Basketball: Loss caps bad week for Breakers

Kirk Penney is not expected to return for another three weeks. Photo / Kenny Rodger

The New Zealand Breakers signed off on a week to forget in the Australian National Basketball League with a 94-74 loss to the Perth Wildcats in Perth last night.

Never in the hunt throughout a one-sided encounter, the Breakers will be desperate to reverse their poor form against the same opponents at home on Thursday.

Last night's defeat follows their surprise loss to Gold Coast in Auckland on Thursday and news that key scorer Kirk Penney's recovery is advancing more slowly than hoped. Penney is expected to be sidelined for another three weeks.

Without him, the Breakers were outgunned by a Perth side who made it five wins from five at Challenge Stadium and remain on top of the league.

The Wildcats made an electric start against the tired-looking visitors, racing to a 22-5 lead in the first quarter.

Wildcats captain and former Breaker Shawn Redhage led from the front, finishing with 22 points and nine rebounds on eight-of-12 shooting.

Youngsters Jesse Wagstaff and Stephen Weigh also had big games for Perth, Weigh scoring 14 points including and Wagstaff 13.

The Breakers spent the game chasing, but Tony Ronaldson, CJ Bruton, Dillon Boucher and Rick Rickert worked hard.

Point guard Bruton didn't score until just before halftime, but finished with 10 points and five assists, while Ronaldson scored 13 and Rickert 13 to complement his eight rebounds.

The Breakers slump to a 4-5 win-loss record while the Wildcats are riding high at 6-2.

Perth Wildcats 94 (Shawn Redhage 22, Stephen Weigh 14, Jesse Wagstaff 13) New Zealand Breakers 74 (Tony Ronaldson 13, Rick Rickert 13, Corey Webster 10). Halftime: 46-37.

- NZPA