Basketball: Breakers thrashed by Wildcats

The Perth Wildcats recorded their first win inside Perth Arena and snapped a three-game NBL losing run by thrashing the New Zealand Breakers 89-64 in a grand final rematch.

The Wildcats were dominant after quarter-time, holding the second-placed Breakers to just 16 points in the middle two quarters and out-rebounding the Kiwis 41-23.

With 11,086 fans watching the Wildcats put on a much-improved showing than their 69-65 loss to the Adelaide 36ers last Friday night, Shawn Redhage turned back the clock with 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting.

Kevin Lisch added 18 points and six rebounds and co-captain Brad Robbins was instrumental early to finish with 11 points and five assists.

Cedric Jackson hit 15 points for the Breakers with Will Hudson adding 12 and Corey Webster 11.

Coming into the game Redhage had been enduring the leanest period of his career in Perth, but he was on fire early with seven points and two assists in the opening three-and-a-half minutes.

Alex Pledger and Jackson made sure New Zealand kept the scoreboard ticking down the other end and a Redhage buzzer-beater gave Perth a 28-27 quarter-time advantage.

The Wildcats put the foot down with the first six points of the second period and another 7-0 run soon after had the home side up by 12.

The Breakers had just two points in the first seven-and-a-half minutes, but scored six straight late in the term to reduce the gap to 45-35 at half-time.

It was more of the same from the Wildcats in the third quarter, Redhage and Lisch hitting quick baskets and another 9-0 run taking the lead beyond 20.

Threes from Leon Henry, CJ Bruton and Jackson, plus a three-point play to Hudson helped New Zealand get back to within 14 early in the last quarter.

But the Wildcats steadied and Redhage put an exclamation point on the night with an emphatic dunk as Perth cruised to their 25-point win.