Basketball: Breakers start season with clinical 20 point victory

Tom Abercrombie of the Breakers in action during the NBL match between the New Zealand Breakers and the Cairns Taipans. Photo / Getty Images

AUCKLAND - The New Zealand Breakers sent out a strong message to their Australian National Basketball League opponents with a clinical 95-75 victory over the Cairns Taipans tonight.

Strong defence and some deadly shooting from Kirk Penney and CJ Bruton put the Breakers in control from the second quarter, and they never let their opponents back into the game.

The Taipans battled hard, with ex-Breaker Phill Jones showing he was a good buy for the Queenslanders, but they were outclassed by a team many regard as favourites to win the ANBL

The Breakers got off to a useful start, moving to a 12-7 lead after some good work from Penney on offence.

But with Jones leading the way, the Taipans got back into the game and they hit the front late in the first quarter before the locals recovered to take a 22-18 lead at quarter time.

Breakers' newcomer, ex-NBA player Awvee Storey, made a mixed start. He brought the crowd alight with an early dunk and a steal, but then gave away a needles technical foul with a quip to the referee to help the Taipans back into the game.

Four quick points to Dusty Rychart drew the Taipans level early in the second quarter, but an unanswered 11 points from Penney and Bruton took the home team into a clear lead.

They lost some momentum when Penney and Bruton left the court, and some quick baskets to Jones and Gary Boodnikoff helped the Taipans draw within four points, but a late four-point play from Tony Ronaldson took the Breakers to a 44-36 halftime lead.

With Rick Rickert getting in foul trouble early in third quarter, the Taipans may have sensed a chance.

But their defence seemed unable to stop Penney and Bruton, while youngster Tom Abercrombie made his mark with solid shooting and two outstanding shot blocks.

The Breakers stretched their lead to 15 points at three-quarter time, and they continued their dominance into the fourth quarter, rarely giving the Taipans enough room in attack.

Penney topped the scoring with 32 points, though Bruton's shooting was even more amazing -- he missed just one of his 11 shots in scoring 28 points. Dillon Boucher was outstanding in defence and headed the rebound stats for the Breakers with seven.

Jones was the Taipans' top scorer with 24, while Julien Mills tried hard all night and ended up with 16 points and topped the rebounds with six.

- NZPA