Breakers 103 Wildcats 99
KEY POINTS:
The Breakers overcame an 18-point deficit to defeat the Perth Wildcats in dramatic, controversial fashion at the North Shore Events Centre last night.
With the scores tied and the game heading for overtime, Wildcats centre Ben Knight clipped Kirk Penney as he lined up a miracle three from half court. The foul call sent Penney to the line and he nailed all three free throws to seal a remarkable comeback.
Perth coach Conner Henry was apoplectic about the call, conceding a technical foul that allowed CJ Bruton to land another free throw with the final act of the game.
Conner's rage was understandable as he watched his team throw away a game-winning lead against a badly out of sorts Breakers side. Money men Penney and Bruton came up big in the fourth quarter but this victory was all about Dillon Boucher.
The Auckland-born battler inspired the Breakers with a high-energy display, notching 11 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
With Penney clearly struggling with the ankle injury that limited him in training this week and Bruton also struggling to get into the game, Boucher's contribution was crucial.
The Wildcats made a fast start, racing to a 9-0 lead before the Breakers gradually clawed their way back into it.
A perfect display of three-point shooting, with Oscar Forman, Penney and Phill Jones hitting all five combined attempts in the quarter, helped the Breakers stay in touch. But the visitors were also in hot shooting form, connecting with 14/22 from the field to lead 33-27 at quarter time.
Another 9-0 Perth run to start the second quarter put the Breakers in a huge hole and at one stage they trailed by 18.
Tony Ronaldson tied Andrew Gaze's record of 612 appearances but his first shift was a nightmare as he conceded three soft turnovers. But he found his feet in his second stint, scoring seven second-quarter points as the Breakers cut the deficit to 11 at the break.
Forman's fast start evaporated as he struggled to contain Shawn Redhage at the defensive end and his offence also tailed off as he missed three consecutive three-point attempts.
But it was the output of Penney and Bruton that was most missed. Penney had just seven points for the half from 13 minutes, while Bruton's four points all came from the free-throw line.
An altercation between Redhage and Jones ended with Boucher man-handling the former Breaker to the sideline. Both sides were fired up but it was the Breakers who initially responded better as the Wildcats were pinged for a succession of careless fouls.
Trailing by four going into the final quarter, the Beakers twice drew level before another Wildcats run put them nine clear with just five minutes remaining. But the Breakers stormed home.
