1988 — Seoul

HTML <h2><strong>1988 SEOUL OLYMPIC GAMES</strong></h2>

HTML <p>The 1988 Summer Olympics were held in Seoul South Korea “the land of the morning calm”.</p>

HTML <p>They were the second Olympics (Tokyo 1964 being the first) to be held in Asia. The Olympics were a showcase of a new generation and the rapidly developing South Korean economy. Unlike the two previous Olympics there was no major boycott as both the USA and the USSR and their allies attended. In all,160 countries were represented.</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Highlights</strong><strong> of the Olympics</strong></h2>

HTML <p>Soviet gymnast Vladimir Artemov wins 4 Gold Medals.</p>

HTML <p>Matt Biondi of the USA wins 6 Gold Medals in swimming.</p>

HTML <p>West German swimmer Kristen Otto wins 6 Gold Medals</p>

HTML <p>US diver Greg Louganis defends his titles from the 1984 LA Olympics in the 5 metre and 10metre diving.</p>

HTML <p>Lowlight: Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson wins the 100 metres dash in world record time and is disqualified for taking performance enhancing drugs.</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Australian H</strong><strong>ighlights</strong></h2>

HTML <p>Duncan Armstrong (swimming), Debbie Flintoff-King (400 metres athletics) and the Women’s Hockey Team win Gold Medals for Australia.</p>

HTML <p>Australian Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams qualify for the first time for the medal rounds in Olympic Basketball competition.</p>

HTML <h2><strong>The Olympic Village</strong></h2>

HTML <p>The Olympic Village in Seoul was centrally situated in the Olympic Park and was based on the traditional Korean village in its layout set in a bowl shaped terrain with the 24 apartment towers on the hillside overlooking the centre of the Village. During the Games the Village housed 13,000 athletes and 7,000 journalists. The basketball teams were on the upper floors of their tower and often they had to walk many floors as the lifts were always in demand. The steps up the floors were covered in “Hero Grams” sent to the athletes by the fans back home and these made what was an arduous climb more palatable. The rooms were small by Australian standards with four athletes to a room. Some of the rooms were still being finished when the teams arrived. The food in the Village was excellent as was having an Athletes’ Medical Centre-hospital in the Village.</p>

HTML <p>The 1988 Olympic Village showing the Village centre (IOC)</p>

HTML <h2><strong>The Opening Ceremony</strong></h2>

HTML <p>The Opening Ceremony was a spectacular Asian affair held at Jamsil stadium in south Seoul with a great splash of colour, dancing acrobats, dragons, and the constant beating of drums. </p>

HTML <p>The Australian Basketball Teams (men and women) stood amongst the maze of colour and deafening sounds and whirling pageants and felt the surge of joy, excitement and anticipation. </p>

HTML <p>The 1988 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium (A. Hurley)</p>

HTML <p>1988 Australian Olympic Team marching at the Opening Ceremony (P. Mickan)</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Australian Women’s </strong><strong>Basketball </strong><strong>Team Preparation and Qualification</strong></h2>

HTML <p>In 1987 the Australian Women’s Basketball Team undertook a European tour (elevengames) and a USA/Canada tour (seventeen games). They wanted to be tough, hardened and prepared for what lay ahead in 1988.</p>

HTML <p>The IOC and FIBA changed the number of teams competing in the Olympic Women’s Basketball Tournament to eight teams instead of the six at the previous 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. This was in recognition of the strength of women’s basketball world wide and the success of the competition in 1984 in the Los Angeles Olympic Games. This was further enforced by the fact that 1988 was to be a non-boycott Games.</p>

HTML <p>The Olympic Champions from LA, the USA, and the host country Korea were automatic selections for the 1988 Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament. This was appropriate as these same two teams played for the Gold Medal in Los Angeles four years before.</p>

HTML <p>The other six teams would come from a Qualification Tournament that was to be played in June in Malaysia (in four different cities Kota, Kinabalu, Ipoh and Malacca). </p>

HTML <p>Prior to the Qualification Tournament the Australians played Japan (one game) and Canada (five games) in Australia and in a Goodwill Tournament in Seoul (four games).</p>

HTML <p>Twenty four teams entered the Qualification Tournament in Malaysia. The Qualification Tournament was played from June 6th to 19th 1988.The competition was divided into four groups of four.</p>

HTML <p>Australia was drawn in Group D with Hungary, Malaysia, New Zealand, Poland and Turkey.</p>

HTML <p>This was a good group to draw as Hungary and Poland were considered the only two teams that could challenge the Australians.</p>

HTML <p>The Group D games were played in the city of Malacca.</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Results:</strong></h2>

HTML <p><strong>Game 1:</strong> Australia 78 New Zealand 42 (46-22)</p>

HTML <p><strong>Game 2:</strong> Australia 128 Malaysia 26 (69-17)</p>

HTML <p><strong>Game 3:</strong> Australia 90 Turkey 32 ((47-17) </p>

HTML <p><strong>Game 4:</strong> Australia 70 Hungary 62 (40-40)</p>

HTML <p><strong>Game 5:</strong> Australia 72 Poland 69 (35-42)</p>

HTML <p><strong>Classification:</strong> Australia 5-0,Poland 4-1,Hungary 3-2, NZ 2-3,</p>

HTML <p>Turkey 1-4,Malaysia 0-5.</p>

HTML <p>Australia and Poland qualified for the next round of the tournament.</p>

HTML <p>Eight teams travelled to Kuala Lumpur knowing that six of them would proceed to Seoul for the Olympic Games.</p>

HTML <p>Games between teams already played were carried forward. Therefore Australia was 1-0 by virtue of defeating Poland in their group.</p>

HTML <p>Each team would play six games in a “round-robin” competition.</p>

HTML <p>The Australian Women’s Team at the Opening Ceremony of the Qualification Tournament in Malaysia (Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Results</strong><strong> from the games in Kuala Lumpur</strong></h2>

HTML <p><strong>Game 6:</strong> Australia 62 Italy 57 (31-34)</p>

HTML <p><strong>Game 7:</strong> Bulgaria 70 Australia 59 (33-37)</p>

HTML <p><strong>Game 8:</strong> Czechoslovakia 78 Australia 64 (44-32)</p>

HTML <p><strong>Game 9:</strong> China 68 Australia 54 (34-33)</p>

HTML <p><strong>Game 10:</strong> Soviet Union 83 Australia 68 (35-34)</p>

HTML <p><strong>Game 11:</strong> Yugoslavia 68 Australia 58 (36-28)</p>

HTML <p>At the end of a good win in the Qualification Tournament (Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <p><strong>Classification:</strong> USSR 7-0Yugoslavia 5-2China 5-2 Bulgaria 4-Czechoslovakia 3-4Australia 2-5Poland 1-6Italy 1-6</p>

HTML <p><strong>Teams qualifying for Seoul:</strong> USSR, Yugoslavia, China, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and <strong>Australia.</strong></p>

HTML <p>Australia had only won two games in the playoffs and one of those was the carried over win against Poland from the previous round.</p>

HTML <p>The Australian Team celebrate another winin Malaysia (Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <p>The Australia women were off to their second Olympic Games Women’s Basketball Tournament. </p>

HTML <p>The team then competed in an eight team tournament in the USSR (Riga, Latvia) playing four games before returning to Australia shortly before the Olympics. They had travelled a lot, were tired but battle hardened leading into Seoul.</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Venue</strong></h2>

HTML <p>The Olympic basketball competition was held in the Jamsil Gymnasium which accommodated 20,000 spectators.</p>

HTML <p>Australian Team Captain Jenny Cheesman at the Village Welcome Ceremony (P. Mickan) JILL Bottom photo</p>

HTML <p>Left to right: Debbie Slimmon, Julie Nykiel, Donna Quinn and Pat Mickan at the Opening Ceremony (P. Mickan) JILL Bottom photo</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Olympic Women’s Basketball Tournament</strong></h2>

HTML <p>Australia’s chances in the tournament did not look great as they had only won two games in the final classification round in the Qualification Tournament held in Malaysia. </p>

HTML <p>The eight teams for the tournament were divided into two groups of four.</p>

HTML <p>Australia was drawn in <strong>Group A</strong> with Bulgaria, Korea and the USSR. This was an extremely tough group. But then again both the groups were tough as these were the eight best teams in the world.</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Game </strong><strong>1: </strong><strong>Australia 55 </strong><strong>v Korea 91 </strong><strong>(20-41)</strong></h2>

HTML <p>Korea was the home team and the Australians knew that they would be tough opponents in front a packed house of 20,000 most of whom were supporting the Koreans.</p>

HTML <p>The main concern apart from trying to take the crowd out of the game was to contain the Korean perimeter shooting as they were great exponents of the three-point shot and if they got going they could “wipe teams off the floor.”</p>

HTML <p>Starters for the Australians were Timms, Brown, Maher, Mickan and Dalton.</p>

HTML <p>The Australians got off to a reasonable start and their defence was holding up. They were having some success defending the “drive and dish” of the quick Koreans. Whether it was the crowd or their lack of confidence the Australians beganto have no momentum on offense, were tentative and soon fell behind as the Korans surged to a half-time to a lead of 41-20.</p>

HTML <p>A powerful and confident comeback was needed for the second half. It was not to be. The opening five minutes of the second half were a disaster as the Koreans seemed to be getting free everywhere and draining successions of three-pointers at a very high percentage. The Australians attempted to get the game back on track by playing an up-tempo game but this played right into the Koreans and the crowds hands and a very good Korean team scored a thumping 91-55 victory. It was a very worrying start to the tournament for the Australian Team. For Korea Lee 19 points, Kim 18, and Choi 13 were the major scorers. Korea were successful on 16/24 (62%) three point attempts while Australia made 2/4 at 50%</p>

HTML <p><strong>Australia: </strong>Maher 8, Cheesman 4, Timms 5, Brown 2, Mickan 1, Nykiel 4, Slimmon 8, Moffa 6, Dalton 6, Gorman 11<strong>Shooting:</strong> 16/55 at 29%,<strong>Three-points</strong><strong>:</strong>2/4 at 50%,<strong>Free-throws:</strong>17/24 at 71%,<strong>Rebounds:</strong> Australia 42-Korea 18,<strong>Assists:</strong> 13,<strong>Turnovers:</strong> 14,<strong>Steals:</strong> 3</p>

HTML <p> The Australian Women’s Team relaxes before a game(Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Game 2: A</strong><strong>ustralia 63 v </strong><strong>Bulgaria 57 </strong><strong>(31-30)</strong></h2>

HTML <p>Australia needed to bounce back after their big defeat in game one. This would be a huge test of their character and resolve. Bulgaria was a world class team and they would be a big challenge and had defeated the Australians 70-59 in the Qualification Tournament in Malaysia. </p>

HTML <p>Starters for Australia were Timms, Brown, Maher, Mickan and Dalton. They started confidently and it was obvious that the two teams were evenly matched. Mid-way through the first half the Australians were in trouble as their shooting cooled off and they were soon down by ten points. When in trouble....attack! A full-court press defence was clamped on by the Australians and the Bulgarians were on the back-foot so much so that the half-time score was in the Australian’s favour 31-30. In the second half the Australian tactics were again to confuse and pressure the Bulgarians as the Australians resorted to pressure defences and switching defences (primarily man-to-man and zone). Robyn Maher generally known for her defence was having a whale of a game and her aggression was leading the scoring for the Australians. A ten point lead was soon established and victory seemed imminent, however the Bulgarians made a late charge with successive three-point baskets, but the Australians held on for a very good 63-57 win.</p>

HTML <p>For Bulgaria Stefanova 15 points, Demenjeva 11 and Tchobanova 10 were the major scorers. The Bulgarians matched or bettered the Australians in most statistical areas but the Australians out rebounded the opposition 37-23 to put the match balance in their favour.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Australia:</strong>Maher 20, Timms 13, Mickan 5, Slimmon 3, Moffa 6, Dalton 4, Gorman 5,<strong>Rebounds:</strong> Gorman 8, Dalton 7, Mickan 6, Nykiel 4, Maher 4, Australia 37-Bulgaria 23,<strong>Shooting:</strong> 19/50 at 38%,<strong>Three point baskets:</strong> 3/7 at 43%,<strong>Free-throws:</strong> 16/24 at 67%,<strong>Assists:</strong> 9,<strong>Turnovers:</strong> 11,<strong>Steals:</strong> 3.</p>

HTML <p>Women’s jump-ball against the USSR (C. Purdam)</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Game </strong><strong>3: Australia 60-</strong><strong>USSR 48 (</strong><strong>30-30)</strong></h2>

HTML <p>After the loss to Korea and their one win one loss record the Australians had to defeat the USSR if they were to advance towards the Medal Round. The outlook was not encouraging. The Soviets had won all seven of their games in the Qualification Tournament in Malaysia and had thumped the Australians 83-68 in that tournament and had not lost a game so far in this tournament. In fact they had never lost a match in the history of women’s basketball in the Olympic Games. No-one really gave the Australians much chance as the Soviets were considered certain medallists and probable finalists for the Gold Medal.</p>

HTML <p>Australia again started with the five players that had started all their games so far. These were Timms, Brown, Maher, Mickan and Dalton. The Australians started confidently and it was an aggressive start and “no prisoners” approach by both teams. Midway through the first half the scores were even. Then the Soviets edged out to a seven point lead. But the Australians led by the dynamic Robyn Maher were having none of that and clawed their way back to tie the scores at half-time 30-30. </p>

HTML <p>Robyn Maher scores along the baseline while Donna Brown and Jenny Cheesman await the outcome.</p>

HTML <p>(Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <p>The half-time consensus was that the Australians were putting up a good fight but surely power, strength and experience would get on top and the Soviets would pull away.In the second half the Australian defence got even more ferocious as the tactics were to deny everything “in the keyhole” and force the Soviet juggernaut to win from the perimeter. The tactics were working and the Soviets were in unfamiliar territory against Australia and “the wheels were falling off.” Australia’s Dalton, Mickan, Moffa, and Slimmon were “all over” their much bigger opponents in the key and the Soviets were forced to take long range shots. The Australians were controlling the game and the more the game went on the more they pulled away. They held their nerve for a monumental upset to win 60-48. This was perhaps the greatest upsetever in Olympic Women’s Basketball competition. The Australians were now top of their Group and had a chance to go to the Gold Medal game if they could win their next match.</p>

HTML <p>The court and then the change-rooms were scenes of celebration and emotion. The tournament was far from over but the Australians were celebrating the fact that they had made the next step to the elite of world basketball.For the Soviets Lakovleva was the only player in double figures with 13 points. The Soviets had shot 3/19 three point baskets at 19% and the Australians had won the rebounds 31-25. Again Robyn Maher was the standout for Australia at both ends of the floor. She led the team in defence, scoring, rebounds, steals and assists.</p>

HTML <p>Winners are grinners (Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <p><strong>Australia</strong><strong>:</strong> Maher 20, Cheesman 2, Timms 15, Brown 5, Mickan 7, Slimmon 2, Moffa 3, Dalton 2, Gorman 4,<strong>Shooting:</strong>17/48 at 35%,<strong>three-points</strong><strong>:</strong>3/3 at100%,<strong>Free-throws:</strong> 17/23@74%,<strong>Rebounds:</strong> Australia 31-USSR 25,<strong>Assists:</strong>10,<strong>Turnovers:</strong> 7,<strong>Steals:</strong> 10.</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Classification: Australia 2-1 USSR 2-1 Bulgaria 1-2 </strong><strong>Korea 1-2</strong></h2>

HTML <p>As Australia had defeated both the USSR they qualified in first place in the Group.</p>

HTML <p>According to the draw the first team in each Group would play the second team in the other Group. Therefore Australia would play Yugoslavia and the USA the USSR.</p>

HTML <p>Michele Timms plays defence while Marina Moffa yells encouragement</p>

HTML <p>(Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Game 4</strong><strong>: Semi-Final Australia 56 Yugoslavia 57</strong><strong>(30-32)</strong></h2>

HTML <p>This was the big one! Win this game and the Australians would be in the playoff for the Gold Medal.</p>

HTML <p> In the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Malaysia, Yugoslavia had prevailed over the Australians 68-58, and had only led by eight at half-time. The second half in that game gave the Australians confidence that if they played well they could defeat Yugoslavia. Confidence was sky high after the glories of the win over the Soviets. </p>

HTML <p>Again Timms, Brown, Maher, Mickan and Dalton were the starters for Australia. The Yugoslavians went “big” by starting both their centres. They were working on overpowering the Australians and avoiding the tactics that worked so well for the Australians against the Soviets when they crammed the keyhole and made the USSR try to win from long range. But the tactic meant that the more mobile Australians were hard to contain one-on-one and the Yugoslavians soon changed to zone and this gave the Australians few second chances on offensive rebounds. </p>

HTML <p>To counter the Yugoslavians the Australians went to full-court pressure defence and harassed the Yugoslavian players all over the court. The Australians hung on and were only down 32-30 at half-time. The Yugoslavians stayed with their zone the whole secondhalf. But things were tough, uncompromising and close. Yugoslavia got out to a seven point lead in the second half.</p>

HTML <p>The Australians were not a perimeter shooting team and took few three-point attempts in the tournament but the Yugoslavians were forcing them to the perimeter. Timms was the Australian answer to this as she nailed all of the Australians three-point baskets (5/9) in the game. The miracle required started to become a possible reality as the Australians drew within a point then drew level and on a free-throw pulled to a one point lead. </p>

HTML <p>With 25 seconds to play the Australians had the ball from the sideline, one point up and four seconds on the shot-clock. They missed the quick shot and the next twenty seconds of the game were frenetic as the Australians tried to hang on for a one point win. </p>

HTML <p>There was a lot of scrambling by both sides which eventuated with the Yugoslavians having one last desperate three point attempt by Andjellja Arbutina. She missed. The game should be over. Somehow Arbutina got the rebound and from under the backboard and even partly behind it she shot the ball. The shot was a prayer! The prayer was answered as somehow the ball kissed the backboard and fell in as time ran out. It did not seem possible. A miracle shot had denied the Australians a Silver or Gold medal. So close!</p>

HTML <p>The Australian Team had played with tremendous courage and deserved all the praise that came their way after the game.</p>

HTML <p>For Yugoslavia Mujanovic 20 points and Arbutina 15 were the main scorers. The Yugoslavians only took three three point shots and madetwo from three attempts. The Australians had won the rebounds 27-16 against a very much bigger and taller opponent.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Australia:</strong> Maher7, Timms19, Mickan 8, Moffa 8, Dalton 10, Gorman 4,<strong>Shooting:</strong> 16/38 at 42%,<strong>three-points</strong><strong>:</strong>5/15 at 33%,<strong>Free-throws</strong>: 9/10 at 90%,<strong>Rebounds:</strong> Australia 27-Yugoslavia 16,<strong>Assists:</strong> 5,<strong>Turnovers:</strong> 9,<strong>Steals:</strong> 5.</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Game 5: Bronze M</strong><strong>edal G</strong><strong>a</strong><strong>me. </strong><strong>Australia 53 </strong><strong>v USSR 68 (21-32)</strong></h2>

HTML <p>How well would the Australians recover from their one point loss against Yugoslavia? They had lost on a “miracle” shot and had been denied a Silver or Gold Medal. They still had a chance to win the first ever Olympic medal for Australian basketball. The task was made more difficult in that their opponents were the USSR who they had defeated in Group games. Could they do that again or had all the emotion been spent?</p>

HTML <p>Jenny Cheesman pivots out of the keyhole while Marina Moffa (12) battles the tall and powerful Soviet centres. (Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <p>The Soviets knew what the Australian’s tactics would be.....clog up the keyhole and make the USSR shoot from beyond the arc where they were only successful on three occasions out of nineteen attempts in the previous game. The Soviets were going to give the Australians a taste of their own medicine. They realised that Timms was the only successful three point shooter in the game against Yugoslavia and the Australians were not a perimeter scoring team. The USSR physically smashed the Australians in the keyhole and their greater size and height was having affect. The outside shooting of the Australians was not good and at half-time they were behind 32-21. They were struggling to repeat the intensity and heroics of the two previous games. Timms could not repeat her five three-pointers as she did in the game against Yugoslavian as the Soviets gave her little room and she was not able to score a three pointer in the game. The Soviets however were able to connect on eight three pointers and that was to be the difference. They maintained a 10 to15 point lead throughout the second half. The Australians never gave up and made repeated efforts to bridge the gap but the Soviets were always in control and with their superior size were able to “square the ledger” with a15 point win.</p>

HTML <p>The Australians had played a great tournament and had surpassed all expectations (except their own) by reaching the semi-finals and defeating the previous Olympic Games undefeated USSR. Again Robyn Maher was the standout for Australia. Her defence, rebounding, passion and scoring were the backbone of the team throughout the tournament and again so in this game. For the Soviets Minkh 13 points and Lakovleva11points were the top scores.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Australia:</strong>Maher 22, Cheesman 2, Timms 4, Brown 8, Nykiel 2, Slimmon 2, Moffa 4, Dalton 2, Gorman 7<strong>Shooting:</strong> 17/36 at 47%,<strong>three-points</strong><strong>:</strong> 2/8 at 25%,<strong>Free-throws:</strong> 13/18 at 72%,<strong>Rebounds:</strong> Australia 17-USSR 23,<strong>Assists:</strong> 8,<strong>Turnovers:</strong> 6,<strong>Steals:</strong> 5</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Gold Medal Game</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>USA 77 Yugoslavia 70 (42-36)</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>Final Standings</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>USA</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>Yugoslavia</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>USSR </strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>Australia</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>5 </strong><strong>Bulgaria </strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>6 </strong><strong>China </strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>7 </strong><strong>Korea </strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>8 </strong><strong>Czechoslovakia</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>Australian Olympic Games Statistics:</strong></h2>

HTML <p><strong>Leading scorers: </strong>Maher 77, Timms 56, Gorman 31, Moffa 25, Dalton 24,Brown 22, and Mickan 21.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Three point baskets: </strong>Timms 11/23 at 48%, Gorman 3/5 at 60%, the Australians only took 33 three point attempts for the tournament making 15 at 45% which is very high percentage.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Assists leaders: </strong>Maher 18, Timms 18, Mickan 7.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Fouls:</strong>Timms 16, Maher 14.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Rebound leaders: </strong>Maher 30, Dalton 33, Mickan 22, Gorman 19,Moffa 18, Timms 18, Brown 14, Slimmon 10.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Foul shooting leaders: </strong>Maher 22/30 at 73%, Mickan 11/18 at 61%, Gorman10/10 at 100%, Slimmon 9/11 at 82%.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Turnover leaders: </strong>Timms 13, Maher 10, Mickan 10, Moffa 9.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Steals leaders: </strong>Maher 10, Brown 8, Dalton 9, Moffa 6.</p>

HTML <h2><strong>As a team:</strong></h2>

HTML <p><strong>Shooting:</strong>100/264 at 38%. Three point attempts 15/33 at 45%</p>

HTML <p><strong>Foul shooting: </strong>72/100 at 72%</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Overview</strong></h2>

HTML <p>The Australian Women’s Olympic Basketball Team had made that elusive first step to the top four in the world. This was a magnificent effort in a number of ways. The team had to primarily prepare overseas with its competition, it had to travel extensively, was “small” in size compared to the world power teams and was not considered a team that would reach the levels it did.</p>

HTML <p>Of course the greatest triumph for the team was the defeat of the USSR in the Group games. This was the Soviets first ever loss in Olympic competition history and the loss was not considered “possible” by the basketball community.</p>

HTML <p>The 1988 Australian Women’s Basketball Team had set the paving stones for the Australian Women’s Olympic basketball teams that followed. They had played a significant part in preparing the way for our first ever Olympic medal in 1996.</p>

HTML <p>These Games were also the last Olympic campaign of some of the greats of Australian women’s basketball.....Jenny Cheesman, Pat Mickan and Julie Nykiel all from South Australia. All three had played onthe Australian Teams for the 1980 Olympic Qualification Tournament, the 1984 Olympic team and in 1988 in Seoul. All had been dominant players in Australian Women’s Club basketball as well as internationally. Robyn Maher would continue her fabulous Olympic career (1980, 1984, 1988 and1996). The 1988 Seoul Games also saw the commencement of the great Olympic basketball careers of Michele Timms, Shelley Gorman and Sandy Brondello.</p>

HTML <p>The Australian Women’s 1988 Olympic Basketball Team (Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <p>Left to right back row: Robbie Cadee (Coach) Debbie Slimmon, Marina Moffa, Ray Tomlinson (Assistant Coach) Sue Harcus (Assistant Coach) Michael Pattinson (Assistant Coach/Trainer)</p>

HTML <p>Left to right second row: Lorraine Landon (Manager), Donna Brown, Karen Dalton, Robyn Maher, Pat Mickan.Left to right front row:Julie Nykiel, Michele Timms, Maree Keogh, Shelley Gorman, Jenny Cheesman, Sandy Brondello.</p>

HTML <h2><strong>The 1988 Olympic Games Men’s Basketball Tournament</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>Australian Men’s </strong><strong>Basketball </strong><strong>Team Preparation </strong></h2>

HTML <p>During 1987 the Australian Men’s Basketball Team (now called Boomers) played a number of US College and European club teams as part of their preparation and selection process. After accounting for New Zealand 3-0 in the Olympic Qualification Series, the Australians played the mighty Soviet Union team in a six match exhibition series in Australia.</p>

HTML <p>This series was a great boost to the Boomers as well as for the game in Australia. It was a sell-out and the public were in awe to the power, size skill and play of the Soviets. The Australians were very competitive and took it right up to the bigger and more experienced Soviet Team. </p>

HTML <p>(Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <p>The Australian crowds were in great anticipation of an Australian victory sometime in the series. Wouldn’t that be something, a win against the favourites for the Gold Medal in next year’s Olympics? This was never more so than in the game played at the “Glass-house” in Melbourne, when with the last seconds of the game Australia was three-points down and had the ball from the sideline front court. Andrew Gaze in-bounded the ball to the big Australian Paul Kuiper who passed it back to Gaze and gave him a big screen, the Soviet defence defended the screen but Gaze saw this, faked to use the screen and shot from near the sideline without using the screen. As the ball was about to go cleanly through the basket Gaze was already running back down the sidelines both arms raised in the air starting what is to be a lap of honour in front of a capacity crowd on its feet and roaring in approval. Overtime! Unfortunately the Australians lost in overtime but the Australian team and basketball, in Australia was on a surge. The Australians lost the series 6-0 but Coach Adrian Hurley saw the series as extremely valuable for what lay ahead in 1988 at the Olympics. He asked Basketball Australia to bring the Soviets out again in the few weeks prior to the 1988 Olympics. The “Silver Fox” the Soviet coach Alex Gomelsky agreed. He and his players wanted to come back.</p>

HTML <p>In 1988 after an Easter selection camp the Australian Men’s Team played the University of Nebraska during the National Basketball League (NBL) season. This series was competitive and mainly served as a selection process.</p>

HTML <p>The Australian Men’s Basketball Team selected for the 1988 Olympics was one of the youngest ever for Australia with teenagers Bradtke, Vlahov and Longley as well as a 23 years old Andrew Gaze. </p>

HTML <p>The NBL finished on August 7th and the Boomers commenced a six match series in Australia against the Soviet Union on the 9th. The Soviet Team was one of the favourites for the Gold Medal in Seoul and their play, size, athleticism and experience would once again be great preparation for the Australians. </p>

HTML <p>The series was highly successful as a promotion for basketball with every game being played before sell-out crowds. The Soviets won all six games but the series was extremely valuable as the Australians were playing against the best. Coach Adrian Hurley and his players had lost twelve games in a row against the Soviets but those games were extremely valuable and the coach felt confident about the road ahead. He had a young team, a hungry team, and a team that knew how to play against the best. The Australian Men’s Team left for Seoul on September 10th.</p>

HTML <h2><strong>The 1988 </strong><strong>Olympic </strong><strong>Men’s </strong><strong>Basketball </strong><strong>Tournament</strong></h2>

HTML <p>The 1988 Seoul Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament was the first in three Olympics that did not suffer from a boycott. The competition was going to be very tough.</p>

HTML <p>The Olympic tournament comprised of two Groups of six teams. Australia was in Group A with Yugoslavia, USSR, Puerto Rico, Central Africa and Korea. As this Group contained the eventual winners of the Gold Medal (USSR) and the Silver Medal (Yugoslavia) Australia was drawn in a very tough Group. </p>

HTML <p>Australia’s match against Puerto Rico, a world highly ranked team that contained a number of College and European stars, was to be vital if Australia was to finish in the top three of their Group and thereby avoid the USA in the cross-over game.</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Game 1</strong><strong>:</strong><strong>Australia</strong><strong>81 </strong><strong>v Puerto Rico </strong><strong>77</strong><strong> (50-36)</strong></h2>

HTML <p>The Australians had little time to reflect on the Opening ceremony as at 9.30 the next morning they had their first game.</p>

HTML <p>Australia had recently developed a knack for winning the first game of Olympic tournaments and everyone knew the importance of continuing this trend when Australia met Puerto Rico first up in a must win game (Australia were to play Puerto Rico in the first game of the Barcelona Olympics four years later). Puerto Rico had finished second in the American Zone Qualifications.</p>

HTML <p>An excellent start by the Boomers was essential as Puerto Rico were a renowned front running team. </p>

HTML <p>The Australian Team was excited and confident after their good lead-up in training and the games against the Soviet Union. The youngsters Longley, Bradtke, Vlahov and Gaze we excited, confident and ready to go as the veterans guided them along and said to them to follow their lead. The game plan was as it was to be four years later in Barcelona and that was to “get all over their guards” and keep the ball out of the hands of their super-star front-line. Things did not start well for the Boomers and they were soon down 17 to 10 in the first six minutes and even Andrew Gaze was missing free-throws. Ray Borner was being challenged to contain the Puerto Rican star Jose Ortiz. It was time for the youngsters to show their wares. Bradtke and Longley took over on Ortiz and with the naivety and confidence of youth slowed him down and turned the game Australia’s way.</p>

HTML <p>The Australian guards continued to harass the opposition defensively, pressuring the ball-handlers (Smyth, and Carroll were excellent at this), slowing the tempo of the game, and with hot shooting from Andrew Gaze (25 points in the first half) the Australians jumped all over Puerto Rico in the next ten minutes to lead 50-36 at half-time against one of the better teams in the world. </p>

HTML <p>Could they hang on? They knew that the Puerto Ricans would come back. They had too much experience and talent not to do so.</p>

HTML <p>The Puerto Ricans came back strongly in the second half to outscore Australia 41-31,</p>

HTML <p>Larry Sengstock had got into foul trouble defending the Puerto Rican superstar Ortiz and had fouled out after 23 minutes. Bradtke, Longley, and Borner had stepped up and battled it out on the boards while Smyth led the team superbly.In the final three minutes both Gaze and Carroll hit crucial three pointers while Longley made two big baskets inside. With four minutes left Bradke made a big block on a shot from Raymond Gause, and in the scramble Gaze dived on the ball, was fouled, and sank the free throws to seal the win.</p>

HTML <p>Andrew Gaze was sensational scoring 33 points (5/9 threes) while Wayne Carroll was the only other player in double figures with 13 points</p>

HTML <p>Australia ran out winners 81-77 in the game they had to win.</p>

HTML <p>The veterans were telling everyone they knew they could win, and the youngsters believed in themselves, which would be very important as the Games progressed. For Puerto Rico Ortiz 18 points, Mincy 17, Morales 13 were the main scorers.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Australia:</strong>Gaze33, Smyth 9, Sengstock 9, Carroll 13, Longley 6, Bradtke 5, Borner 6,<strong>Shooting:</strong> 21/39 at 54%,<strong>t</strong><strong>hree-points</strong><strong>:</strong> 9/21 at 43%,<strong>Free-throws:</strong> 12/23 at 52%, <strong>Rebounds:</strong> Australia 23-Puerto Rico 28,<strong>Assists:</strong> 11,<strong>Turnovers:</strong> 12,<strong>Steals:</strong> 16</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Game 2</strong><strong>:</strong><strong> Australia</strong><strong> 69</strong><strong> v USSR</strong><strong> 91</strong><strong> (35-53)</strong></h2>

HTML <p>Australia had played the USSR in Australia in twelve games through 1987 and 1988. Even though Australia lost all twelve games (one in overtime) coach Dr Adrian Hurley believed that the constant games against one of the best teams in the world would stand Australia in good stead during the Olympic Tournament.</p>

HTML <p>The Soviets had also benefited from the series in Australia and knew the imperative of stopping Andrew Gaze from going on a scoring spree. The big difference was that the Soviets were now very familiar with the Australian offenses and defences and were familiar with how to defend their better players. The Soviets alsohad the addition ofsuperstar Arvydas Sabonis the 224cms centre who did not play in the matches in Australia.</p>

HTML <p>Australia did not have anyone able to match up to the 223cm, 123 kg giant Sabonis. Longley was 212cms but at this stage was tall and “slight” and playing at the University of New Mexico in the USA. In the years to come Longley would join the NBA and develop into a giant of a man himself. Sabonis was to finish the game with 17 points and a massive 20 rebounds. Alexander Gomelsky the Soviet Coach remarked, “They had not seen him before and he was a very big problem for them.” Rimas Kurtinaitis scored 21 points (including 5/5 from three-point range) for the Soviets who were rarely troubled, taking a 53-35 lead into half-time. Australia turned the ball over 12 times in the first half and was never really in the hunt. The Soviet plan to shut down Gaze was masterful.</p>

HTML <p>The Australians went on to lose to the Soviets 91-69 which was a disappointing result considering how close the games had been in Australia between these two teams. For the USSR Kourtinaitis 21 points, Sabonis 17 (14 rebounds), Volkov 16 were the main scorers.</p>

HTML <p>Damian Keogh was the only Boomer to score in double figures, finishing with 15 points. Coach Hurley was not overly disappointed with the defeat, saying that the Soviets were favourites for the Gold Medal and we have “bigger games” to win.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Australia:</strong> Smyth 5, Keogh 15, Carroll 8, Longley 8, Gaze 9, Bradtke 6, Dalton 4, Vlahov 5, Borner 4, Sengstock 5 <strong>Shooting:</strong> 23/51 at 45%,<strong>three-points</strong> 4/16 at 25%,<strong>Free-throws:</strong> 11/19 at 58%,<strong>Rebounds:</strong> Australia 35-USSR 44,<strong>Assists:</strong> 6,<strong>Turnovers:</strong> 17,<strong>Steals:</strong> 8</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Time-out at the 1988 Olympic Games</strong><strong> (The </strong><strong>Australian </strong><strong>Basketballer Magazine/G</strong><strong>i</strong><strong>lbert Rossi)</strong></h2>

HTML <h2><strong>Game 3</strong><strong>:</strong><strong>Australia</strong><strong> 106</strong><strong>v Central Africa</strong><strong> 67</strong><strong> (57-35)</strong></h2>

HTML <p>The Australians treated this game with great respect as they could not afford to lose a game they “were supposed to win”. Central Africa contained a number of players playing College in the USA and some who were playing in the European Leagues. </p>

HTML <p>The Central African Republic, had qualified for the Olympics by winning the African Championship in Tunisia the previous December. Tip-off for this game was delayed for close to half an hour after the USSR-Puerto Rico match went into overtime (the USSR eventually winning 93-81).</p>

HTML <p>TheAfrican team had close results against some other teams and at times they threatened upsets. The Boomers knew they had to get off to a good start and not let the Africans get their confidence going. Once the match got underway, Australiamoved to a 14-6 lead after five minutes. The Africans somehow had decided that the Boomers were a powerhouse inside team and therefore they would stand off the perimeter players. Gaze and Smyth quickly saw this, their eyes lit up and they “bombed away” fully appreciating the African tactics. Gaze had 20 points and Smyth 19 by half-time.</p>

HTML <p>Bradtke (12) shoots against Central Africa (C. Purdam)</p>

HTML <p> The Australian team played up-tempo basketball and led 57-35 at half-time. The Boomers were allowed the luxury of playing all players and giving the bench ample opportunities. Darryl Pearce demonstrated that he was not just a great shooter but a very good passer with some brilliant assists to Bradtke and Vlahov. To everyone’s surprise the Boomers waltzed to a very impressive 106-67 victory.</p>

HTML <p>The African Republic’s star player was Anicet-Richard Lavodrama who had 30 points and 9 rebounds. Phil Smyth “The General” for the Boomers made 9/12 shooting including 6/8 three-pointers to have a fabulous game. Gaze who was rested on the bench most of the second half as he was needed to be fresh for later games scored 25 very impressive points.</p>

HTML <p>The importance of this win can be emphasised by the fact that the Africans defeated South Korea, lost to Puerto Rico by four points and the USSR by nine points to demonstrate how dangerous a team they were. The Boomers had scored an impressive win against a very good team. For Central Africa Lovodrama 30 points and Goroporo15 were the main scorers.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Australia</strong><strong>: </strong>Pearce 6, Smyth 24, Sengstock 4, Keogh 7, Carroll 10, Longley 9, Gaze 25, Bradtke 8, Dalton 2, Vlahov 7, Borner 4. <strong>Shooting:</strong>28/47at 60%,<strong>three-points</strong> 13/25 at 52%,<strong>Free-throws:</strong> 11/14 at 79%,<strong>Rebounds:</strong> Australia 43-Central Africa 29,<strong>Assists:</strong> 9,<strong>Turnovers:</strong> 15,<strong>Steals:</strong> 6</p>

HTML <p>Wayne Carroll looks to pass to Luc Longley against Spain (C. Purdam)</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Game</strong><strong> 4: Australia</strong><strong> 78</strong><strong> v Yugoslavia</strong><strong> 98</strong><strong> (43-52)</strong></h2>

HTML <p>Australia now ran into the highly ranked Yugoslavia which contained star European, and soon to be NBA players, such as Drazen Petrovic, Tony Kukoc, Vlade Divac and Dino Radja. The Yugoslavians had defeated the USSR in their previous match and were very confident and in good form. They had firmed as possible Gold medallists.</p>

HTML <p>It was obvious the Yugoslavians had watched the Soviets beat Australia and adopted the same match plan and over-powered the Australian’s in the keyhole with their giant but very mobile players such as Divac and Radja. These players were not only very physical but excellent defenders and screeners. While their guards were keeping close defence on Smyth and Gaze who also had to negotiate being bumped and elbowed by the Yugoslavian big men. As they ran off multiple screens the two star Aussie guards had to keep one eye on the ball and one eye on the screeners or risk life and limb.</p>

HTML <p>Drazen Petrovic played superbly for Yugoslavia with 17 points while all their star players performed with seven players scoring in double figures.</p>

HTML <p>Andrew Gaze had an outstanding game despite being harassed by the Yugoslavian defence. He scored four from six three point attempts.</p>

HTML <p>After being down 43-52 at half-time and still in the game the Boomers were overpowered in the second half to lose 98-78. Seven of the Yugoslavian team were to go on and play in the NBA so they were extremely talented. Petrovic 17 points, Divac 16 and Raja 13 were the main scorers for Yugoslavia. </p>

HTML <p>Statistically the Australians had done well matching the tall Yugoslavians in most categories except shooting where although the Boomers shot at 50% the opposition took 21 more shots at 60%. </p>

HTML <p>Longley and the Australians battle against Yugoslavia (C. Purdam)</p>

HTML <p>It was a disappointing loss but the Australians knew that the loss would not count against them if they were able to finish high in their Group to first qualify for the Quarter Finals and second to avoid the USA in the crossovers. Coach Hurley and his staff emphasized to the group that their next game was the important one, not the game they had just lost.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Australia:</strong> Pearce 9, Smyth 8, Sengstock 4, Keogh 4, Carroll 8, Longley 2, Gaze 25, Bradtke 4, Dalton 4, Vlahov 4, Borner 6. <strong>Shooting:</strong> 17/34 at 50%,three-points 9/21 at 41%,<strong>Free-throws:</strong> 17/22 at 77%,<strong>Rebounds:</strong> Australia 23-Yugoslavia 31,<strong>Assists: </strong>9,<strong>Turnovers:</strong> 11,<strong>Steals:</strong> 3</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Game 5: </strong><strong>Australia</strong><strong> 95</strong><strong> v </strong><strong>South Korea </strong><strong>75</strong><strong> (51-39)</strong></h2>

HTML <p>Australianext played Korea who was in good form playing aggressive defence and “bombing” from long range successfully. In each game Korea played there was a full house of home supporters and with 20,000 very vocal fans they were playing above themselves and with great passion and will. They had lost to Puerto Rico by five points and to Yugoslavia by twelve so they were a dangerous opponent. Their main weakness was lack of height and rebounding power but they were making up for this with energy and physicality, as well as a good sprinkling of theatrics that appealed to the crowd and put pressure on the officials.</p>

HTML <p>Andrew Gaze scores against Korea while Andrew Vlahov helps. (Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <p>For the Boomers this was the “game they had to win” to make the Quarter Finals and to avoid the USA in the Group crossover game.</p>

HTML <p>The Australian cause suffered when their star centre Luc Longley was ruled out due to injury. Coach Hurley was not too perturbed by this as he felt that the Koreans would have “run Longley around” as they did to the giant Russian Sabonis and create a whole set of problems. The mobile Borner, Bradtke and Sengstock would be a tough task for the Koreans, besides Longley would be needed in later matches and the rest would be good for him.</p>

HTML <p>In a very tough and physical match the Australians led 51-39 at half-time. While this was not a winning lead it demonstrated to the Koreans that the Boomers were prepared to get a win as they had against Central Africa against a dangerous but lower ranked team. The Australians preserved with a smaller more mobile group of players to combat the speed of the Koreans. Ray Borner was proving a real handful for the opposition and Andrew Gaze was scoring well and the Boomersran out winners 95-75 in what was a good solid performance. For Korea Lee 22 points and Hur 21 were the main scorers.</p>

HTML <p>The Boomers had done what no other team in their group had done by having two very comfortable wins against Central Africa and Korea.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Australia</strong><strong>:</strong>Pearce 3, Smyth 10, Sengstock 8, Keogh 11, Carroll 6, Gaze 27, Bradtke 2, Vlahov 9, Borner 19. <strong>Shooting:</strong> 30/47 at 64%,<strong>three-points</strong> 8/18 at 44%, <strong>Free-throws:</strong> 11/15 at 73%,<strong>Rebounds:</strong> Australia 38-Korea 22,<strong>Assists:</strong>11,<strong>Turnovers:</strong> 9,<strong>Steals:</strong> 4</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Group A Table</strong><strong>:</strong></h2>

HTML <p>Yugoslavia 9 pointsUSSR 9 pointsAustralia 8 pointsPuerto Rico 8 points Central Africa 6 points South Korea 5 points. </p>

HTML <p>(Australia and Puerto Rico finished in equal third place but because Australia had defeated Puerto Rico Australia secured the vital 3rdplace).</p>

HTML <p>Australia‘s third place in the Group meant that it played Spain in the crossover games while Puerto Rico had to play the USA. By qualifying in the top four of its group the worst placing Australia could come in the Olympics was 8th place but they believed they could place higher than that.</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Quarter Final</strong><strong>:</strong><strong>Australia</strong><strong>77 </strong><strong>v Spain</strong><strong> 74</strong><strong> (41-40)</strong></h2>

HTML <p> was in excellent form having secured second place in Group B. They had big margin wins over and both highly ranked teams in world basketball. They were shooting a phenomenal 70% in their games, something rarely seen at this or any other level competition. Spain had also won the Silver Medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and they were at the height of their game. </p>

HTML <p>The Boomers had played Spain six times in Olympic and World competition and had never defeated them. </p>

HTML <p>The Boomers were also inspired by the Australian Women’s Team who had caused a major upset in defeating the USSR 60-48 and in doing so they had qualified for the Semi-Finals, a first for an Australian basketball team. This not only inspired the Boomers but it also motivated the men to make it two out of two in the Semi- Finals.</p>

HTML <p>Australia’s tactics were to slow the game tempo to a crawl and limit the number of scoring attempts for the Spaniards and not allow the Spaniards to get rhythm in the game. </p>

HTML <p>It was paramount that the Boomers played uncompromising defence and to have all players play well if they were to do this. It was stressedin the change-rooms prior to the game that if they were to win it had to be by all players, they had to absolutely minimize their turnovers to a best ever performance, stick together, get every loose ball and take no backward steps at any time. It had to be tough, “ugly” and uncompromising. </p>

HTML <p>The question was whether the Spanish accept the bait and play into the Australians hands to win “an ugly game”? As Wayne Carroll walked out on the floor for the biggest game in his life he was thinking,“I hope the Spaniards try to mix it with us. If they do then we have a chance as our guys love a battle”. After falling behind early the Australians fought back with tremendous spirit and with Smyth and Gaze scoring clutch baskets the Boomers ground out to a 41-40 half-time lead.</p>

HTML <p>Spain attempts anything to stop Andrew Gaze (Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <p>The Boomer’s guards were doing the scoring while the forwards were battling away in rebounding and defence to frustrate the talented Spanish. For Spain their superstars Andres Jimenez and San Antonio Epifanio were proving a handful.</p>

HTML <p>Smyth and Carroll were leading with great composure and patience. The game plan was working but as the Australians looked up at the half-time scoreboard they wondered whether they could play the second half the same way and win that half by one point? That would be good enough!</p>

HTML <p>Hurley, Longley and Keogh (8) urge the team along against Spain (Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <p>The second half did not start well for the Boomers when Borner fouled out after three minutes. The big youngsters Vlahov, Bradtke and Longley had to step up.</p>

HTML <p>With fourteen minutes to go Gaze was elbowed in the throat by Jimenez. The gloves were well and truly off! Rather than putting Gaze out of the game it stirred him into greater efforts and he picked up his tempo to another level. He scored the next eleven points for the Boomers including two massive three-pointers from “way downtown”. The crowd and the Boomers could sense an upset as the momentum was shifting their way. Sengstock and Borner were in foul trouble and had to be protected, and the youngsters found themselves in the fiercest of cauldrons.</p>

HTML <p>With more fine shooting from Gaze and Smyth and with heavy physical defence by the big men Australia built to a five point lead going into the last few minutes. The Spaniards rallied. Carroll replied with one of the baskets of his life, Vlahov was in the game and battling against bigger players, Longley and Bradtke were playing massively.</p>

HTML <p>With less than thirty seconds to play the teams were tied 74 all.</p>

HTML <p>It was Australia’s ball after great defence and a big rebound off a Spain missed basket. The Boomers stayed with their offense. Those in the know looked for Gaze off a shuffle cut and a double screen, he was covered! Smyth came around off a down-screen, set his feet and bombed a three-pointer under great pressure. The Aussies were in front 77-74. The Spanish had possession for the last fifteen seconds of the game and worked the ball for Jimenez and San Epifanio. The Boomer defence was relentless as they switched everything to ensure the Spanish team did not get a good three-point shot to tie the game. In the last few seconds the Boomers thwarted a three-point attempt by Spain.The final result was a historic Australia 77 Spain 74 victory.</p>

HTML <p>The Boomers were 12 from 27 three-point attempts, 13 from 14 free-throw attempts, and had very low 9 turnovers. These results plus dogged rebounding and defence had given Australia its first ever win over Spain and its first ever position in the Medal Round at an Olympic Games or World Championships. Spain shot 28/45 at 62% but only made 1/6 three-point baskets. San Epifanio 17 points, Jiminez 15 and Martin 13 were the main scorers for Spain.</p>

HTML <p>“The poise and determination from the players, their ability to stick to the game plan and our ability to contain the Spanish to one three point basket for the game while making twelve of our own was brilliant,” said Coach Adrian Hurley after the game.</p>

HTML <p>The change-room after the game was a sea of players, officials, athletes and coaches from other sports and the media. The realization was that Australia had finally taken that next step up in world men’s basketball. Long-time Australian official and supporter Bob Staunton who had played a big part in past Australian Olympic campaigns was beside himself.This victory made all his work worthwhile.</p>

HTML <p>Smyth, Gaze, Keogh (8) celebrate beating Spain (Basketball Australia/Sydney Morning Herald)</p>

HTML <p><strong>Australia:</strong> Smyth 16, Sengstock 6, Keogh 5, Carroll 16, Gaze 28, Bradtke 4, Borner 2,<strong>Shooting:</strong> 14/32 at 44%,<strong>t</strong><strong>h</strong><strong>ree-points</strong><strong>:</strong> 12/27 at 44%,<strong>Free-throws:</strong> 13/14 at 93%,<strong>Rebounds:</strong>Australia 25-Spain 29,<strong>Assists:</strong> 4,<strong>Turnovers:</strong> 7,<strong>Steals:</strong> 3</p>

HTML <p> (Ray Borner and Larry Sengstock both fouled out after playing around 22 minutes each. Carroll, Smyth and Gaze each played over 30 minutes. Gaze scored 5 from 12 and Smyth 4 from 8 three-point attempts. It must also be remembered that “assists” were only given if the receiver of the pass scored a lay-up. Jump shots and three point baskets were not included).</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Sem</strong><strong>i-Final: Australia </strong><strong>70 </strong><strong>v Yugoslavia</strong><strong> 91</strong><strong> (31-44)</strong></h2>

HTML <p>The Yugoslavians were the form team of the tournament and were extremely confident of winning the Gold Medal. They were also extremely confident of beating the Boomers again as they had done a few days before. Their young players were cocky, skilful and would be a very tough match indeed!</p>

HTML <p>As in the previous Group game against Yugoslavia Australia attempted to slow the game down and thwart the big Yugoslavians on their power game as their three-point shooting had not been their strength to this stage of the tournament. The Yugoslavians shot better than at any previous time in the tournament and with a 74% shooting inside and a 70% shooting from beyond the three-point line in the first half.Australia had scrapped extremely well to be only down by 44-31 at half-time. </p>

HTML <p>The Yugoslavians as in the previous game worked hard to limit Gaze and Smyth who had been the backbone of ’s scoring in the tournament. Gaze was playing with his usual aplomb against harassing defence and was scoring very well. The Boomers desperately needed solid scoring from other sources as the game progressed. began to fatigue in the second half. Perhaps the emotional effort against Spain was telling on them? Australia’s three-point shooting dropped well below their tournament form. The game slipped away in the last five minutes as did Australia’s chance to play for Gold or Silver Medals.</p>

HTML <p>The final result of a loss 91-70 was disappointing to the Australians and the margin was not indicative of how close the game really was as the Yugoslavians only skipped away from the Boomers in the last five minutes of the game. Petrovic 17 points and Divac 16 points were the main scorers for Yugoslavia.Yugoslavia shot the ball at a phenomenal 64% for their three point attempts and at 74% for the game for all attempts.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Australia:</strong>Pearce 8, Smyth 4, Sengstock 4,Carroll 6, Longley 4, Gaze 27, Bradtke 6,Vlahov 2, Borner 9. <strong>Shooting:</strong> 17/34 at 50%,<strong>three-points</strong><strong>:</strong> 9/22 at 41%,<strong>Free-throws:</strong> 17/22 at 77%,<strong>Rebounds:</strong> Australia 23-Yugoslavia 31,<strong>Assists:</strong> 10,<strong>Turnovers:</strong> 6,<strong>Steals:</strong> 6</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Bronze Medal Game</strong><strong>: </strong><strong>Australia</strong><strong> 49</strong><strong> v USA</strong><strong> 78</strong><strong> (29-52)</strong></h2>

HTML <p>The USA had been upset by the USSR in the other Semi-Final and was very motivated for this game. The depth of the Americans was phenomenal and they were nicknamed the 45 million dollar team in reference to how much the players would be worth after the Olympics when most of them would enter the NBA. Players such as David Robinson, Danny Manning, Dan Majerle, Hersey Hawkins, Mitch Richmond, and Stacey Augmon to name a few were soon to become superstars of the NBA. </p>

HTML <p>Coached by legendary Georgetown College coach John Thompson the USA started the game in extremely aggressive manner double teaming whenever Australia attempted to set on-ball screens, switching all screens, and double teaming all passes to the forward wings. It was a Blitzkrieg defence the likes the Australians had never encountered. The Americans were angry at not being in the final and were expressing their frustration on the Boomers.</p>

HTML <p>As a consequence the Australians had fourteen turnovers in the first half which wasmuch more than they were averaging for a whole game in the tournament. </p>

HTML <p>Australia’s shooting percentage dropped right away against the aggressive defence to 31% and with the score 52-29 at half-time Australia’s medal campaign was effectively over. Nevertheless the Australians showed their greatspirit and pride to take it to the Americans in the second half to contain them to only 26 points. </p>

HTML <p>All the Australian players participated in the game with all eleven players playing double minute time in the game. The USA did not score a three-point basket in the game.</p>

HTML <p>The final score 78-49 was very disappointing as the Boomers had battled extremely hard in this game and throughout the tournament but the constant battle against bigger and stronger opponents had caught up to them. For the USA the main scorers were Majerle 12 points, Richmond 12, Robinson 12, Manning 10 and Smith 10.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Australia:</strong> Pearce 2, Smyth 10, Sengstock 2, Keogh 4, Longley 1, Gaze 17, Bradtke 4, Vlahov 2, Borner 7.<strong>Shooting:</strong> 11/35 at 31%,<strong>three-points</strong><strong>:</strong>6/14 at 43%,<strong>Free-throws:</strong> 9/15 at 60%,<strong>Rebounds:</strong> Australia 25-USA 32,<strong>Assists:</strong> 6, <strong>Turnovers:</strong> 18,<strong>Steals:</strong> 6</p>

HTML <p>Tempers flare against the USA (Australian Basketballer Magazine/Gilbert Rossi)</p>

HTML <h2><strong>The Gold Medal Game</strong></h2>

HTML <p>In the Gold Medal game the Yugoslavians were the favourites as their form was superb and the young team was felt to have the advantage over the experienced and much older Soviets.</p>

HTML <p>The brilliance of Kukoc, Vrankovic, Divac, Radja, Paspalj and Petrovic was not at its usual level and in a match where both teams seemed consumed by the pressure the score was only 31-28 at half-time to the Soviets. In the second half the main difference between the two teams was the giant Lithuanian centre Sabonis playing for the Soviets. In fact it was the Lithuanian connection of Sabonis, Kurtinaitis and the wonderful Marchulenis who carried the day for the Sovietsand to win 76-63.</p>

HTML <p>Alex Gomelsky “the Silver Fox” commented to Australian coach Adrian Hurley after the game, “Our tour to Australia was good for us and good for you! We have both performed to our best.”</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Final positions</strong><strong> in the </strong><strong>Olympic </strong><strong>tournament</strong></h2>

HTML <p>USSR</p>

HTML <p>Yugoslavia </p>

HTML <p>USA </p>

HTML <p>Australia</p>

HTML <p> Brazil </p>

HTML <p>Canada </p>

HTML <p> Puerto Rico </p>

HTML <p>Spain </p>

HTML <p>Korea </p>

HTML <p>Central Africa </p>

HTML <p>Peoples Republic of China </p>

HTML <p>Egypt</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Australian Tea</strong><strong>m Statistics for the tournament:</strong></h2>

HTML <p>625 points (average 78.1 per game)</p>

HTML <p>66 from 159 three point attempts at 42%</p>

HTML <p>166 field goals from 332 attempts at 50%</p>

HTML <p>95 from 141 free-throws at 67%</p>

HTML <p> 66 assists (average 8.3 per game)</p>

HTML <p>52 steals (average 6.5 per game)</p>

HTML <p>152 fouls (average 19 per game) </p>

HTML <p>111 turnovers (13.9 average per game)</p>

HTML <p> 233 rebounds (average 29 per game)</p>

HTML <p>(Note that assists were only recorded when the scoring shot was a lay-up). </p>

HTML <p>Australia was statistically the second best defensive team at the tournament conceding 651 points at an average of 81 per game behind the USA at 61 points per game allowed.</p>

HTML <h2><strong>Individual performances:</strong></h2>

HTML <p><strong>Andrew Gaze</strong> was the Tournament’s second leading scorer with 191 points at an average of 23.9 per games behind Brazil’s Oscar Schmidt who scored 338 points at an average of 42.3 per game. </p>

HTML <p><strong>Phil Smyth</strong> was the 28th highest scorer in the Tournament with 86 points (10.8 per game).</p>

HTML <p><strong>Larry Sengstock</strong> was 15th in rebounding with 45 (5.6 per game).</p>

HTML <p><strong>Ray Borner</strong> was 23rdin rebounding with 37 (4.6 per game).</p>

HTML <p><strong>Larry Sengstock</strong> was 11th in assists in the tournament with 17 (1.4 per game) while <strong>Phil Smyth</strong> was 22ndwith 11 (1.4 per game). </p>

HTML <h2><strong>Overview</strong></h2>

HTML <p>The Great Step Up.</p>

HTML <p>The 1988 Australian Men’s Olympic Basketball Team had “burst through” to previously unattainable heights to the top four in the world. The rest of the basketball world could not believe the result as they continually thought of the Australians as having dreams beyond their abilities.</p>

HTML <p>The best performance by an Australian Olympic Men’s Basketball Team prior to this was 7th place in1984 in Los Angeles.</p>

HTML <p>The Australian result was even the more meritorious as unlike Moscow (1980) and LA (1984) there was no major boycott from any of the power nations in basketball. Especially significant was the fact that the USSR and the USA the dominant medal winners in past Olympics were both at the Olympics for the first time since the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.</p>

HTML <p>Andrew Gaze had established himself as an extraordinary player and would continue to play in another three Olympics and five in all. Phil Smyth was supreme as a pure point guard and led the team magnificently as he had done in Moscow and Los Angeles. Carroll, Sengstock, Dalton, Pearce, Keogh and Borner continued to demonstrate their class at Olympics. The Olympic world was introduced to three young players in Bradtke, Longley and Vlahov who were to become household names in Australian basketball and around the world. Many of these players would be the mainstay of the Boomers all the way through to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.</p>

HTML <p>The Australian Teamdeserved their achievements and most importantly they paved the way for future Australian men’s basketball teams to have the confidence and belief to again reach the dizzy heights of the top four in the world. </p>

HTML <h2><strong>The 1988 Australian Olympic </strong><strong>Men’s </strong><strong>Basketball Team:</strong></h2>

HTML <p>No 4 Darryl Pearce 27 year old guard, 188cms, 87kls</p>

HTML <p>No 5 Robert Sibley 22 year old forward, 199cms, 93kls</p>

HTML <p>No 6 Phil Smyth 30 year old guard, 183cms, 8okls</p>

HTML <p>No 7 Larry Sengstock 28 year old forward, 198cms, 98kls</p>

HTML <p>No 8 Damian Keogh 26 year old guard, 194cms, 88kls</p>

HTML <p>No 9 Wayne Carroll 29 year old guard, 195cms, 92kls</p>

HTML <p>No 10 Lucien Longley 19 year old centre, 215cms 115kls</p>

HTML <p>No 11 Andrew Gaze 23 year old guard, 200cms, 90kls</p>

HTML <p>No 12 Mark Bradtke, 19 years old forward, 209cms, 109kls </p>

HTML <p>No 13 Bradley Dalton 29 year old centre, 202cms, 105kls</p>

HTML <p>No 14 19 year old forward, 200cms, 105kls</p>

HTML <p>No 15Raymond Borner, 26 year old centre, 208cms, 115kls </p>

HTML <p><strong>Coach:</strong> Dr. Adrian Hurley. </p>

HTML <p><strong>Assistant C</strong><strong>oaches:</strong> Brian Kerle and Barry Barnes. </p>

HTML <p><strong>Manager:</strong>.</p>

HTML <p><strong>Referee:</strong> John Holden</p>

HTML <p>The 1988 Australian Men’s Olympic Basketball Team (Basketball Australia)</p>

HTML <p>Left to right backrow: Andrew Vlahov, Andrew Gaze, Robert Sibley,</p>

HTML <p>Left to right second row: Ray Borner, Brad Dalton, Mark Bradtke, Luc Longley, Larry Sengstock, Wayne Carroll</p>