Hosts Australia dominate basketball tournaments at Commonwealth Games

GOLD COAST (2018 Commonwealth Games) - Hosts Australia dominated the Commonwealth Games, taking gold in the men's and women's basketball competitions.

At the third-largest multi-sports event behind the Summer Olympics and Asian Games, the hot favorites delighted their fans on the Gold Coast with the Boomers beating Canada 84-47 in the gold medal showdown and the Opals easily defeating England 99-55.

The final results were predictable but there were plenty of memorable games complete with notable upsets as basketball re-emerged at the Commonwealth Games after a 12-year absence.

Men's
Gold: Australia
Silver: Canada
Bronze: New Zealand

The Boomers remain unbeaten in Commonwealth Games history having claimed successive gold medals after their initial triumph in Melbourne in 2006. Of course, they were missing their NBA players but Australia's team comprising NBL stars was too strong for the competition.

It was a surprise finale after Canada had shocked New Zealand in an epic semi-final but the Gold medal game was a lopsided affair. The Boomers, who had easily defeated Canada in the pool stage, broke the game open with a 14-0 run to start the second quarter and cruised to victory from there.

Chris Goulding top-scored with 11 points to complete a memorable stretch for him having come into the competition on a high after being named NBL finals MVP for Melbourne United.

The Boomers, who beat New Zealand, Canada and Nigeria in the group stage and then thrashed Scotland 103-46 in the semi-final, have now won 17 straight matches including last year's Asia Cup.

Everyone had expected the decider to be a Trans-Tasman affair between the Boomers and Tall Blacks, who had played a thrilling game in the pool stage. New Zealand led the Boomers midway through the fourth before falling 79-73 in what seemed destined to be a Gold medal preview.

However, the Tall Blacks were stunned by Canada - who they had thrashed by 21 points in the pool stage - in the semi-final on a buzzer beating three from Mamadou Gueye. The 88-86 defeat was painful for the strong New Zealand team, who were expected to easily encounter for a developmental Canadian side without their NBA talent.

In the best match of the men's event, the youthful Canada stormed out to a commanding early lead before the tenacious Tall Blacks clawed back into the contest during a pulsating final quarter. New Zealand hit the front with five seconds left after Shea Ili made one of two free throws before Gueye's miraculous three-pointer triggered scenes of jubilation from Canada.

New Zealand bounced back from the heartache to claim bronze against a plucky Scotland. Swingman Tom Abercrombie was the difference with a game-high 26 points to overcome the gallant Scots, who were the major surprise of the tournament.

Led by experienced NBL coach Rob Beveridge, Scotland started in glorious fashion with an upset 78-65 victory over England and then pulled off another shock with a thrilling 66-61 win over Nigeria to qualify for the semi-finals.

Neighbors England were tipped to be a medal contender but couldn’t recover from their opening loss to Scotland and eventually fell to Canada in the qualifying final in a hefty 97-79 defeat.

Women's
Gold: Australia
Silver: England
Bronze: New Zealand

Like their male counterparts, the Opals maintained their perfect Commonwealth Games record after steamrolling through the competition. Australia thrashed England 99-55 in the Gold medal game but they had to do without the services of star Liz Cambage who was ejected for talking back at a referee midway through the second quarter.

Cambage's ejection made little difference to the result with Australia dominating throughout with Cayla George and Kelsey Griffin leading the scoring with 16 points each.

The 44-point margin was Australia's closest of a thoroughly dominant competition, which included a 118-55 rout over England in the pool stage.

Even though they suffered a big loss in the final, it was an improved performance by England who won bronze in Melbourne 12 years ago. A podium finish looked unlikely after they were routed by Canada in their opening pool game but England eventually found their groove.

They easily beat Jamaica in the qualifying final before getting revenge on Canada, who are ranked fifth in the world, with a shock 12-point victory in the semi-final. Rachael Vanderwal starred with 20 points as England won 65-53, despite a world ranking of 21 as Great Britain.

New Zealand won double bronze with the Tall Ferns beating Canada 74-58 in an impressive bounce back after being thrashed by 59 points one night earlier to Australia in the semi-final.

New Zealand were led by 16-year-old emerging superstar Charlisse Leger-Walker, who tallied 18 points. She sank four three-pointers in the final term to ensure the Tall Ferns claimed a medal although it was a letdown for New Zealand overall after they had won two silvers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

FIBA