New Zealands young basketballers got their campaign back on track with a strong victory in the second round games on day three of the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. The kiwi combination beat Puerto Rico 30-26 in an excellent performance, with the side in control throughout in the three-on-three format match at the Scape Youth Centre. North Shore swimmer Chloe Francis is through to the semifinals in the pool this evening, after finishing fifth in her heat of the 100m breaststroke this morning. She clocked 1:13.38 to be the 15th fastest qualifier. Team-mate Renee Stothard did not progress after finishing 18th fastest in heats of the 200m backstroke. It proved a frustrating day for the New Zealand rowers who will compete in the B final tomorrow after missing out in todays semifinals raced in hot conditions. Southlands Hayden Cohen was fourth in his semifinal and the Canterbury pair of Beatrix Heaphy-Hall and Eve McFarlane was fifth in their semifinal. It was a tough task for the young kiwi rowers who medalled at the world championships in Europe last weekend but had to cope with a rushed trip, different boats and formats in the Youth Olympics. Competition began for cycling and on the track today with Central Otagos Kate-Sarah McDonald 14th and Rotoruas Sam Shaw 23rd in the mountain bike cross-country competitions, which is part of a total team competition with BMX and Road racing. On the track Anna-Lise Uttley (Tauranga) was 11th in her heat of the 3000m in 10:07.69, Hamiltons Mohamed Ali 18th in the same distance in 9:07.60 and Aucklands Josh Hawkins fifth in his heat of the 100m hurdles in 14.46s. Meanwhile Christchurchs Tayla Ford has finished a creditable seventh in the 60kg class wrestling. After winning her final pool bout last night, Ford moved to the classification match for seventh. She beat Singapores Erna Natasha Puteri convincingly to earn an outstanding result for the young wrestler and for the sport in New Zealand. New Zealand basketball coach Anthony Corban was pleased with his sides improved showing after their first-up loss yesterday. They were ahead 12-10 at the break and were comfortably up by seven points before a final three pointer by Puerto Rico after the kiwis had a player foul out. James Ashby led the scoring with 12 points with the New Zealanders managing a solid 50 per cent from the field. That was better output from the guys. I thought they were a bit nervous and tense and definitely still hyped after going to the opening ceremony, Corban said. They were more focussed today and got into their routines well and we intimidated the opposition a little. Theres no rest for New Zealand who take on one of the pre-tournament favourites in Serbia tomorrow. They along with the US are favoured to make the final so it is going to be a big test. We have to step it up tomorrow for sure and leave it all out on the court. There was expectation from the New Zealand rowers after the womens pair was part of the four that won gold at last weeks world championships while single sculler Cohen had picked up a bronze with his four at the worlds. Coach Gary Roberts said they had worked very hard but the travel, the schedule and the format proved too difficult for the young rowers. They tried their absolute best and I know they are frustrated really. Its been tough for them not to get to the final, Roberts said. The racing at the Youth Olympics is all in small boats singles and pairs while the Kiwis had been totally focussed in racing in their fours for the world championships, and racing in Singapore was over the much shorter 1000m. Timing is everything especially in small boats and they were improving with every row. Hayden really came close to getting through and the girls finished very strongly and were only a canvas away. Rowing officials are looking to revert to more traditional racing next time and with a schedule that wont clash with the worlds which will allow us to really give this event the focus that it deserves because it is a wonderful environment and opportunity for our young athletes in a multi-sport event of this magnitude.
Tweet Share