Ferocious Crocs start Asia Cup with 84-point win

Australia defeated Bahrain 141-47 at Ukhaa Sport Complex in their opening game for the FIBA Under-16 Asia Cup. Australia started the game with overwhelming offensive efficiency, immediately establishing dominance through their superior shooting. Their 56.7 percent shooting from the field (55-from-97) compared to Bahrain's dismal 22.4 percent (15-from-67) told the story of a completely one-sided affair. The Crocs' ball movement was exceptional throughout, recording 42 assists against Bahrain's 11. Luke Paul (G-2009) orchestrated the offense brilliantly with 12 assists, while also contributing 20 points on an outstanding 81.8 percent shooting (9-from-11) from the field. His all-around performance included nine rebounds and six steals, showcasing his impact on both ends of the court. Australia's dominance extended to the glass, where they outrebounded Bahrain 67-35. Lucas Byrne (193-F-2009) was particularly effective, grabbing 10 rebounds to go with his 19 points on 7-from-9 shooting. The interior presence of the Australians was further highlighted by five blocks, with Awak Machar (209-C-2009) contributing three of them in just 14 minutes of play. Defensively, Australia forced 31 turnovers while committing just 11 of their own. This 20-turnover differential resulted in numerous fast-break opportunities, with the Boomers recording 22 steals. The defensive pressure was relentless, with Andrew Watene (193-G-2009) collecting five steals and Paul adding six more. The depth of Australia's roster was on full display as seven players scored in double figures. William Hamilton (193-F-2009) added 17 points on efficient 6-from-10 shooting, while Max Pavey (189-F-2009) contributed 17 points including three triples. Isaiah Jorgenson was nearly perfect from the field, scoring 13 points on 6-from-7 shooting including a perfect 5-from-5 from two-point range.
For Bahrain, Yousif Meshaei (2009) led the scoring with 13 points but required 18 shots to get there, shooting just 22.2 percent from the field. Somto Onoduenyi added 11 points and seven rebounds, while also recording five blocks in a defensive bright spot for Bahrain. However, their lackluster offense and turnover issues prevented any meaningful resistance against Australia's onslaught.

Australia's three-point shooting further extended their advantage, hitting 13-from-29 (44.8 percent) compared to Bahrain's 7-from-25 (28 percent). This outside threat complemented their inside dominance, where they outscored Bahrain 84-16 in the paint. The Crocs next play Indonesia on Monday, September 1 at 1.30pm.
Courtesy of: basketball.com.au