If the Breakers were struggling to get past Perth on the outside, they had to turn their attentions closer to the rim.
Which meant one thing -- an injury-stricken Alex Pledger needed to forget the pain of a persistent toe injury and provide a major contribution.
Pledger did just that as the Breakers (10-4) won a top-of-the-table battle 77-66 at Vector Arena last night, recovering from an indifferent first half to take first place away from the Wildcats (9-4).
Requiring surgery and a significant spell on the sidelines, Pledger was hoping to play through the pain for 10 minutes a game during the remainder of the campaign. But when the three-ball refused to fall and fellow big Ekene Ibekwe found himself in foul trouble, Pledger responded with a season-high 13 points while gritting through 19 minutes.
His performance sparked a dominant third quarter in which the Breakers outscored their rivals 22-8 to sneak home in a predictably tight tussle.
Pledger's points were supported by Ibekwe's 18 -- coming on eight-of-eight shooting -- as the Breakers enjoyed solid production out of the centre spot.
"Combined, they were outstanding," coach Dean Vickerman said of his centre duo. "We've just got to push Alex some days. He talked to me and said he could give me some more in the second quarter, then he was required to give us a little bit more with E picking up some foul trouble. "
The efforts of the pair were crucial when the shots weren't dropping in the first half, with the Breakers going 2-15 from beyond the arc to follow last week's wayward performance in the loss against Sydney.
Their inaccuracy tonight saw Perth jump out to a 12-point lead at the major break, with the Breakers turning the ball over too often and committing too many fouls, though some perplexing calls left the players aggrieved.
The shooters finally warmed up in the second half as a 16-2 run allowed the home side to earn their first advantage. Cedric Jackson scored the opening five points of that spree to eventually grab 15, while Corey Webster finished with 14.
Breakers 77 (Ibekwe 18, Jackson 15, Webster 14), Wildcats 66 (Redhage 19, Daniels 16, Beal 13). HT: 32-44.
- Kris Shannon
