Brydens Sydney Uni Flames youngest recruit Tahlia Tupaea and her Australian team-mates returned from the Czech Republic this week with a fifth placing at the 2014 FIBA Under 17 World Basketball Championship for Women.
Tahlia, 16 and still at school, had plenty of game time as Australia topped their pool with big wins over Japan, Slovakia, Mali and Mexico to enter the final 16.
She was one of Australia’s better performers in their 61-50 quarter-final loss to host nation, the Czech Republic, posting 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
The Australians rebounded from their quarter final defeat to better France 65-48 to secure a berth in the 5th/6th play-off.
Chloe Bibby scored a team-high 14 points, while Tupaea continued her strong second half of the tournament, posting 13 points to go with three rebounds and three steals in the win over France.
The Australians ended the World Championship campaign on a winning note, thrashing Canada 69-39 to claim fifth place.
In a commanding performance, the Australians controlled the contest from the outset, establishing a 14-5 at the end of the first quarter that would not overturned on their way to comfortable 30-point final margin.
A double-double from Anneli Maley (10 points, 10 rebounds and three assists) headlined a strong team showing from the Australians, with Maddison Rocci (10 points, seven rebounds and four assists) and Alexandra Sharp (eight points, seven rebounds and four blocks) also impressive.
The Australians ended the tournament with six wins and one loss.
The US won gold with a 77-75 win over Spain in a very tight final, while Hungry won the bronze medal with a 67-61 win over the Czech Republic in the play-off for third and fourth.
