Basketball: Close win cause for encouragement

As impressive as the first quarter was in their win over Perth, the Breakers would have taken equal encouragement from their efforts in the fourth.

The Breakers of a season ago would have quite possibly blown the big lead they built on Friday night, succumbing to the pressure poured on by Perth in their inevitable fightback.

But this year's outfit absorbed every blow before halting their hosts' seemingly-inexorable charge back into the game, never allowing Perth to get within a possession and eventually edging the defending champions by 10 points.

The assured display down the stretch was every bit as promising as the 28-14 lead the Breakers built in the opening period. It demonstrated an ability to emerge triumphant in tight games, an ability that was a hallmark of the Breakers' title-winning seasons but one that went missing during the disastrous last campaign.

"Last year in the close games -- and [Friday] night ended up being a close game even though we played so well -- we let a few of those games slip," said assistant coach Paul Henare. "To be able to hold on and perform so well against a championship side on the road, I think it's a huge confidence boost."

There's no doubting Cedric Jackson was the driving force behind the formidable final-quarter rearguard. His drive to the basket through heavy traffic with a minute to play, extending his side's lead to a safe seven points, was just one highlight in an assured performance as the clock ticked down.

Jackson is the ultimate closer -- with the cool head and safe hands needed to lock up any lead. He was also, as Henare revealed, not getting carried away with an opening game that produced 22 points, five assists and five rebounds.

"Cedric Jackson in the locker room, when the boys were warming down, was already saying, 'Great job but now our focus shifts to next week'. As a coaching staff, you love to hear that sort of stuff. You know the guys have enjoyed that win but realise we're one game into a 28-game season."

Indeed, no one at the Breakers will be getting carried away with the win. But, in addition to closing out a narrow victory, there was another aspect of their game the Breakers appear to have amended over the offseason.

Holding the home side to just 26 points in the opening 20 minutes represented an outstanding return to a defence that was much-maligned last season. New import Ekene Ibekwe and an ailing Alex Pledger protected the rim, while Perth's substandard shooting from the floor (34 per cent) was notable for the number of shots they were forced to take with a hand in their face.

By Kris Shannon of APNZ

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