17th September 2011
Breakers Make It Two From Two
It was closer this time but the SKYCITY Breakers made it two from two in the pre-season with a 75-74 victory over the Wollongong Hawks in a near full TECT Arena at Mount Maunganui tonight.
A win that looked comfortable all night was made a little nervous as the Hawks closed to within one and had free throws to take the lead in the final minute, only to blow their chances as the Breakers held on thanks to a final play steal from impressive American import Cedric Jackson.
That frantic final minute looked unlikely throughout the night as the SKYCITY Breakers controlled proceedings, leading by 14 at halftime and three quarter time as Coach Lemanis once again rotated the bench, giving all players plenty of court time in the absence of the rested Mika Vukona and Tom Abercrombie.
Veteran guard CJ Bruton was pleased with the workout for his team.
“Tonight was another good challenge for us and obviously going on the road in New Zealand and playing such a great team and a great organisation in these games is perfect. For us it is about trying to consolidate and get better as we put the pieces together for the new season.
“We have replaced a few good ball players with some great young talent and tonight was a chance to have those players contribute and allow the entire group to shine. They are getting the chance to play for the defending champions and prove that we are a force to be reckoned with once again so these games are great.”
Bruton is easing into the pre-season as he nurses a few aches and pains.
“I have a little tendonitis but playing through it is something you have to do but my focus is on the start of the season and for us as a group making sure with the players coming back from Tall Blacks and the new guys that we are all on the same page once the season starts.”
As was the case on Thursday night at the new Claudelands Arena in Hamilton, Bruton was impressed with the new TECT Arena in Mount Maunganui and the near full house that turned up to watch the game.
“The venue is just amazing, for sport, concerts but importantly for basketball with three courts it doesn’t get any better than this. It is a tribute to the sponsors and organisations that have made this happen. I only wish I had access to these sorts of facilities when I was growing up as a kid.
It was another all-round contribution from the SKYCITY Breakers roster with Daryl Corletto, Cedric Jackson, Leon Henry and Gary Wilkinson all in double figures in scoring while Jackson added 7 steals and Wilkinson 7 rebounds to the stat sheet as Coach Lemanis gave the majority of the roster plenty of court time.
The road trip hasn’t just been about playing though, the coaches and playing roster has been busy with community coaching clinics in the Waikato Bay of Plenty region as the North Shore based club spreads the basketball word around the country on the back of their championship success last season.
The Breakers will now head to Brisbane next week to play in the ANBL Sunshine State Challenge pre-season tournament as well as working hard in the practice gym as Andrej Lemanis puts the finishing touches to this new group ahead of the opening game of the season in Gold Coast on October 9. Their first home game is at Vector Arena on October 28 against the Sydney Kings.
SKYCITY Breakers 75
Daryl Corletto 14, Gary Wilkinson 14, Cedric Jackson 13
Wollongong Hawks 74
Rhys Martin 23, Tyson Demos 15
