Basketball New Zealand

Warning: file_exists() [function.file-exists]: open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/var/www/vhosts/basketball.org.nz/httpdocs/resources/uploads/2008/02/219688-edit.thumbnail.jpg) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/bbnz/:/tmp:/usr/local/lib/php/) in /home/bbnz/domains/tallblacks.org.nz/public_html/wp-includes/post.php on line 3943

Kirk Penney (Photosport)

Steve Orme, Sportal
The Sydney Kings have extended their unbeaten run in the Hummer Championship NBL to seven matches with a 103-93 victory over the gritty Harvey Normal NZ Breakers at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on Wednesday night.

It was a trademark team performance from the hosts, which can become just the second team in league history to win over 90 per cent of its regular season fixtures with a win over the Dragons on Saturday.

Seven players reached double figures for Sydney but it was Dontaye Draper who stole the show notching a triple-double (14 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals).

Kirk Penney led from the front for the Breakers with 23 points, while imports Derrick Alston (16) and Orien Greene (11) provided solid contributions.

After the win coach Brian Goorjian conceded it has been difficult to motivate his players with the minor premiership already sealed, but was pleased if not delighted by his team’s effort.

“I didn’t know what to expect, I thought we were a little flat at shoot-around, I knew we’d get a desperate team tonight,” Goorjian said.

“It’s hard, I can even tell with myself I don’t have butterflies before the game, I’m not nervous.”

“It’s a hard situation but it’s a good situation I’m trying to enjoy because you very rarely get in a situation where you don’t have to worry about losing.”

The Kings began strongly hitting their first three long-range attempts while the Breakers struggled to adjust to their opponents’ suffocating defence.

New Zealand soon found a way through but poor shooting – 7-of-20 for the term – saw the visitors trail 28-18 at the first break.

The Breakers hung tough, clawing their way back into the contest to trail by just four points midway through the second term.

But the Kings soon awoke from their momentary slumber to pile on the points and take a handy 16-point lead (55-39) into the main break

Luke Kendall led all first-half scorers with 11 points on 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc, while Glen Saville and Mark Worthington dropped nine apiece.

The Kings restricted danger man Penney to just six for the half.

It was more of the same to start the third term as Sydney stretched the deficit out to 20 in the opening minute.

Try as they might, the Breakers could not stop the minor premier’s momentum and would head to the final break trailing 81-60.

Draper began the final term in spectacular fashion following a lightning-fast steal with a breakaway dunk to the delight of the Kings’ faithful.

To their credit the Breakers simply refused to surrender as Penney and Co closed to within 12 points, 94-82, with six minutes remaining – but it would prove too little too late.

Both sides have one regular-season fixture remaining on Saturday night, with the Kings (26-3) away to the Dragons on Saturday and the Breakers (16-13) to face the Wildcats in Perth.

Sydney Kings 103 (Isiah Victor 17, Glen Saville 15, Dontaye Draper 14)
New Zealand Breakers 93 (Kirk Penney 23, Derrick Alston 16, Orien Greene 11)
Breakers-Kings Box Score (html 52kb)