Basketball: Breakers finish third

Corey Webster. Photo / Getty Images

The Breakers claimed third place in the pre-season Top End Challenge in Darwin last night, avenging a second round loss to the Hawks with a low scoring victory in the playoff for third and fourth.

New import Gary Wilkinson top scored for the Breakers for the third match running, notching 20-points from 8/12 field goals, including 2/3 three pointers.

A nuggetty forward in the mould of the retired Tony Ronaldson, Wilkinson's sweet shooting was one of the highlights of the annual pre-season event.

Guard Corey Webster also turned in a strong display and was particularly effective on the dribble, notching 11 points.

Once again the Breakers were poor from the free-throw line, converting just eight of 18 attempts.

With no Kirk Penney and CJ Bruton in the line-up they also struggled with their perimeter shooting, landing just 2/17 three pointers.

However an up-tempo defensive display and a dominat 44-33 rebounding effort held the Hawks at bay, with the victory taking the Breakers' record at the tournament to 2-1.

They now travel to the Gold Coast for a match against the Blaze.
Their NBL season begins on Thursday week with a trip to newcomers Sydney Kings.