FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023: Australian Opals defeat South Korea to keep Paris Olympic dream alive

Lauren Scherf

Australian basketball is breathing a collective sigh of relief after the inspired Opals handled the crushing pressure of a do-or-die clash to keep their Paris dream alive. Facing the prospect of failing to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in 31 years, the Opals executed with deadly precision in a 91-64 hammering of South Korea in their FIBA Asia Cup qualification semi final. The Aussies had not lost to Korea since 1988 - when they were beaten by their Olympic hosts in Seoul - and they made sure that record remained intact with a devastating opening salvo that produced 31 points. It was the highest-scoring quarter of any team in the 2023 tournament, built on the back of a near-perfect 5-6 from deep that helped open up a 15-point lead, making a mockery of the stakes. From there, the Aussies did what they had to do, fending off a number of stoic Korean challenges as giant Lauren Scherf (196-C/F-1996) and brilliant captain Tess Madgen (183-F-1990), in perhaps her masterpiece as an Opal, took the heaviest toll with 14 points each. An emotional Madgen fought back tears as she revealed how the Opals rebounded from Wednesday's 91-66 hammering at the hands of Japan to defy the enormity of the situation they faced. 'We had a day off (Thursday) which was lovely of the coaches, especially after we put out such a poor performance (against Japan),' she said. 'Everyone went out, saw their family, I think that was good for the soul. 'We had a players' meeting, we've got some past Opals, which we're so lucky to have, on our staff, they came in and just really said what it is to be an Opal and (it was) a good wake up call for everyone. 'It's so much bigger than yourself. 'We needed to be bringing a lot more energy, especially on that defensive end, to get back to our roots. 'We went out for a team dinner last night. Then we came in this morning, it was the best shoot around that we'd had, everyone was super locked in there was no messing around, we're here to do business and that's how we need to be for the rest of the tournament.' Scherf, 196cm, took particular delight in the contest. In a rollicking night, she had her way at both ends of the floor with 198cm tower Ji-Su Park (195-C-1998) - who sat the entire second half as Korea went small. Scherf tore down a game-high nine rebounds while holding her opposing number to just six points and one rebound, well below her tournament averages of 16 and eight. In the third, the Flammes Carolo Basket gun laid out 164cm An Heji (164-PG-1997) on a screen and left the court with a wry smile when she was called for an offensive foul on the play. The experienced Madgen, the only Olympian in the Aussie line-up, took over in the second half as Korea rallied. Madgen played a marathon 32 minutes and It's no coincidence the 32-year-old orchestrator produced one of her finest performances in green and gold at a time when her nation so desperately needed it. Reserve centre Keely Froling (188-F-1996, college: SMU) ensured there was no relent when Scherf went to the bench, scoring 13 points to go with six rebounds, while walking bucket Darcee Garbin (188-F-1994) began the game's proceedings with a straightaway three that touched nothing but net and got her rolling to 11. Opals coach Shannon Seebohm made a change to the Opals' starting five, injecting in-form point guard Maddy Rocci for sharpshooter Lauren Nicholson and shifting Madgen over to off guard. It paid immediate dividends with Rocci stuffing the stat sheet with seven first-quarter points to go with two rebounds, two assists and a steal. The Koreans wilted early as the Aussies piled it on - Jung Sunmin committed a coach's cardinal sin, blowing her sole challenge on an out-of-bounds play after a rush of blood inside the first four minutes of the game. It proved costly as two referee decisions in the third quarter as her side closed the lead to 14 might have been reversed under more scrutiny. The Koreans entered the last down 17 but did not score for over six minutes as the Aussies dialled up the defence to put a swift end to any thought of a shock comeback. Not since 1992 when the Aussies missed the cut for Barcelona, had they failed to appear at an Olympiad. But, regardless of an Asia Cup medal, the Opals will now be among four teams in the region to make it through to February's Paris qualification tournament, where 16 nations will playoff for 12 Olympic spots. More immediately, the Aussies now get an opportunity to avenge the 2022 World Cup loss to China with a Saturday sortie against their arch rival, a gold medal playoff, again, at stake. With the Olympic crisis averted, Madgen now wants ultimate Asia Cup glory. 'We came here, obviously, to qualify (for a chance to go to Paris) but we also think we're the best team here,' she said. It was a night of tight results with Lebanon knocking over Chinese Taipei by a bucket, 75-73, while New Zealand held off the Philippines 83-78 to make it through to the last four of an Asia Cup for the first time, thanks to a 34-point monster from 21-year-old guard Charlisse Leger-Walker (178-G-2001, college: WSU). The Tall Ferns will take on Japan, who thrashed Australia in the group games, to decide the other medal playoff spots.
Courtesy of: theaustralian.com.au



Tags : LAUREN SCHERF, PERTH REDBACKS, AUSTRALIAN BASKETBALL