New Zealand U17 vs Slovenia U17

New Zealand's rebounding advantage proved decisive. Coming into the game with a tournament average of 18 more rebounds per game than Slovenia, the Kiwis controlled the defensive glass and limited Slovenia to one-and-done possessions. In a game decided by five points, those extra possessions — especially in the fourth quarter — were the margin.

• Jayden Cecil (NZL) — The guard who dropped a historic 42 points against Türkiye in the opener (tied for third-most in U17 World Cup history) was again the focal point of New Zealand's offence. Cecil entered the game averaging 18.0 points per tournament.
• Lun Jarc (SLO) — Slovenia's leading scorer through the group stage continued to produce in the paint, building on his 20-point, 10-rebound outing against Puerto Rico.
• New Zealand's frontcourt collective — The Kiwis' tournament rebounding average of 53.5 per game (vs. Slovenia's 35.5) was the underlying stat that shaped the game.

New Zealand's tournament-wide averages entering the match (88.5 points, 53.5 rebounds, 50% two-point shooting) painted a picture of an aggressive interior team. Slovenia's averages (72 points, 35.5 rebounds, 49.4% two-point shooting) highlighted the disparity on the boards that this game ultimately exposed. The three-point line told a similar story: New Zealand shot 30% from deep across the group stage, Slovenia 24.3%.

The 79–74 scoreline reflected a game that was tight throughout but never truly in doubt for the Kiwis, who led for the majority of the contest.

With this result, New Zealand finishes Group C in third place at 1–2, while Slovenia drops to 0–3 and finishes fourth. However, under the FIBA U17 World Cup format, all 16 teams advance to the Round of 16 regardless of group position. The group standings at the conclusion of play on 30 June are:

1. Türkiye (2–0, pending result of their match vs Puerto Rico on the same day)
2. Puerto Rico (2–1)
3. New Zealand (1–2)
4. Slovenia (0–3)

New Zealand will be seeded into the Round of 16 crossover against a team from Group D, with matchups determined by final group rankings. Slovenia will face a tougher path as the fourth seed from Group C.

New Zealand earned a deserved first win by imposing their strengths — rebounding and interior scoring — on a Slovenia side that struggled to match their physicality. The Kiwis showed resilience after the heartbreak of a double-overtime loss to the hosts, while Slovenia will need to regroup quickly for the knockout phase.

All 16 teams remain in contention, but New Zealand's performance suggests they could be a tricky matchup for a Group D opponent in the Round of 16.