Basketball: Tigers maul Breakers

By JULIE ASH

The New Zealand Breakers suffered their third consecutive loss in the Australian basketball league, going down 108-97 to the Melbourne Tigers at the North Shore Events Centre tonight.

Not unlike their first appearance at the North Shore Events Centre back in the opening round of the competition on October 1, the 2300 strong crowd were treated to plenty of razzle and dazzle and even a rousing haka from a group of Hato Petero College students.

But unlike that match, which the Breakers won 111-110 from the Adelaide 36ers, the New Zealand side had no answer for their vastly experienced Australian rivals. who punished them for every mistake.

The Tigers were successful in shutting down the Breakers "run and gun" style.

Without Tall Blacks captain Pero Cameron and Ben Melmeth, who both missed the match through injury, the Breakers lacked the much-needed height.

Breakers coach Jeff Green started the match with Phill Jones, Paul Henare, Casey Frank, Iona Enosa and Dillon Boucher.

American Samoan Waikato Titans player Enosa, called into replace injured Melmeth, immediately made his presence felt landing a two pointer to get the Breakers on the board.

Veteran Tigers guard Andrew Gaze took a heavy fall and was subbed off early, which the Breakers took full advantage of by going out to a 14-9 lead in the first few minutes.

But their lead was short-lived as the visitors found their rhythm.

Although they were getting plenty of rebounds under the Tigers hoop, misdirected passes and shots cost the Breakers at their own other end.

The Tigers went into the first quarter break 29-24 ahead.

The Breakers' hesitancy on offence continued in the second quarter, as did their average shooting performance, much to the disappointment of coach Green, who was his usual animated self on the sideline yelling at his players, the referee and anyone else who would listen.

The Tigers led 53-38 at halftime and although the Breakers managed to claw back to within nine in the third quarter, the Tigers lead was never threatened and they went into the last quarter 80-63 ahead.

Just like in their last match against the Wollongong Wolves, the Breakers finished strongly and fought back to within eight points in the last quarter.

But with such erratic shooting, the Breakers were never going to take the lead.

A series of free throws kept them in contention in the dying minutes but the Tigers used up the time wisely claiming their third win in four matches.

The Breakers next match is away against the Adelaide 36ers away on Friday night.

Melbourne Tigers 108 (Lanard Copeland 26, Andrew Gaze 21, Stephen Hoare 16), New Zealand Breakers 97 (Phill Jones 19, Blake Truslove 19, Casey Frank 12, Aaron Olsen 12, Brad Williams 12).