Fast Break Report

Stat Line

What Went Right?

• Well, the result went right. At this stage, the Breakers need to win all of their remaining games, and hope a couple other results go their way to make the playoffs. It’s always a matter of one game at a time when those situations arise, and they did the job here.
• The Crocs made it very close at the end, even after it seemed that NZB had run off to an unassailable late lead, but you need to keep scoring at those times or leads can be wiped off pretty quick. Tom Abercrombie showed some great late finishing, and Mika Vukona held his nerve to bury some crucial free throws with 15 sec left.
• Just on Abercrombie, he was superb in this game. His shooting was nothing short of immaculate, and he finished with a season high 29 points from 12/19 shooting.
• 5 blocks to 0 was a healthy NZB advantage. Abercrombie had a pair of them.
• And a special shoutout to CJ Bruton, who has gone into full on beast mode to finish his career. This was probably his best game of the year as he took control at a point where his team needed it, showing some deft touches, quality shooting and veteran leadership – and reminding us why he’s one of the greats of this league. CJ had 14 points (4/5) 6 assists and 2 steals.
• CJ also passed 2000 points for the Breakers, something only Kirk Penney has done before.
• Speaking of Kirk Penney, these rumours of a possible return won’t go away. Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire…

What Can Be Improved?

• Kerron Johnson’s injury was unfortunate, there seemed to be a whole pile of ankle injuries on this night. Obviously that kid with the mop wasn’t doing his job properly. It didn’t look too bad, although KJ didn’t return. Hopefully he’s all good for next time.
• Townsville led this game for very long stretches; it was only a 32 point 4th quarter that got the Breakers in front for good. Up until then, Townsville were, if anything, in control.
• Gary Wilkinson had a double-double, but it was far from the dominant performances he’d been showing recently. He went 4/15 shooting from the field.
• With the Taipans up next on the card, only away this time, it’ll need a repeat performance to keep the season alive. It’ll be handy if they can overturn a 24-34 rebounding deficit from this game too. Fair to say that’s Alex Pledger’s forte that they’re missing, with the Chief likely to miss the rest of the season.

Play of the Game

Tom Abercrombie gets some serious lift off to put the stamp on Kerron Johnson’s airmail here:

Match MVP Points

Tom Abercrombie 3

Mika Vukona 2

CJ Bruton 1

Corey Webster 1

Season MVP Standings

Mika Vukona 33

Gary Wilkinson 32

Tom Abercrombie 31

Kerron Johnson 29

Up Next

Saturday, 9.30pm: Cairns Taipans vs NZ Breakers, Cairns Convention Centre (NZT)