The winners of the first two games "today" (in Sydney, where today is always tomorrow) will go to the gold medal game. Their victims will meet for the bronze.

The first game is between #1 Australia and their zonal rivals #4 Japan. Australia wants to prove that their loss to the Japanese at the 2006 Worlds was an anomaly, not a trend.

After the 1st Quarter, the Australians led by a score of 12-11.

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In the 2nd Quarter, Japan was charged with a costly 15 second violation, at a really bad time for them. Australia now leads 25-24.

Japan now called with a backcourt violation.... the 2nd Quarter ends with the Aussies up by two, leading 26-24.

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3.5 Ryley Batt causes a turnover, leading the Aussies to a 4-pt lead.... 32-28 Australia.

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Australian ball coming back... Japan just used their last time out, while the boys from Oz have two left. The score is 35-31 Australia...

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Batt just made a steal on next play and called a time out leaving Australia with one time out left.

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Japan forces a turnover and scores, to make it 36-33 at the end of 3rd Quarter.

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Japan ball coming back and they score to make it 36-34. The tension mounts...

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A timeout has been called by Australia at 36-34.

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turnover to Australia, bringing the score up to a 3-pt comfort margin for the Aussies: 38-35.

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Japan fail to in-bound on the next play with ten seconds 40-35

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Australia steal the ball on an inbound 43-37.... and again!!!! 44-37

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Another turn over for Australia, 45-37

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49-40 with 1 minute to go...

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52-43 final score for Australia. Japan is delegated to the Bronze Medal match tomorrow, while Oz plays for a Paralympic berth as the reigning Oceania Zone champions.