Henare was delighted with his team's composure under pressure, and warns that there will be no easing off as crucial games for playoff positioning approach.
"Now we can shift our focus, with four games left we have a legitimate shot at home court advantage and playing for the top two.
"We've ticked one box, now we want to try and gain any little advantage we can, and home court advantage is a big one for us."
It took a physical battle to secure their berth in the playoffs, with the game beginning as a complete contradiction of Friday night's encounter with the Hawks. The Breakers got out to a hot start, leading 15-6, but just as the Breakers did in Illawarra, the Hawks very quickly dragged back their deficit, going on a 17-2 run to take a 23-17 lead.
AJ Ogilvy – a non-factor in the first game of the double-header, poured in nine quick points off the bench for the Hawks, who also had Rotnei Clarke (22 points) producing as the contest turned into a tight tussle.
Both teams were content to play in the half-court and take their time to initiate their offence, but with Tom Abercrombie and DJ Newbill finding their range from deep after a rough stretch, the Breakers battled back to tie the proceedings at 45 apiece by halftime.
No side was able to separate themselves during the third period, with the lead not fluctuating beyond a five point margin. The Hawks were finding more open looks, but the Breakers were swarming, grafting a rebounding edge and cashing in on some second chance opportunities.
Fittingly, a playoff atmosphere broke out as the time ran down, with Shea Ili reprising his closer role he had perfected during the Breakers' earlier nine-game winning streak.
Ili reeled off seven points in five minutes as the Breakers hit the front, before the two sides traded threes to level things at 82-82.
Newbill made sure the Breakers regained their advantage, as bodies started to sprawl all over the place as the fight for rebounds hit maximum intensity. Down by two in the final seconds, the Hawks couldn't convert, and it was Ili who muscled down the key rebound, before Edgar Sosa hit two clutch free-throws to seal the win, and the playoff berth.
Breakers 88 (Newbill 20, Abercrombie 17, Ili 17)
Hawks 84 (Clarke 22, Norton 14)
HT: 45-45
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