Breakers’ offence too good for Taipans
AUCKLAND: The New Zealand Breakers have inflicted a fifth successive loss on the Cairns Taipans, beating them 10481 in an ANBL game last night.
Both teams battled defensively, but the sixthplaced Breakers — despite missing US import Armani Moore to a finger injury — were too strong and too accurate on offence.
In their most consistent match of the season, the Kiwis led every quarter, fronted by the twin strike force of Corey Webster — who sunk a gamehigh 25 points — and Patrick Richard (21).
For the Taipans, point guard Melo Trimble was tireless, topscoring with 23, but received little support, with only former Breakers guard DJ Newbill (11) and forward Kuany Kuany (10) reaching double figures.
Cairns now has not registered a win since its firstround 8870 victory over the Brisbane Bullets.
The Breakers, who faded badly in last week’s 9278 loss to Perth, started with a hiss and a roar.
Backtoback three pointers from Webster, and another from Richard, opened up a 154 lead after five minutes.
Shawn Long added another trey, the Breakers stretching to a 3018 lead before Trimble hit back with a three right on on the buzzer to cut the home team’s lead to 3021 at the first break.
Dexter KernichDrew continued the Taipans’ resurgence at the restart, draining another three to set the visitors on a run which reduced the Breakers’ advantage to just one barely three minutes into the second quarter.
But while the Breakers offered plenty of variation on offence, Cairns relied heavily on Trimble and former Breakers swingman Newbill, and the Kiwis capitalised to take a 5745 lead into halftime.
The New Zealanders dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Taipans 2512 to lead 8257 at the last break, and although Cairns edged the final spell 2422, the final result was never in doubt. — AAP