Basketball: African import makes his break

Ekene Ibekwe with a dunk. Photo / PHOTOSPORT

Cairns were yet to lose before Friday night but they were also yet to encounter an irrepressible presence like a fully-functioning Ekene Ibekwe.

That all changed when the Breakers handed the league leaders their first defeat of the season, led by a Nigerian international enjoying a break-out game.

Ibekwe's efforts helped the Breakers to a 79-71 win and second spot on the ANBL ladder ahead of tonight's trip to Townsville - the second part of an attempted Sunshine Swing sweep.

Ibekwe had shown flashes of his potential throughout the first eight games of his Breakers career, including a 15-point outing when his side lost to Cairns last month.

But the import was a different proposition in Friday's rousing win, particularly in a first half featuring an almost frightening level of energy. Ibekwe scored at will - following a couple of team-mates' misses with vicious put-back dunks - and he owned the offensive glass as the Breakers grabbed a 15-point lead they would never relinquish.

He eventually finished with his second double-double of the season - 20 points and 14 rebounds - with his only real opposition coming from a scorer that inexplicably credited the big man with just two blocks.

Assistant coach Paul Henare described the performance as "unreal" and the epitome of the team's focus during the week - individual players demanding more from themselves.

"The energy in the first half," Henare touted as the most impressive aspect. "I think his stat line at the first half was 14 points and eight rebounds. Just the energy, the put-back dunks, the offensive boards ... then he did a great job of anchoring our weak-side defence.

"It was really great to see him have that break-out performance."

Ibekwe came to the club after an eight-year professional career that saw him play in seven different countries, possessing enough length and agility to be a constant threat above the rim. His dismantling of Cairns came five days after he set a new Breakers record by swatting six shots against Adelaide, forming a formidable combination with Alex Pledger in the five-spot.

Ibekwe's outburst stole the show but fellow import Cedric Jackson also earned plaudits, rebounding in fine fashion after being outshone by Taipans guard Scottie Wilbekin earlier in the season. Jackson finished with nine points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, helping to restrict the impact of the ANBL player of the month.

"It wasn't just one guy - Ced and Rhys (Carter) and Corey (Webster) did a great job on [Wilbekin]," Henare said. "As a team, we stuck to the game plan and did a much better job on him."

The Breakers will now be aiming to back up with a win over a Townsville side they tamed by 14 points at Vector Arena last weekend.