It was a tough win in Hobart, a big night, and plenty of standout performances as the Boomers came from behind to beat the Tall Blacks 84-79.
Here’s how every player on both teams rated.
MATCH REPORT: Huge Boomers scare as Aussies left to sweat over star in thrilling comeback
AUSTRALIAN BOOMERS – PLAYER RATINGS
1 | Jordan Hunter – 1
Barely played, and Vickerman quickly moved away from using him due to New Zealand’s size and physicality. Essentially a DNP.
4 | Dash Daniels – 1
Played under a minute and struggled with an early airball. At 17, it was always unlikely he’d feature heavily in this matchup.
5 | Angus Glover – 8
A tale of two halves. After a cold first half, Glover ignited after the break, hitting big shots and lifting Australia’s pace and intensity. Finished with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists – a crucial spark.
6 | Davo Hickey – 9
The engine. Hickey controlled the game, constantly turning corners, probing the paint and keeping the offence steady. His late three was enormous. A composed 12 points, five rebounds and five assists from the team’s floor general.
8 | Alexander Ducas – 3.5
Struggled to find rhythm off the ball. Finished with no points and limited statistical impact in just under nine minutes.
9 | Jaylin Galloway – 9.5
The Boomers’ equal-best. After an early scare with a calf tweak, Galloway powered on – scoring 19 points with three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. The confidence, aggression and poise he plays with in the green and gold is eye-catching.
The nickname “FIBA Gallo” is already taking shape.
10 | Benjamin Ayre – 6
A gritty debut. The stat sheet doesn’t pop, but Ayre’s defensive pressure and competitiveness were felt. Made winning plays and looked comfortable at this level.
13 | Josh Bannan – 6.5
Strong early minutes, showing shades of Nick Kay with his activity and touch. Finished with seven points, four rebounds and one block. Limited court time after halftime.
14 | Jack White – 6.5
Showed flashes of his best, finishing with 10 points, four rebounds, two steals and a block. Fouls halted his momentum, but overall he made productive contributions.
15 | Nick Kay – 8.5
A model of consistency. Kay delivered another all-round masterclass: eight points, eight rebounds, three blocks and all the intangibles that make him invaluable. A cornerstone of the Boomers identity.
25 | Keanu Pinder – 5
A mixed bag. Pinder’s confidence fluctuated throughout – moments of brilliance in transition and the P&R, but also clear frustration with the physicality. Seven points, four rebounds and five fouls tell the story.
40 | Elijah Pepper – 2
Couldn’t get going. Missed a couple of easy looks and never settled into the game. Logged just over six minutes in a night to forget.
NEW ZEALAND TALL BLACKS – PLAYER RATINGS
0 | Carlin Davison – 5.5
Carlin Davison brought instant energy. He ran lanes hard in transition, attacked the rim, and created tempo whenever he touched the ball. Two offensive boards in limited minutes showed his activity, and he gave the Tall Blacks solid spark throughout.
2 | Izayah Le’Afa – 6.5
Despite only scoring three points, Izayah Le’Afa impacted the game everywhere else. His defence, rebounding and hustle kept New Zealand connected. The box score – three points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal – doesn’t fully capture the defensive grit and winning plays he delivered.
3 | Finn Delany – 5
Delany started well but foul trouble derailed his night. He competed, made smart off-ball reads, and tried to inject physicality, but as the whistles piled up he became rushed and frustrated. A tough one.
4 | Jackson Ball – DNP
Did not see the floor, but should be in the mix for minutes in Game 2.
5 | Taylor Britt – 3.5
Britt showed flashes early, knocking down some perimeter looks, but his shooting faded and he exited late after what appeared to be a corked quad. Finished 3-of-10 from the field.
6 | Taine Murray – 5.5
Low minutes, high impact. Murray came in late and was immediately assigned to slow down Angus Glover. He hit a big three, played hard off the ball and posted a +10 in limited action. A tidy, disciplined cameo.
7 | Mojave King – 2
A rare off night. After shining at the Asia Cup, King couldn’t get anything going – shooting 1-of-10 and looking increasingly frustrated as the game tightened. He’ll want a strong response in Game 2.
8 | Sam Mennenga – 9.5
Outstanding. Mennenga was virtually unstoppable at the four spot, even while battling a rolled ankle. He powered his way to 19 points, ten rebounds (six offensive), and a +11. His aggression kept New Zealand alive – this was a star-level performance.
10 | Yanni Wetzell – 7
Quietly excellent. In just 16 minutes, Wetzell posted seven points, eight rebounds (four offensive), two assists and two steals. His physicality created real problems for Australia’s frontcourt and forced them into foul trouble.
11 | Flynn Cameron – 9
A statement game. Cameron looked every bit the heir to the Cameron family legacy with 15 points, six assists and zero turnovers. Scored in bunches, created for teammates, and controlled the offence with poise. The future of the program.
16 | Tohi Smith-Milner – 4
Limited minutes, but maximum effort. Smith-Milner brought size, physicality and the usual dirty-work contributions across seven scrappy minutes.
24 | Tyrell Harrison – 6.5
Took time to find a rhythm, but once he settled, he put Australia under pressure inside. A perfect 6-of-6 from the line and strong rim protection capped off a solid showing. If he’s your backup big, the Tall Blacks are in great shape.