AUS/NZL - Mills shades Webster in exciting World Cup preview

CANBERRA (FIBA Oceania Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Australia has rolled into the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup with another dominant second-half display to defeat New Zealand 76-63 in Canberra and win the FIBA Oceania Championship.

As with Game 1, the contest was a showcase for the exquisite talents of scoring guards Patty Mills and Corey Webster, who grew up battling each other across the Tasman in juniors.

Webster (16 points) carried the offensive load for the Tall Blacks, but it was Mills (21 points, 5 steals) who changed the game with a breathtaking third quarter where Australia's disruptive defence again proved too much for the Kiwis.

"I think it really fits who we are and the athleticism and length that we have," Mills said of their aggressive approach.

Coach Andrej Lemanis was also pleased with his team's relentless approach.

"I was really pleased with the defense of the team in terms of where we need to go, getting up the court and being disruptive," he said.

The Boomers also received strong service from Joe Ingles (12 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds) and Adam Gibson (11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists), while New Zealand's Casey Frank (11 points) played a big role as his team took control in the first half.

Both teams squared up aggressively just like Wednesday's opener. Mills scored five early points as the Aussies edged ahead, before Frank's impressive work around the basket pushed New Zealand into the lead.

A late Ingles triple gave the Boomers a 20-17 lead at the first break, but consecutive long bombs from BJ Anthony and Webster reversed the margin.

Mills and Gibson returned the favour from behind the arc as the game settled into a shoot-out.

But late in the term Tom Abercrombie came to life with four straight points, and another triple from Webster gave the Tall Blacks a 39-33 half-time lead.

"It was almost a replica of Game 1, we collapsed in the third quarter," New Zealand coach Nenad Vucinic said.

"It doesn't get too much better on-ball defense than Mills and (Matt) Dellavedova."

Where Webster sparkled in the first half it was Mills' turn in the second, scoring the first five points of the third term to spark his team.

With his jumper on automatic and his defense in overdrive, Mills dominated the quarter with 13 points and a pair of steals, catapulting the Boomers to a 15-point three-quarter-time lead.

True to form the Tall Blacks didn't surrender for a second in the final period, Mika Vukona (7 points, 8 rebounds) in everything, but the Aussies were never seriously threatened as they claimed Oceania's top seeding for Spain 2014.

Despite the defeat, veteran naturalised Tall Black Frank feels his team is well poised to make a strong run at next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup.

"The depth in the team is as good as it's been in my time in the country, and the belief level has come a long way as well," he said.

"There'll be a lot of young guys putting their hand up for that team next year."

FIBA