Belleville native scores seven points in Olympic debut

(AP) – Andrew Bogut scored 18 as Australia upset France 87-66 in the opening men’s basketball game Saturday at the Rio Games.

Kevin Lisch, who starred at Althoff Catholic High School and played at Saint Louis University, scored seven points off the bench for the Boomers in the victory.

France was considered by many as the second-best men’s team in the tournament behind the United States, but the NBA talent-filled squad underwhelmed on the heels of a disappointing 2012 Olympics.

Bogut shot 9 for 10 from the field and Patty Mills had 21 points. Bogut’s presence was a bit of a surprise after he suffered a hyperextended knee in the NBA Finals.

Tony Parker, one of 10 NBA players on the court – five on each team – scored a team-high 18 for France – 16 in the second quarter. Australia dominated early and led by 15 , but France closed the half on a 14-2 run to trail 36-33. The Aussies put the game away with a 14-2 run to take a 67-48 lead in the fourth quarter.

This story was originally published August 5, 2016 at 10:30 PM with the headline "Belleville native scores seven points in Olympic debut."