An Australia Select team have ripped a 90 – 89 Game One win from Japan’s hands in Sapporo – led from the front with a Sam Froling double double.
A crucial bucket from veteran Mitch Norton put Australia up by three in the last moments and the game was put in Reyne Smith’s hands at the free throw line after a foul left Elijah Pepper with a cut to the head.
Smith hit the free throw in the clutch – and it’s crucial that he did, with Japan landing a long range three pointer at the death.
Perth Wildcat’s marquee signing Elijah Pepper demonstrated why his signature was sought after – turning it up in the second half to finish with 12 points. Fellow Wildcat Ben Henshall overcame a cold return from long range by shifting approach on Japan in the second half. Henshall finished with nine points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Starting guard Mitch McCarron dished six assists and young gun Alex Toohey (7 PTS, 5 REB) had impact as a versatile forward.
The youngest NBL Next Star Rocco Zikarsky played limited minutes – finishing with five points, two rebounds & 2 assists.
Game Two of the series tips off tomorrow in Sapporo at 4:00pm AEST
AUS Select v Japan | Sapporo, Hokkaido – Japan
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |
| AUS | 15 | 38 | 58 | 90 |
| JPN | 27 | 47 | 61 | 89 |
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | BLK | STL |
| Ben Henshall* | 20:12 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Mitch McCarron* | 24:28 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Sam Froling* | 30:09 | 26 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Kyle Bowen* | 19:21 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Alex Toohey* | 23:11 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Reyne Smith | 15:20 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mitch Norton | 15:24 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Rocco Zikarsky | 9:51 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyler Robertson | 5:38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Keli Leaupepe | 9:31 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Elijah Pepper | 14:25 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Alex Condon | 12:30 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
* Starters