NZ Breakers 81
Hoodoo has not yet turned to hoopla for the New Zealand Breakers as the Cairns Taipans rose from the dead on Easter Sunday to force an Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) decider after winning a dramatic game two 85-81 after double overtime at the Cairns Convention Centre.
A brace of Kevin Braswell three-pointers - the second with just 12.6 seconds remaining in the first five minute period of overtime - and two Kirk Penney free throws -- shaped as the decisive momentum swing towards the Breakers but with the last possession American import Ron Dorsey surged down court before unleashing a miraculous buzzer-beater from long range, levelling an enthralling encounter at 73-73 after replays confirmed his shot was legitimate.
From then on the Taipans showed enough composure - though only just - to delay the title favourites march to what would be an unprecedented success in their grand final appearance.
Hoping to beat league, soccer and netball in the race to hoist the symbol of a trans-Tasman sporting competition - and on Australian pine to boot - that achievement is now on hold to Friday at the North Shore Events Centre (NSEC).
Unfortunately for the Breakers, Braswell, their designated "closer", could not hit the mark with another long range shot with 52 seconds remaining in the second period of overtime when the scores were locked at 81-81 and the Taipans held their nerve - Ian Crosswhite and Ayinde Ubaka rose to the occasion and sunk clutch shots before Ubaka was nerveless again from the free throw line.
Earlier three-time ANBL title-winner CJ Bruton played the role of saviour for the Breakers when he sent the game into overtime with his own coolly slotted three-pointer tying the scores at 61-61 with just 3.6 seconds left in regulation.
Bruton and Kirk Penney - who spearheaded the Breakers comprehensive win in the series opener with 25 points - were quiet offensively by their high standards but stepped up when it mattered until Ubaka and Dorsey's game-high 22-point haul sent an orange-clad crowd of 5200 delirious.
It is the Taipans first win over the Breakers in five attempts this season and could not be more perfectly timed as they avenged an 85-67 drubbing in game one at the NSEC on Wednesday.
Braswell top-scored for the Breakers with 18 while recovered from a slow start - he had just six points in the bank with half a minute to go in regulation before he doubled his haul, albeit in vain.
Tom Abercrombie weighed in with 17 points, carrying the load until Braswell became more prominent.
Abercrombie was instrumental in the Breakers leading by six - their biggest advantage of the game - with less than four minutes in the fourth quarter before Ubaka netted back-to-back free throws to bridge the gap, an indication of the influence he would continue to exert with his 15-point contribution.
Cairns Taipans 85 (Ron Dorsey 22, Ian Crosswhite 15, Ayinde Ubaka 15) NZ Breakers 81 (Kevin Braswell 18, Tom Abercrombie 17, Kirk Penney 12). Halftime: 33-30. Fulltime: 61-61. Overtime: 73-73.
Series level 1-1, third and deciding match in Auckland on Friday.
- NZPA
