Breakers fall in scrappy affair
The New Zealand Breakers have failed to back up their win over table-topping Melbourne United, falling 81-71 to the Cairns Taipans on Saturday.
In a scrappy Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) match at the Cairns Convention Centre, the Taipans overcame a slow start and thirdquarter jitters to improve their record to 10-13 with five matches remaining in the regular season.
The Breakers were without point guard Edgar Sosa, who withdrew with a rolled ankle, but they still started with plenty of zip.
Breakers forward Mika Vukona scored within three seconds after intercepting the tip-off, and his men followed by keeping the home side scoreless in the opening minutes.
Cairns point guard ‘‘Scoochie’’ Smith stopped the rot in the fourth minute with a corner three, sparking a run that put the Taipans in front. They led 41-37 at halftime.
But Breakers guard DJ Newbill came alive in the third quarter, scoring seven points to put the visitors in the driver’s seat heading into the final period.
Cairns guard Jarrad Weeks then performed a spectacular chase-down block on Breaker Jordan Ngatai, but the Tall Blacks player responded with two quickfire three-pointers, seemingly putting sword.
But the combo of Cairns forward Jerry Evans Jr and Cam Gliddon weren’t about to see their season decided prematurely. the snakes to the
Evans Jr scored five quick points halfway through the fourth, and a three from skipper Gliddon put them in front once again.
All up Gliddon contributed eight points in the final quarter, and finished on 20 as the Taipans outlasted the visitors to keep their faint finals hopes alive.
The Breakers next travel to Perth to play the Wildcats next Saturday.