DJ Fires but Australia Falls to England in Birmingham

Adelaide 36ers all-time great Daniel Johnson again showed that he could have a long 3x3 life ahead of him beyond his NBL career, but it wasn’t quite enough with Australia losing to England in the final pool match up at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The second day of 3x3 action at the Commonwealth Games saw Australia take on England with both teams undefeated from Saturday night, and it was the host nation who ended up prevailing 17-12.

That means England finishes on top of Pool B to advance straight to the semi-final while Australia will have to win through a quarter-final against Kenya on Monday evening to earn a spot in the semis against Scotland.

On the back of Australia's opening day wins against Trinidad and Tobago, and New Zealand, England also came into Sunday night's match up having defeated the same two teams meaning top spot in Pool B went on the line.

Australia was without four-time NBL championship winner Greg Hire through the leg injury he suffered against New Zealand on Saturday night with Daniel Johnson, Jesse Wagstaff and Tom Wright playing all 10 minutes against England.

England ended up beating Australia 17-12 to finish on top of Pool B but Johnson continued to be the standout player at the tournament with the seven-time Adelaide 36ers MVP winner delivering another eight points on 7/13 shooting with five rebounds.

Wright finished with two points and a rebound, and Wagstaff two points, four rebounds and a blocked shot.

Meanwhile for England, Myles Hesson put up eight points, Orlan Jackman five and Jaydon Henry-McCalla three.

It was England who scored the first two baskets through Henry-McCalla and Hesson before it was Johnson finding Wright to put Australia on the board.

Wagstaff was then able to tie scores up firstly with a one-point bucket and then a free-throw. However, England continued to have the advantage and Australia was playing catch up.

Eventually Australia called for a timeout halfway through with England leading 7-5 and they soon were able to open up a 12-7 lead on the back of a drive and finish from Jackman.

A two-pointer for Australia from Johnson fired them back into the contest, though, and when he scored again the margin was back to three. Wagstaff then also blocked a shot from Jackman and Australia had worked right back into it.

However, England again pulled away with the next four points to lead 17-10 and end up winning 17-12 following a couple of late finishes from Johnson.

The quarter and semi finals will now both take place on Monday night in Birmingham which will firstly see Australia take on Kenya in the quarters with the winner to move on to play Scotland in the semi-final.

The other quarter-final will feature New Zealand against Canada with the winner to take on England with a spot in the gold medal match on the line.

Meanwhile, Australia's 3x3 women's team booked in an automatic spot in the semi-final by beating Sri Lanka 21-2 in a dominant performance on Sunday.,

On the back of beating Kenya 21-15 and Scotland 21-9 in the opening day's action, Australia ensured they went through the Pool A action undefeated on the back of eight points from Marena Whittle, six from Lauren Mansfield, four from Lauren Scherf, and three from Ally Wilson.

They will now await the winner of the quarter-final between England and Kenya in the semi-final on Monday night where they will look to book a spot in the gold medal match on Tuesday.

There is also a 3x3 wheelchair basketball tournament at the Commonwealth Games and Australia's women have moved into the semi finals having won their two group phase matches.

After beating Scotland 12-5 on Saturday night, they defeated South Africa 21-3 on Sunday with Amber Merritt starring with 11 points on 9/12 shooting. Georgia Inglis also scored six points.

Australia's women will now play England in the semi finals with the medal matches to then take place on Tuesday.

Australia's men are also into the semi finals of the wheelchair tournament on the back of beating Northern Ireland on Sunday night following their 13-11 Saturday win over Canada.

Conn Nagle scored five points in the win for Australia with three each to James MacSorley and Nathan McCabe.

The Australian men will play England in Monday's semi finals with a spot in the gold medal match on Tuesday up for grabs.