Basketball: Breakers claim tight win over Wollongong

A successful double-header against Wollongong has ensured the path is paved for the Breakers to once again take out the minor premiership.

The Kiwi club this afternoon repeated their efforts from the NSEC on Thursday night to claim a tight 86-84 road victory over the last-placed Hawks.

And now the Breakers have a realistic shot to repeat what they achieved for three years running and clinch home advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Breakers (16-5) currently have one fewer loss to their names than Cairns (14-6) and Perth (12-6) but, with the former three-time champs having seen more action, the onus is on the Australians to turn their extra games into wins.

Just seven games remain for the Breakers and five of those fixtures are on this side of the Tasman, where they have suffered just one defeat during the current campaign.

Three home clashes in the next three weeks means fatigue will not be a factor and the Breakers must be considered favourites to finish on top of the heap come the end of February.

Those odds will only increase if they manage to stick with the team-first philosophy that was on display throughout the encounter in Wollongong, with the Breakers sharing the ball well and putting six players into double figures.

The big men were especially effective, save for a quiet night from Alex Pledger. Mika Vukona, Ekene Ibekwe and Tai Wesley all thrived in the paint, combining for an efficient 16-27 from the floor, as the starting centre was restricted to five minutes.

Vukona (6-9) led his side with 17 points while both Ibekwe and Wesley finished with 11. A fast start from Corey Webster saw him chime in with 15 and Rhys Carter's 14 meant it was another effective night for the back-court trio.

And the Breakers did it all without the services of Dean Vickerman, who was struck by sickness and left assistant Paul Henare in charge. Vickerman certainly would have been pleased with what he first saw from his hotel room as, unlike Thursday's first leg, the Breakers appeared fresh in the opening five minutes.

Webster was providing his coach with particular reason for cheer, making his first four shots and scoring 10 of the Breakers' opening 17 points, helping his side to a nine-point lead by the end of the period.

The home side continued to chip away at the Breakers' advantage in the second and, aided by a big rebounding advantage, crept in front for the first time late in the half.

The Breakers took a four-point lead into the major break and, despite the success the Breakers' bigs were finding from mid-range, Wollongong's defence enjoyed their best quarter to pull within one.

Just a possession separated the sides for much of the fourth before Wollongong locked it up with two minutes to play. But, with an upset was brewing, Cedric Jackson showed his closing abilities with a driving lay-up, allowing Wesley's timely steal to virtually seal the victory.

Breakers 86 (Vukona 17, Webster 16, Carter 13), Hawks 84 (Ervin 25, Coenraad 19, Carson 11). HT: 47-43.

Kris Shannon of the NZME. News Service

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