KEY POINTS:
They have experienced deeper slumps but the relief was still palpable as the New Zealand Breakers' ended a mere two-game losing streak with their first victory of the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) season last night.
And the manner of their nerve jangling 98-97 defeat of the Townsville Crocodiles at the North Shore Events Centre was an added bonus given they initially regrouped from a debilitating start before holding their composure to thwart a desperate fightback during a dramatic final 60 seconds.
After recovering from a 13-point first quarter deficit, the Breakers gradually pulled in front 74-73 with a tick under 12 minutes remaining. Their buffer then blew out to 90-82 on the back of a brace of three-pointers but ultimately the outcome was decided by Phill Jones accuracy from the free throw line.
Jones drew the decisive foul under the hoop and although he ratcheted up the tension by rimming his first offering the second -- six seconds from the buzzer -- was nothing but net.
Although the campaign is only three games old, with the benefit of home advantage for their first four matches Tall Blacks guard Kirk Penney admitted getting off the mark was critical before they head offshore to Singapore on October 21.
"Any win is important but the home games are crucial," said Penney, the Breakers' joint top scorer with 23.
"We'd dropped two so this will obviously grow the confidence of the guys."
The fourth round encounter against a side now mired in their own five-match losing streak may not represent a significant step forward but Penney was at least impressed with the way his teammates stuck to their task, particularly in the second half.
Trailing 18-31 at the first break, 48-59 at halftime and with perennial concerns about their focus in the third quarter of matches, the Breakers started turning the contest on its head by dominating the penultimate term 24-14.
"In basketball the third quarter is crucial, the way you come back after halftime and although our focus has slipped we addressed that (last night)," Penney said.
"Offensively we were a different team than the first two games (against Cairns and West Sydney) especially in the second half.
"Defensively we made sure they didn't get any open threes, we did a much better job."
A Wayne Turner lay-up gave the Breakers the lead for the first time early on the run home and although Penney's output diminished after a 19-point first half haul Jones and American forward Rick Rickert filled the void.
Rickert ended up with 23 points and 15 boards while Jones registered his 500th career point for the Breakers when he scored 14.
However, the veteran's 16th proved the game breaker from the free throw line as anxious teammates looked on.
"They tied the game at 97-97 but we didn't worry," Penney said.
"We kept executing well, we scored off a lay-up, an easy basket considering the state of the game," he said of the shot preceding Jones' decider.
The Breakers next host the Adelaide 36ers next Thursday and another win was imperative before hitting the road for the first time.
"It was important to get that first win, now we have to keep working hard," Penney said.
- NZPA
