Crate, Goodman, Jones: Breaking down New Zealand's star trio from the 2023 FIBA U16 Asia Championships
New Zealand couldn't quite get one over Australia at the 2023 FIBA U16 Asia Championships, but Lachlan Crate, Oscar Goodman and Hayden Jones all made a name for themselves.
Australia walked in to the 2023 FIBA U16 Asia Championships as tournament favourites, led by a star roster including Dash Daniels, Nash Walker, Indy Cotton and Henry Sewell. But the boys in green and gold were given a major fright in the final match, where they narrowly edged out New Zealand for a 79-76 win. Sewell was the only Aussie to make the tournament All-Star Five, where he was joined by New Zealand prospects Lachlan Crate and Oscar Goodman. Additionally, Hayden Jones didn’t make the five man roster, but was New Zealand’s shining light in that narrow defeat. Here’s how New Zealand’s Crate, Goodman and Jones made a name for themselves throughout the tournament.
Credit: FIBA
Lachlan Crate
Standing at 6’6 tall, guard Lachlan Crate was one of New Zealand’s go to scorers, logging three consecutive 20+ point games en route to the final. Although Crate’s jumper deserted him in the gold medal clash against Australia, where he finished on a 2/10 shooting line from the field, the then-16 year old was one of New Zealand’s standouts in the semi-final against China.
Crate showcased his scoring ability against China, with each bucket seeming to come from a different route.
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