Basketball: Breakers stay positive after Wildcats loss

Gary Wilkinson of the Breakers. Photo / Getty Images

The scenario facing the New Zealand Breakers looks a daunting one as they battle to keep their Australian National Basketball League title hopes alive, but not to American import Gary Wilkinson.

Beaten 101-78 by Perth in Auckland last night, the Breakers have to win in the West Australian state capital on Sunday to take their semifinal into a decider.

Despite the margin and manner of the defeat in game one, Wilkinson today said that the mood within the squad remained "pretty positive".

"I don't think we can really get too down after one loss," the forward said.

"If we allow ourselves to do that, I think it's pretty much sewn up. We have to be confident and upbeat in terms of what we're trying to accomplish."

Wilkinson's compatriot, guard Kevin Lisch, starred for Perth last night with a game-high 29 points, 13 of which came in the third quarter when the Wildcats established a decisive lead.

The Wildcats showed plenty of defensive pressure and they dominated on the boards, leading the rebounds by 47-26.

"It's a concern because we weren't getting the job done," Wilkinson said.

"If they kill us on the boards consistently like they did, it will hurt us. It's nothing we can't rectify. We will get it taken care of."

For the Breakers, the situation wasn't helped by the loss of defensive stalwart Mika Vukona for most of the match.

Vukona went off after less than four minutes due to medial ligament damage from a collision with teammate Kirk Penney.

The team's top rebounder, Vukona is a doubtful starter for Sunday's game.

The Breakers were also let down by their shooting, which started hot in the opening quarter but cooled as the game progressed.

Wilkinson said watching the video had helped to lift belief that the Breakers could pull off the needed victory away from home.

"It wasn't that Perth were the better team, it's just that we didn't play well," he said.

"We shot ourselves in the foot by things we did."

Wilkinson believed the Breakers allowed their offensive game to dictate their performance on defence.

"We're going to have to make our defence dictate our offence," he said.

"Our defensive energy and pressure will allow our offence to function better."

As for Vukona's absence, Wilkinson said it would affect the Breakers only as much as they let it.

"Mika is a huge part of our team -- emotionally, his work ethic, his drive really takes our team to another level," Wilkinson said.

"But if we use his loss as justification for why we aren't accomplishing a certain task, that just won't fly."

Wilkinson went into game one still recovering from a bronchial complaint.

While he looked short of his best, he was still the Breakers' second highest scorer with 16 points and also chipped in with a team-best seven rebounds.

"I'm not back to 100 per cent but it's not that I can't play or can't produce," he said.

"I'm happy to be out there and I'll take every minute I get on the court."

- NZPA