ISTANBUL – The Turkey U17 National Basketball Team triumphed over New Zealand with a score of 112-100 in their first FIBA U17 World Cup Group C match, held at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center yesterday evening.
A Thrilling Comeback Secures Victory
The crescent-starred team faced a challenging start, trailing 22-20 in the first quarter, 41-28 at halftime, and 64-47 by the end of the third quarter. However, in a remarkable display of resilience, the national team mounted an effective comeback in the final period. Demir Öztürk’s crucial points with just three seconds remaining in regular time forced the game into overtime, ending the initial 84-84 tie. Turkey ultimately emerged victorious after the extended periods.
Top Scorers for Turkey and New Zealand
Ömer Kutluay led Turkey’s scoring with an impressive 39 points, closely followed by Darius Karutasu with 37 points. For New Zealand, Jayden Cecil was the highest scorer with 42 points, while Liam Keogh contributed 20 points.
Federation Officials Witness the Match
The match was attended by prominent figures from the Turkish Basketball Federation, including President Hidayet Türkoğlu and Vice President Harun Erdenay, who watched the game courtside.
Upcoming Match Against Slovenia
Turkey is set to play their second group match against Slovenia today at 20:15.
Source: dha.com.tr
