magbegor making a deuce.

 

This game is quickly becoming a near perfect where scoring opportunities are only down to those who drop their focus for a split second.

 

After Japan and Australia trade shot attempt’s on both ends, Marianna Tolo scores a bucket just before the shot clock expires.

 

Ezi Magbegor fouls twice quickly and gets subbed off. After the ball is back in play, Japan makes a bucket.

With 4 minutes left in the third quarter, Australia lead 45 – 39.

 

Opals team chemistry and their motion give Steph Talbot a nice layup from a back cut pass from Tess Magden.

 

It’s another couple of minutes until Japan make a score from a reverse layup which is a good sign if the Opals can keep the Japanese scoring efficiency to a minimum.

 

Japan is over the team foul threshold; Kristy Wallace is fouled which gets her to the line to go 2 from 2.

 

Sami Whitcomb commits a foul, Japan gets 2 from 2.

 

A triple from Cayla George triggers a time out from Japan as the Opals lead by 9 points with 70 seconds remaining 52 – 43.

After the time out, Japan’s Monika Okoye missed because of Kristy Wallace’s tenacious defence.

 

Misses for Japan mean Cayla George gets two opportunities in a row to end the third quarter 56 – 43.

 

Starting the final quarter, Australia has the first possession. Kristy Wallace scores 2-points from an offensive rebound.

 

An unlucky call on Tess Magden gives Stephanie Mawuli a chance at the freethrow line, luckily, she only makes 1 from 2 attempts.

 

Japan and Australia trade attempts, when play is paused Number 5 for Japan forces an unlucky unsportsmanlike call on Kristy Wallace where Japan gets 2 from 2 at the line and keep possession.

 

Japan scores again after the inbounds. Despite being hassled, the Opals aren’t backing down. Ezi Magbegor gets fouled on a drive and goes to the line where she makes 1 from 2.

 

The play doesn’t start yet as Magbegor gets a bonus shot from a Japanese lane violation. After Ezi makes the next shot. Japan calls a time out.

 

Japan’s next possession doesn’t go anywhere as the Opals get the ball back with great defence.

 

With 3:14 left in the score is Australia 62 to Japan 48.

 

Tight defence from the Opals on the parameter force Japan to commit a 24-second violation.

 

The next possession for Australia, Steph Talbot misses a layup. Mariana Tolo gets the offensive rebound and passes it to Sami Whitcomb who scores a triple that triggers a time out from Japan with 2:10 left in the game.

 

After the time out, number 23 for Japan scores a well contested 3 from Tolo.

 

Australia’s next possession causes a bit of confusion as a Tolo attempt hits the ring, but the refs don’t see it and call a 24 second violation that ends up getting correctly reversed. Australia keep possession where Sami Whitcomb makes 2.

 

On Japanese end Sara Blicav’s fouls and gives Japan 2 points from the free throw line.

 

Australia gets the next possession; Whitcomb is fouled near half court where she makes 2 from 2.

 

Great defence from the Opals grant Australia another opportunity on offence. Japan fouls Tess Magden, she goes to the free throw line and makes 2 from 2.

 

Japan tries and finish the game with a score but miss their last opportunity.

 

The game finishes with the Opals winning by a fabulous 17 points margin 71 to 54.

Stats –

1 – Marianna Tolo | 14 points | 6 rebounds | 2 assists | 1 steal | 1 block |

2 – Sami Whitcomb | 15 points | 2 rebounds | 3 assists | 2 steals | 1 block |

3 – Ezi Magbegor | 10 points | 3 rebounds | 3 assists |

4 – Cayla George | 9 points | 9 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 block |