Basketball New Zealand

Sixth man Phill Jones scored a game-high 24 points in the Breakers club-record 44-point win (Photosport)

Joel Tiller, Sportal
The New Zealand Breakers have returned from a two-week break to notch a club-record winning margin in their 114-70 victory over the Sydney Spirit at the North Shore Events Centre on Thursday night.

A massive third quarter ruined the Spirit’s hopes as the Breakers came out of half-time a markedly improved side after spluttering through the first half.

For the hosts Kirk Penney appeared closer to his efficient and prolific all-round best with 19 points and he had strong support from Phill Jones who top-scored with 24 while Tony Ronaldson had a solid 18.

For Sydney, Matt Knight was his usual productive and tireless self with 14 and Jason Smith also registered 14 while looking well short of his best form.

Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis was excited post-match as he practically drooled at the prospect of taking on the the Perth Wildcats in two days’ time.

“I think we’re all really looking forward to that game (against Perth). That’s going to be a real cracker over there, that place is a cauldron, the crowd sits on top of you and screams abuse and obviously they’re a good physical team and they’ll be up for playing us,” Lemanis said.

“This is a good way to go into this trip, I’d hate to be sitting on a game like that and have a week off because it’d be difficult to keep everyone up and motivated but having this long trip and big challenge is a good situation and test for us.”

New Zealand blew the game open by going on an 18-point scoring run to start the third term, with the visitors failing to score on seven-straight possessions.

Penney cut the inside defence to shreds with a quick-fire four points, Ronaldson added a trey and that momentum snowballed as CJ Bruton nailed his first two long bombs.

But earlier it could have been a very different story in Auckland as the crowd was silenced after only four minutes as Penney clutched his hand in substantial pain after receiving a reach-in slap.

That concern was immediately dismissed as he recovered to sink his first triple from the inbound pass much to the crowd’s delight and relief.

Six minutes in and the Breakers had their first real lead at 14-11. Penney again pleased the crowd with a slashing drive and lay-up.

But with four starting players off the court New Zealand’s scoring halted. As the hosts gave up a fifth turnover inside 10 minutes, dogged scoring from Knight, Smith and Drew Williamson dragged the visitors to within one at quarter-time.

The Breakers extended their second quarter lead to seven with a Penney three-point play and Oscar Forman‘s second three-pointer of the game.

Further long bombs from Ronaldson, Forman and Penney took New Zealand to an 11-point lead late in the second. Three-point shooting was the difference as both sides struggled to capitalise on frequent defensive stops and with both unable to gain real scoring dominance. The Spirit were unable to get going from beyond the arc, missing six consecutive attempts in the period.

The hosts’ play lacked poise after their break, as replacement centre Tim Behrendorf missed an easy lay-up, Ronaldson was called for traveling and Jones threw away possession.

Meanwhile, forwards Knight and Graeme Dann continued to bang bodies inside the key and the Spirit again clawed their way back to a small deficit, 46-41 at the half.

At the break Penney was leading all scorers with 15 while Ronaldson had 12. For the visitors Knight led the way with 12 with Smith on nine.

But New Zealand came out after half-time a different team. With eight-and-a-half minutes gone in the third Sydney had mustered only four points while the Breakers’ lead had blown out to 29 with Jones’ first two triples.

At the final break the game was effectively over with the home side ahead by 31 after blitzing a deflated Spirit 38-12 during the term.

Lemanis used the final term to give his three development players Adam Tanner, Thomas Abercrombie and Corey Webster game time.

To Sydney’s substantial credit, its sportsmanship remained impeccable as the margin continued to grow and calls went against it.

Next the Breakers (14-4) travel to Western Australia to play Perth (10-9) on Saturday night while the Spirit (8-10) host the Townsville Crocs (10-8) on Sunday.

New Zealand Breakers 114 (Phill Jones 24, Kirk Penney 219, Tony Ronaldson 18, Oscar Forman 13, CJ Bruton 11) Sydney Spirit 70 (Matthew Knight 14, Jason Smith 14, Blagoj Janev 10, Tony Rampton 10)
Breakers vs Spirit Box Score (20KB html)