Breakers’ past back to haunt them

DJ Newbill fired the Cairns Taipans to a stunning comeback win at the ANBL Blitz over his old New Zealand Breakers team with the Snakes rallying from 18 points down to win by seven in Ballarat.

The Breakers looked on the way to their second win of the Blitz, leading by 15 points at halftime and by as many as 18 with Patrick Richard on fire, even with Tai Wesley and Corey Webster sidelined and Tom Abercrombie already absent.

But the Snakes hit their rhythm in the third quarter, led by Newbill. Then Melo Trimble joined in the act and Cairns went on to win 96-89, their first win of the weekend.

In his first taste of playing against the Breakers where he impressed last season, Newbill had a huge second half for Cairns ending up with 24 points, five rebounds and five assists while going 5/7 from three-point range.

Trimble also had 23 points and five assists for the Snakes with Alex Loughton adding 19 points and five rebounds. Nate Jawai showed good signs with nine points, five rebounds and two assists in almost 26 minutes.

Richard ended up with 23 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Breakers with Armani Moore contributing 17 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, Majok Majok 11 points and eight boards, Jordan Ngatai 10 points and four rebounds, and Finn Delany eight points and three assists.

The Snakes started impressively with an and-one to Loughton, a basket to Jawai and then a triple to Newbill.

Trimble also hit a three soon after for Cairns but with Delany, Jarrad Weeks and Ngatai catching fire, the Breakers went into quarter-time leading 29-23.

Richard and Majok then helped the Breakers to a double-digit lead early in the second period and, by the time Richard hit a couple more from downtown just before halftime, New Zealand were out to a 15-point advantage at the break.

But the Snakes came out and delivered a stunning third quarter which included a 17-1 run that was led by a huge run from Newbill against his old side as he knocked down three successive three-pointers.

It was then a tremendous battle down the stretch but the Snakes did enough to come away with the impressive win.