Breakers ready to seal spot in semis

FOR the Breakers, the job is only half done.

An outstanding 77-73 Australian NBL victory over the Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong on Friday night has taken the Kiwi club to within one victory of a guaranteed playoff spot, with still five games remaining.

At 14-9, and now third on the standings, the Breakers are so close to a return to the playoffs they can almost taste it. A repeat victory in a rematch today against the Hawks in Auckland will seal the deal.

The Breakers rode home on a big effort from their bench unit and a strong overall defensive effort on Friday to all but torpedo the Hawks’ own playoff hopes and snap a four-game road losing streak.

Paul Henare’s men kept the Hawks to just a 36 percent shooting clip, won the points off the bench battle 38-15 and shook off a slow start (they trailed 15-5 early) to squeeze the life out of their hosts.

‘‘It was a big game for us,’’ Henare said of a victory where the offensive effort was shared equitably. ‘‘We knew the Hawks were going to come out and fight and scrap which they did. They got off to that good start, and I thought ‘bloody hell, here we go, it’s going to be a long night’.

‘‘But thankfully the guys hung tough, and the second unit came in and gave us a great boost, especially with the defensive pressure they were able to apply. Hats off to them. It’s a gritty win for us and a really important one.’’

Star point guard Edgar Sosa paced the Breakers with 12 points, three rebounds and four assists, but had plenty of help.

Fellow import DJ Newbill produced an efficient 11 points on five-of-eight shooting and added seven boards and Kirk Penney (10 points and five rebounds) and Rob Loe (11 points on four-of six shooting, three boards and three assists) led the charge off the pine.

‘‘We are at our best when all the guys are ready and prepared to take their opportunities,’’ added Henare. ‘‘The Hawks are a side you have to be ready for. They trap on-balls, they get after you, they play zone, and the ball is going to move into spots that are a bit unusual. For the most part we got good looks. We didn’t shoot it great but there is room for improvement.’’

‘ We are at our best when all the guys are ready and prepared to take their opportunities.’ BREAKERS COACH PAUL HENARE

Henare was keen for his men to ram home their advantage today, clinch that playoff spot and add some momentum to their push for a top-two finish to earn home advantage for the semis.

‘‘It’s like a mini-series, similar to the playoffs where from game to game both coaching staffs are going to look at the game and make subtle adjustments. I don’t think you make wholesale changes, but you look at what worked well, and areas of improvement, and try tighten those things up.

‘‘It’s about resting bodies, recovery and travelling well. We’re both on the same flight over to Auckland, and it’s always a fun time to see the opposition there.’’

Henare would clearly like to see his team’s offence improve today.

Once again they were kept in the 70s, and shot just 42 percent from the floor and 28 from deep.

He would also like to see new import Rakeem Christmas find the fluency that has proved elusive since his arrival. The big American was promoted to the starting lineup against the Hawks but played just 12 minutes for five points and three boards.

For all that, Loe and Alex Pledger (eight points and five boards in 12 minutes) provided plenty of impact in the paint, and with the defence locked in, the Hawks’ wings were well and truly clipped.

A repeat today will complete a very satisfying weekend.