The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 30

3 THE GAMES SATURDAY 27 JULY 1996 THE AGE Opals are ready for biggest test A PATRIOTS GUIDE titles. But the Opals were competitive in a three-game series against the US at home earlier this year, and they lost to the Americans by only five points at the word titles two years ago. What has happened since then is that the Americans got their act together, sending their women's team on a nine-month, 52-game exhibition tour to bond the players together. They made plans for a national league and began whipping everyone, most recently Zaire by 60 points yesterday. The US, Brazil and Australia are the only unbeaten teams in the 12-natinn tournament.

Hence the task is not easy for Maher's team, although even US head coach Tara Vanderveer has acknowledged their feisti-ness. hey (the Opals) are a very consistent team and they play extremely hard." she said yesterday. "They have some outstanding players, especially Michele Timms, their starting point guard. They are a team that will not beat themselves. "Maybe they are not as big as some of the other teams here, but they make up for it with an incredible amount of scrappi-ness." But they will need to be on their game, given that the crowd will be worth a few points to the US.

The Opals played South Korea before 30,000 earlier in the tournament, but they had the crowd's support then. The Opals completed their preparation for one of the biggest games of their careers with a 75-63 win over Cuba at Morehouse College yesterday, a victory set up by a superb first half. The Australians' half-court traps and generally physical defence smothered the Cubans in the first half, keeping them to 22 points and creating a buffer of 14. Sporn was superb with By MARTIN BLAKE, Atlanta, Friday Thirty-five thousand hollering Americans. A national television audience in the United States.

An opponent that is big, supremely talented, hard-nosed, well-organised and resolved to winning gold before an increasingly appreciative home audience. For the Australian women's basketball team, tomorrow night at the Georgia Dome is its moment of fame. Unbeaten In three games of the Olympic basketball tournament, the Opals confront the US in what could well be a preview of the gold-medal game; at the very least it will tell them where they stand. The question is, are they ready? Head coach Tom Maher is unequivocal. Maher said yesterday that the development of BASKETBALL bigger players had put the Opals in a position to challenge the elite teams.

"Australian teams through history have always been hurt by the (opposition) big player who can score," he said. "That's always been the crux. We've been reasonably strong in the back court, but the big player has been the problem. But we think we're better off than any other time, historically, to play such a team." 12 points, 12 rebounds and a fine blanketing trick on Cuba's brilliant centre, Yamilet Martinez, the leading scorer in the tournament. Although Martinez came up with some pretty moves in the second half to finish with 19 points, the damage had been done for the Cubans.

Timms had 19 points and Shelley Sandie IH. but the Opals shot poorly, missing a string of lay-ups and converting at only 36 per cent from the field. Timms (six of 19), Robyn Maher (one of seven) and Sandy Bron-dello (three of 10) struggled to connect with their shots, and although Maher did another good defensive job, taking the dangerous Maria Leon out of the game, she is making little contribution to the offence. "Thirty-six per cent is not going to beat the USA. that's for sure," Tom Maher said.

"But percentages can turn around. We have to do that better." Pair beat storm to lift medal hopes DAY 7 SECOND HALF From 6.30am Saturday, Melbourne time. ATHLETICS (Finals from 6.30am) Australians shut out Japan Women's javelin qualifying Women's 800m first round Men' triple Jump qualifying Mn's 100m early rounds Men' 400m first round Women' 5000m first round Men' tint round Joanna Stone, Louise McPaul Lisa Lightfoot Andrew Murphy Rod Mapstone, Paul Henderson Paul Greene, Mark Ladbrook, Michael Joubert Kate Anderson, Natalie Harvey. Carolyn Schuwalow Shaun Creighton SWIMMING (Finals from 9.33am) Women' 200m butterfly Susie O'Neill, Petria Thomas This is 0 'Neill greatest chance to stand on the medal dais. Men' 200m backstroke Steven Dewick, Toby Haenen Dewick could reach the final, but neither is a medal prospect.

Women' 50m freestyle Sarah Ryan, Karen van Wirdum This event has never been a good one for the Australians. Men' 4x100m medley relay Likely finalists whose position will hinge on Dewick's backstroke leg. Men' 1500m freestyle (final only) Kieren Perkins, Daniel Kowalski If all else fails, Australia should bring home a swimming gold here. HOCKEY 10am Australia Britain (women's) DAY 8 From 10.30pm, Saturday, Melbourne time. Rachael Sporn and Michelle Brogan will have the big defensive assignments tomorrow on American centre Lisa Leslie and power forward Katrina McClain.

Sporn has had an outstanding tournament, but Brogan has struggled at times. They will also have help off the bench from Jenny Whittle, whose development over the past two years has been crucial to Austra-lia's improvement from the team that lost to the US in the bronze medal game at the 1994 world titles in Sydney. Maher said the Opals would pay the US respect, but no more. "They're a fine basketball team, but this is supposed to be special, isn't it? Whoever wins the thing is supposed to be special. We have to be prepared to be special, and beat them." Australia has beaten the US only once, and that in an exhibition game in Melbourne immediately before the 1994 world Thumbs up: Kerri Pottharst cele had beaten the Australians in three of their past four clashes.

"We knew we could beat them if we just stuck to our game plan." Pottharst said. eading Bli, 50 minutes into the firstto-15 match. Pottharst and Cook, had the marginal ascendancy, but were being made to scratch for every point. For well over 20 linutes the ATHLETICS From 11.15pm Women' heptathlon (11.15pm) Jane Jamieson Men' 800m qualifying (midnight) Paul Byrne 400m qual (lam) Cathy Freeman. Renee Poetschka.

Lee Naykx Men' hammer throw qualifying (1.30am) Sean Cartm Men' triple Jump final (8.15am) Andrew Murphy Men' 400m qualifying (8.55am) Paul Greene, Michael Joubert, Mark Ladbbrooke Women' Javelin final (9.20am) Joanna Stone, Louise McPaul Women's 800m semi-final (9.25am) Lisa Lightfoot Men' 100m final (10am) Rod Mapstone Women' qualifying Susan Hobson, Kyle Risk BADMINTON Women' tingles and double, Men' double, Mixed double BASEBALL loam Australia US BASKETBALL 10am Australia US (women') BEACH VOLLEYBALL From midnight 10-0 Picture: REUTER US sand leticism, launched herself right at what would have otherwise been a straight-out Pottharst "kill" (overhead smash) and managed to bounce the ball back into Australian sand. Pumped up with something close to pure patriotic power, McPeak and Reno soon clawed back a point to trail 1413. Then the denouement. With Australia serving, it was match point. After the usual bewildering set of parries and thrusts, posts and sets, the ball came lo Reno at the net.

where she is at her most lethal, generating enormous power and accuracy. On this occasion, though, she went for guile, opting lo put the ball softly where the Australians were not. It landed in. plop, hut there was one problem. In the process.

Reno's hands had inadvertently fouled over (he net and an official immediately raised his red flag. Reno protested bitterly, but the official would not budge, (iame, set and match Australia and a guaranteed berth in the semi-finals starting today. While Reno was left gripping the net, head cradled between her arms, tears on her cheeks, the Australians were ecstatic. They had moved a step closer to the showdown they had worked towards all these months against the No. I Brazilian team, world champions lackie Silva and Sandra Pires.

"They're the ones we want." said Poith-arst "and they're the ones we're going to WofflM's fliuris BOXING From 3.30am SOFTBALL Atlanta, Friday Australia hit top form yesterday at the Olympic Softball tournament In Columbus, Georgia, with a 10-0 thrashing of Japan. It was easily Australia best performance of the tourna-. ment and set the side up perfectly for Its big match today against the United States, the only unbeaten team. Australia pitcher Mclanle Roche led the way with a complete-game shut-out, conceding Just four hits while striking out seven batters. "That was the team I know out there today," said veteran catcher and captain Joyce Lester.

"I think the other teams also will look at us differently after today." Australia had a shaky start to the tournament with losses to China and Puerto Rico, but has moved to third on the competition standings with three wins and two losses. The top four teams will move through to the medal round. "We plan on being in the medal round, but we know we have to play more and we have to do the exact same thing we did yesterday and today," said coach Bob Crudg-Ington, referring also to Wednesday's 1 -0 win over the Netherlands. "But we know we have a hard game tomorrow, and we are looking forward to it and Canada as well the next day." Australia batters mauled the Japanese pitching, picking up II hits, including home runs to right-fielder Pcta Edc-bone, third base Sally McDcr-mid and second base Natalie Ward. There was no score until the fifth Inning, when Australia scored four runs.

Australia then added emphasis to its big win with six runs in the seventh and final dig. Stubbs ill, forfeits in doubles By GERARD WRIGHT and AAP, Atlanta, Friday Australian Olympic tennis player Kennae Stubbs was said to be "resting comfortably" last night after collapsing just before a doubles match. Stubbs, 25, the reigning United States Open doubles champion, collapsed with severe stomach cramps 15 minutes before she and doubles partner Nicole Bradtke were to play the Chinese pair, Li Chen-ling and Qian Yi, at Stone Mountain. Stubbs was taken by ambulance to the Olympic Village medical centre and was walking around last night. The Australian pair had to forfeit.

Top seeds Monica Seles and Andre Agassi, of the US, each won in straight sets. Seles became the first player to reach the third round by beating Patricia Hy-Boulais of Canada fi-3. 6-2. Agassi heat Kami Kucera of Slovakia H-4, 8 4 for his second straight-sets victory. Atlanta Notebook Atlanta, Friday YACHTING: A change of gear and attitude helped lift two Australians back into the medal race on another stormy day at the Olympic regatta off Savannah, Georgia.

Queenslander Christine Bridge and Victorian Paul McKenzie had struggled in the variable conditions on Was-saw Sound earlier this week, but rushed into contention yesterday. The rain, wind, thunder and lightning held off long enough for Colin Beashel's and "David Giles' hot streak to come to an end in the Star class, and for Michael Blackburn in the Laser class and the board sailors to do some damage to their medal prospects. McKenzie's victory in heat five of the Finn class moved him from 20th to 13th place, while Bridge's fourth and fifth placings in two races moved her to ninth with five races remaining. Both changed gear before racing: Bridge because she expected heavy going and McKenzie to feel comfortable with his old rig. BASEBALL: Australia's hopes of winning an Olympic medal crashed yesterday after poor pitching left the side a 12-8 loser to Italy.

Australia has to win its next three games against the United States, Nicaragua and Korea to be in with a chance of advancing to the semi-finals. EQUESTRIAN: Myth Tait. the highest-placed rider in New Zealand's bronze medal-winning team, again showed his class in yesterday's speed and endurance phase of the individual three-day event to snatch the overall lead on his reserve horse. Tait, the team silver and individual bronze medallist at the Barcelona Games, rode his inexperienced mount, Ready Teddy, in masterly fashion to take the lead after finishing the dressage in equal 15th place. He leads compatriot Sally Clark on Squirrel Hill by just 3.60 penalties less than the cost of one show-jumping fence going into today's final jumping round.

Australian team gold medallist Andrew Hoy was 1 5th, while Nikki Bishop was eliminated and David Green retired. BADMINTON: Indonesian Joko Suprianto, the men's singles top seed, made an impressive start on his Olympic debut yesterday. The World Cup winner, omitted in the sport's Olympic debut in Barcelona four years ago, defeated Finland's Ponttis lantti, scoring the first 14 points before the Finn recorded his first score. Suprianto engulfed lantti 15-1. 15-5.

Australians Peter Blackburn and Paul Staight defeated Mauritians Stephen Beeh.irrv and Fdily (T.ir-isse 13-3. 15-8. but Rhonda Cator and Amanda Hardy lost to Indonesians I ili lampi and Fin-arsih 15-9, 15 4. HIDO: German veteran Udo Quellmalz and French newcomer Marie-Claire Restoux captured gold medals in the extra-lightweight division yesterday. Quellmalz took the men's under(5 kilogram class on a judge's decision over lapan's Vukimasa Nakamura.

while Restoux outscored Hyun Sook-hee of South Korea in the women's under 52 kilogram final. Australian Darren Fahan was defeated in the (5-kilogram division by Cuban Hernandez Plana, while another Australian, Catherine Braine, Inst to American M.ir-issa Pedulla on a decision in the women's 52-kilogram division. CANOEINGKAYAKING From midnight Women's Kl Danielle Woodward, Mia Farrance Men' CI Justin Boocock Striking while she's hot: Australian pitcher Melanie Roche struck out seven batters to help her team shut out the Japanese 10-0. CYCLING From 1.15am Gritty display wins day on Men' sprint quarter and semMlnals Gary Neiwand Women' sprint final (2am) Michelle Ferns Men' team pursuit final (3.30am) DIVING Semi-finals 1.30am, Finals midday Women' 10m platform Vyninka Anow, Vanessa Baker EQUESTRIAN From 10.30pm Team dresug event HOCKEY npm Australia Malaysia (men') ROWING Finals from midnight Men' coxiest pair (12.10m) David Weightman, Robert Scott Women' coxiest pair (12.20am) Megan Still. Kate Slatter Womtn't double scuts (lam) Marina Hatzakis and Brorwyn Roye Men's coxls tour (L20am) Drew Gim, James Tomkins, Nick Green.

Michael McKay Kerri Pottharst, Natalie Cook Paul McKenzie these competitors subject to change. SHOOTING 10 30pm Picture: AP 11 brutes Iwiting the IIS No. I team. score remained the same, with the Americans seeming to regain the psychological ascendancy simply because the Australians could not crack them. At last.

though, the Australians strung together a couple of points, only to have the Americans respond, making it 14-12. Quiet on the court. Match point. McPeak, with superb ath BEACH VOLLEYBALL By PETER FITZSIMONS, Atlanta, Friday Imagine the scene: the sun ahove, the sand below, and two Australian women on the beach volleyball court, pitted against two Americans at the other end and another 10,000 all around. The announcer has abandoned all notion of neutrality and exhorts the crowd to cheer louder to support "these girls representing vou and our Such was the situation facing No.

I Australian team Kerri Pottharst and Natalie Cook at the Atlanta Beach Stadium. "It was tough." Cook said, "hut when you've played against Brazilians in front of 15,000 people at Rio 1)1 laneiro, you're ready for anything." Which was just as well because anything and everything came at them in this game, not least the tenacious American No. 1 team of Nancy Heno and Hollv McPeak, who Men' skeet qualifying and final Craig Meuleman. David Cunningham SOFTBALL llpm Australia Canada TENNIS Men' and women' tingles and doublet WEIOHTUFTINQ 2 30am 91 kftogram dat Harvey Goodman YACHTING 3am Men' Finn da final The appearance of some of qualifying. Times subject to.