Basketball: Stockton to make Breakers debut

Gusto head chef Sean Connolly teaches the Breakers, including David Stockton (third from left), how to make Carbonara. Photo / Michael Craig - NZ Herald.

New recruit David Stockton will get his first taste of playing for the Breakers in tomorrow night's game against Illawarra.

Stockton has been drafted in as a replacement for Ben Woodside, who is set to miss two months of action with a serious foot injury. The point guard joined the club last weekend and will make his debut against the Hawks at the North Shore Events Centre.

He arrived in Auckland just in time to see his new side lose to the Cairns Taipans and then jump straight on a plane for Perth where they knocked over the table-topping Wildcats on Sunday night.

"David has now had two practices with the team so he'll take some time to gel with the guys on court," coach Paul Henare said. "However, he does have a great basketball IQ and has picked things up really well which will help with the transition. I'm looking forward to seeing him on the floor."

Stockton says he likes what he sees at the Breakers.

"The team is really well put together, the coaching is great. I can come in and play with confidence, play aggressive and find my niche on the team.

"These guys are great shooters and that really does make my job easier. I'm excited to get started. I don't know if I have had this many shooters before - I have played on teams with some good shooters but we will see."

The Breakers are third in the standings with five wins from their nine games, including an overtime win in Perth on Sunday.

"The boys have been great," Henare said. "We enjoyed that win as it was a tough game to grind out and any time you win in Perth is something you don't take lightly. Once we got back on the practice floor, though, it's been about focusing on the Hawks. It always takes a few days to get that type of trip out of the system but the boys looked nice and fresh today."

Tomorow's game will also mark the 75th anniversary of the New Zealand Navy, with naval personnel from the nearby base at Devonport present. The expected visit of some of the American crew of the visiting US warship has been put on hold, however, due to the diversion of the ship to assist in the earthquake recovery and evacuation in the Kaikoura region.

The Breakers have a short turnaround after Friday's game and will travel to Illawara to take on the Hawks on Sunday.