Historic! New Zealand upset Lithuania, reach first Semis

ISTANBUL (Türkiye) – New Zealand wrote a new chapter in their basketball history as they beat Lithuania 73-64 in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 to reach the Semi-Finals of the competition for the first time in history.

Oscar Goodman scored 19 points with 10 rebounds to lead five Kiwis in double figures including Jackson Kiss with 17 points and 8 rebounds and Hayden Jones with 13 points and 13 rebounds including two free throws with 31 seconds to make it 70-65.

As if that story was not good enough, Jones is the son of Phil Jones, who was major part of the magical Tall Blacks team that went all the way to the Semi-Finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002.

New Zealand will face the winner of United States and Canada in the Semi-Finals.

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