Tired Boomers fall to Latvia

Chris Anstey top scored for the Boomers with 15 points while Paul Rogers and Matthew Nielsen added 14 points apiece. Jason Smith again played well with 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Australian coach Brian Goorjian was disappointed with the loss and hoped the team could regroup for a series against New Zealand September. The Boomers started the better of the two teams with Anstey and Smith providing the spark for Australia early on. The pair had eight first-quarter points each as the Boomers led 27-26 at the end of the first period. The second term saw neither side able to gain a decisive advantage as Australia led by one at the half, 47-46. Latvia then scored 30 points to the Australians 24 in the fourth quarter to score an impressive victory over the visitors. The Boomers are using their European tour to prepare for the all-important FIBA Oceania Championship against archrivals the New Zealand Tall Blacks in Victoria.