Australia crowned world wheelchair basketball champions

"I’ve got the 12 best guys in the world and I’m so happy for them. I’m proud of the guys, they’re amazing and they have done a great job."

Australia have been crowned champions of the 2014 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Incheon, South Korea, as they beat the USA in a stunning 63-57 victory on Monday (14 July).

In a re-run of the last game of group F, where the USA beat Australia in their only defeat of the tournament, the Australians found their revenge.

Despite this being a closely fought contest, Australia never lost the lead as they retained their 2010 World Championship title.

The game started in a high scoring fashion, with Australia notching 22 points to the USA’s 13.

The USA then mounted a strong comeback in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to just four at the half-way stage as they outshot their opponents 14 to nine.

And the momentum was definitely with the USA as they again narrowly edged out Australia in the third, to cut their lead to just two heading into the final quarter.

But with victory in their sights, Australia exerted their dominance in defence and attack in an incredibly intense final quarter, taking the World Championship title by outscoring the USA 18 to 14, to give them a six point victory.

Speaking to the Australian Paralympic Committee, Australia’s head coach Ben Ettridge praised the performance of his players.

“I’m absolutely exhilarated,” he said.

“I’ve got the 12 best guys in the world and I’m so happy for them. I’m proud of the guys, they’re amazing and they have done a great job.

“We pride ourselves on our defence and that’s what won it. Every time we play defence it’s a war and today we gave them nothing. We made them shoot from the perimeter and it was our defence that won it.”

Tristan Knowles was the star performer for Australia, scoring an impressive 17 points as well as collecting four rebounds.

He was supported in the final by Australia’s top scorer for the tournament, Shaun Norris, and Justin Eveson, who took 11 points apiece.

Elsewhere, in the bronze medal match, Turkey, arguably the surprise package for the tournament, claimed third place ahead of Spain with a 68:63 win.

Turkey started the brighter of the two, taking 17 points to Spain’s 13. A free flowing second quarter saw the deficit remain the same as both sides notched 18 points.

The gap was then extended as Turkey narrowly edged out Spain 16 to 14.

With victory then slipping away, Spain looked to mount a comeback, and despite outdoing their opponents 18 to 17 in the final high-scoring quarter, their efforts were not enough as Turkey claimed the bronze medal.

Gem Gezinci impressed for the victors, claiming 19 points himself. He was supported well Ferit Gumus, who took 18.

Meanwhile, Spain’s Asier Garcia scored a game-high 21 points, but could not inspire his side to victory.

The top scorer award at the 2014 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships goes to Sweden’s Joakin Linden, who totalled an impressive 160 points at an average of 22.86 a game, despite his side finishing 13th. Australia’s Norris was second with 115.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s Ozgur Gurbulak topped the assist charts with 83, well ahead of Steven Serio who collected an impressive 62.

For more information about the tournament, including final standings, visit the official website of the 2014 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships.