Townsville Crocs 79-71 NZ Breakers

The Breakers got a big boost the night before their game in Townsville with the Perth Wildcats beating the Cairns Taipans to send the Breakers outright first. But then they lost to Townsville and, folks, we’re back where we started.

Townsville aren’t even in playoff contention anymore, but with guys like Brian Conklin and Todd Blanchfield, and on their own home court, they’re a dangerous pack. A pack of Crocodiles? A… herd of Crocodiles? A flock? (Ed: It’s actually a ‘Bask’ or a ‘Float’ of Crocodiles).

A quick start and the Breakers had a very early lead until things very quickly dried up. Mika Vukona had shut down possible MVP Brian Conklin earlier in the season and the pair settled into a mighty duel here once more, however it was Blanchfield that blew things out. He had 18 points by half-time, spurring his side on to a fast finish with a 12-3 run to end the second. The Breakers were 1-11 from 3pt after the first couple quarters.

The third quarter always seems to be decisive in Breakers games, here they teased a comeback, but it never quite happened. The Crocs came to pay defence and it worked a treat. They unloaded some high energy zone coverage, refusing to bite on Cedric Jackson’s little faints, instead looking to condense into his lanes and take away at least some of his penetrative athleticism. Naturally guys like Mika Vukona and Tai Wesley loved the physical battle. Yet without the court spacing that comes from hitting enough three pointers that the opposition actually care about trying to close that option down, it was a losing battle. Not to mention the periodic foot-shooting that came from the turnovers and fouls.

Blanchfield top scored for the game with 27 (and 9 boards), while Conklin had 13/7/6. For the Breakers, Mika’s 12 & 10 led the way and Wesley had 13 & 8. Cedric scored 14 points, with 6 rebounds and 5 assists and 4 steals, but he turned it over 3 times and needed 16 shot attempts for those points. Corey Webster also had 14 points (from 18 shots), while Abercrombie only shot 3 times for his 5 points, 7 rebounds and 4 turnovers. Uncle Kenny Ibekwe chimed too in with 10 & 8.

It was a clumsy loss, but not a tragedy. Things are basically exactly where they were a week ago. No biggie.

Anyway, here’ the playoff picture as it pertains to el place-o de numero uno:

	Team	W	L	W%
1	Cairns	18	7	72
2	NZ Breakers	18	7	72
3	Perth	15	10	60
4	Adelaide	14	11	56
5	Melbourne	11	13	46
6	Sydney	9	15	37.5
7	Townsville	9	16	36
8	Wollongong	5	20	20

Cairns Schedule: Sydney (A), Melbourne (H), Cairns (A)

NZB Schedule: Adelaide (H), Perth (A), Cairns (H)

Whatever happens, the Breakers are probably gonna need to beat Cairns in that final game to finish first. Cairns lead the season series 2-1 to date, with each team taking a game on the road (Cairns winning at the NSEC in game four) and the Taipans most recently winning in Oz.

Stocks:

Movin’ On Up Like Curtis Mayfield – Shout out to Cedric Jackson. There are still three games to pay in the regular season, but Cedric has already sealed the Fast Break Reports MVP for the 2014/15 season! His tally of 36 points is unassailable, and he claims the deserved reward. Mika Vukona won it last season, he’s still well in the running for second place after a good game here. Safe to say nobody’ll argue with Cedric winning player of the season.

Goin’ Down Slow Like Howlin’ Wolf – Three point shooting. There have been too many games like this for the Breakers. Games where they unleash a barrage of bricks upon the rim from long range. 6 made efforts from 23. Incredibly, Corey Webster shot 11 of them (hitting 4), while Cedric bombed at 1-7. Abercrombie hit 1-2, Rhys Carter missed all three of his attempts. There’s not really any excuse for this to keep happening, especially when games have been cost in the past from an over-reliance on streaky three point shooting. Aside from Tom Abercrombie, they’re just not that good at it.

Key Stat

The Breakers had 21 turnovers on the night and sent Townsville to the free throw line 29 times. The Crocs score 21 off those turnovers and 18 from the free throws – almost half their total for the game. Good luck anybody winning in this league like that.