The New Zealand Breakers' first game in Dunedin was not one for the highlight reels.
In front of a capacity crowd of 2900 at the Edgar Centre, the defending ANBL champion fell to a 64-61 loss to the Wollongong Hawks in a pre-season game at the Edgar Centre last night.
Breakers and Otago Nuggets swingman Leon Henry missed a three-pointer to tie the scores in the dying seconds but, while the ending was dramatic, the majority of the game was not played with any great intensity.
Centre Alex Pledger provided glimpses of his enormous potential with a solid haul of 18 points and nine rebounds.
Cedric Jackson and Daryl Corletto nabbed 10 points apiece.
Rhys Martin led the way for the Hawks with 15 points and Larry Davidson, looking every bit like Forrest Gump with his scraggly beard, scored 13 points and grabbed nine boards.
Neither side was able to find any real offensive fluency in the opening quarter. Pledger started brightly though, scoring his side's first five points. His opposite, Davidson, hit a three-pointer and former Breaker Oscar Foreman found his range to help his side build a 19-13 lead.
Breakers development player Reuben Te Rangi got the second period off to a good start, grabbing a steal and finishing the play nicely with a smart lay-up.
Some push and shove, followed by some uninspiring basketball, followed by some poor execution - it was dismal stuff. A few players looking after their bodies for the season ahead, no doubt.
The Hawks were slightly less awful and had stretched their lead to 10 midway through the period.
Cedric Jackson injected some life into the match with a bold drive to the basket and Will Hudson got busy under the hoop at both ends. Better.
Much better.
All Black coach Steve Hansen kept his arms folded during the halftime break, though.
And how often do the Breakers go an entire half without landing a three-point shot?
Corletto finally drilled one for the team with a few seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Trailing 50-47, the Breakers scored first when Hudson tipped in a shot from Mika Vukona.
Jackson squeezed his way to the basket moments later to get his side in front for the first time since the opening exchanges in the first quarter.
ANBL pre-season
The scores
Wollongong Hawks .. 64
Rhys Martin 15, Larry Davidson 13, Oscar Forman 11.
New Zealand Breakers ... 61
Alex Pledger 18, Daryl Corletto 10, Cedric Jackson 10.
Quarter 19-13, halftime 39-32, three quarter 50-47
