Breakers 114
Spirit 70
KEY POINTS:
A withering third-quarter display saw the Breakers crush the Sydney Spirit on the North Shore last night to move within a game of ANBL leaders South Dragons.
After a stuttering first half when they seldom got out of first gear, the Breakers exploded for a 38-12 third quarter.
Leading by five at halftime, the Breakers began the second spell with an inspired 18-0 run that effectively settled the contest. Kirk Penney, Tony Ronaldson and Oscar Forman had been in good form from the outset but there was little in the Breakers' first half display to hint at the onslaught that was to follow, as they took the second half 68-29 to post the biggest win in the club's history.
Ronaldson began the rout with a pair of three-point plays and CJ Bruton, who hadn't attempted a field goal in the first half, nailed back-to-back threes to suck the life out of the Spirit. Phill Jones, who had been struggling to find his touch, also found his range, chiming in with four three-pointers on his way to a game-high 24 points.
By the fourth quarter the lead was steady at over 30 and coach Andrej Lemanis was able to go to his bench. Local product Thomas Abercrombie again made a serious splash, grabbing a rebound with his first touch and soaring through the air moments later to convert a sublime alley-oop.
So dominant were the Breakers that Penney, Ronaldson and Forman were able to sit out the fourth quarter.
They might not have made the strong start they were hoping for but the Breakers held their own in the first quarter.
There was an early scare when Penney took what looked a painful blow on his already injured thumb, but a three-pointer from the star guard moments later suggested the damage was not serious.
With Ronaldson also in good early scoring touch, the Breakers eased to a seven-point lead but a quiet patch that included six missed free throws let the Spirit back into it and the visitors took a brief lead before the Breakers re-established a one-point buffer at quarter time.
A 14-4 Breakers run to start the second quarter helped them establish another solid lead but the Spirit again fought back, ending the second quarter with a 6-0 run to cut the gap to five.
Matthew Knight was the main threat for the visitors with 12 points. But his was rather a lone hand as the Spirit shot just 32 per cent for the half from the field and made just one of nine three pointers.
It was that lack of offensive success that allowed the Breakers to lead without having played anywhere near their best and when they exploded offensively at the start of the second half the game was as good as over.
The Breakers play Perth in Perth tomorrow night, with a win likely to return them to the top of the ladder.
