Basketball: Breakers bounce back in Adelaide

Rick Rickert top scored for the Breakers with 22 points. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand Breakers put their recent fourth-quarter fade-outs behind them with an impressive come-from-behind 92-85 away victory over the Adelaide 36ers in an Australian National Basketball League match last night.

The Breakers trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half but they tightened their defence and were deadly from outside the arc to outscore the Sixers 33-11 in the final period.

Adelaide had chances to regain the lead late - including two missed shots from the line from John Gilchrist - but the Breakers deserved the win.

The result came as a relief for the visitors who have led their past two matches handsomely before surrendering the advantage in the end.

Rick Rickert top scored with 22 points for the Breakers, Kirk Penney finished with 19, including some late pressure buckets, while CJ Bruton chimed in with 14.

Gilchrist was the best for the Sixers with 20 points.

Adelaide made a shaky start to be down 3-10 but rallied to change the momentum.

They took the lead before Tony Ronaldson sank a three-pointer in the final minute of the first quarter to give the Breakers a 22-21 lead.

Adelaide opened a small lead in the second quarter and managed to keep the opposition at bay throughout the stanza to hold a 45-39 half-time advantage.

An early Jacob Holmes basket extended Adelaide's buffer but it was game-on in the third quarter as both teams clicked offensively.

The Breakers maintained a tight defence but Adelaide produced a number of quality shots under pressure.

Adelaide went on a 14-2 run before Ronaldson broke the drought for the visitors. But the Sixers were in a commanding position at 74-59 at the end of the quarter.

Extra pressure on the ball carrier and tight marking by the Breakers turned momentum their way in the final stanza.

Consecutive three-pointers from Ronaldson and a pair from outside the arc by Tom Abercrombie gave them the advantage while Adelaide could only manage 11 points in the fourth quarter.

The Breakers now hold a 50 per cent win/loss record and return home to host Townsville next Thursday.

Scores: New Zealand Breakers 92 (Rickert 22, Penney 19, Bruton 14)

Adelaide 36ers 85 (Gilchrist 20, Ballinger 16, Ng 14). Halftime: 39-45.

- NZPA