RIGA (2011 FIBA U19 World Championship) - Even with Anthony Drmic having a rare cold night, Australia have been able to see of Brazil, becoming the first team from Group E to qualify for the quarter finals.
 
The Australian small forward, who has been tearing up the tournament to date by averaging 23.2 points struggled with the extra attention he drew from Brazil but his team mates stepped up in his absence.
 
Mitchell Creek led the way with a game-high 23 points, while Jackson Hussey showed the depth the Australians have off the bench, adding seven points, including a crucial five at the end of the third quarter to give Australia some breathing space heading into the final ten minutes. His efforts earned him praise from his coach, Damien Cotter following the game. Discussing key players, Cotter recognised that Hussey had provided the ‘crucial spark’ that his team needed going into the final ten minutes.
 
In the first half Brazil had been able to effectively box Australia out under the hoop, denying them any second chance points and help them lead for large periods of the first half. However, Brazil began to crack in the second half, gifting Australia a number of points with easy turnovers and when it counted in the final minutes, the Brazilian’s same effective defense employed in the first half was found to be lacking as Australia pounced on easy second chance points along the stretch to clinch the match.
 
Brazil struggled on offense, failing to match raise their game as they had done on Monday, when five players finished in double figures against Latvia. Instead the majority of the scoring responsibilities were left to Cristiano Felicio and Raul Neto. When the pair found themselves in foul trouble, nobody else was able to step up in their place.
 
Australia, who have secured a Quarter Final round slot thanks to their four win to one loss record, will now look to cement their spot at the top of the group when they take on Poland in their final match before the quarter finals.