Basketball: Breakers begin with big win

Ekene Ibekwe battles for a rebound in game one of the semifinal series against Adelaide. Photo / Getty

Breakers 111
36ers 82

Game one of the playoffs isn't a bad time for a team to produce their biggest win of the season.

The Breakers tonight made a triumphant return to the post-season, crushing Adelaide in the first game of their semifinal series at Vector Arena and moving one win closer to a fourth championship in five years.

The manner in which the Kiwi club dispatched the 36ers made a mockery of the respective teams' recent form. While the Breakers had stumbled across the line by losing three of their last four games, Adelaide had appeared a runaway train and won 10 straight heading into the playoffs.

But that runaway train came to a shuddering halt as the Breakers continued an impressive bounceback campaign after a season spent in basketball abyss. It was easy to forget last year but the Breakers boast plenty of championship-winning experience, an asset that undoubtedly contributed to an incredible lift in intensity tonight.

"We didn't have the greatest form in the games leading up to the playoffs," said centre Alex Pledger. "But we've got plenty of guys who have been here before and know what it takes to win in the post-season. With Cedric [Jackson] and Mika [Vukona], in particular, they really brought everyone together and you saw the results out there on the floor."

The tone was set as the Breakers immediately seized a double-digit advantage and it would surprise no one to learn Vukona, in his favourite time of year, played a huge part in establishing early supremacy.

The captain equalled a club record with a 19th post-season appearance and he seemed to relish the stakes, starting fierce and physical and never letting up. He recorded a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds but his impact extended well beyond the box score, setting an example for his teammates and even antagonising his opponents into several scuffles.

The rest of the roster followed Vukona's lead. Corey Webster, in particular, enjoyed his first playoff experience as a starter, pouring in a game-high 24 points and shooting 9-15 from the floor.

Cedric Jackson recorded 13 points and 10 assists while every starter managed double figures, with Tai Wesley (10 points, seven rebounds) and Reuben Te Rangi (10 points, three rebounds) chipping in from the bench.

With such quality contributions from every key players, the Breakers could have hardly have hoped for a better start to the post-season. They led from wire to wire, shot 53 per cent from the field and 44 per cent from deep, and moved the ball around as well as they have in recent memory.

It all added up to a rather comprehensive victory, but the Breakers won't be fooled into thinking the series is theirs ahead of Saturday's second game in Adelaide. They are, based on tonight's exploits alone, well aware how quickly circumstances can change.

Their own seismic shift happened instantly, taking a 56-41 lead into halftime on the back of a 16-2 start. Their advantage soon swelled to 20 and the only remaining question was how big the blowout would become - and whether Adelaide can recover in 48 hours.

"It's a tough place to play," said coach Dean Vickerman. "They have pretty good energy in their gym and our ability to handle that on their floor is going to be the challenge."

Breakers 111 (Webster 24, Jackson 13, Vukona 12)
36ers 82 (Wilson 21, Johnson 14, Creek 12)
HT: 56-41