Slam dunk: Support makes Jones feel at home

Breakers guard Phill Jones was spurred on by his parents, John and Carol, during last night's game in Christchurch.

The Jones' had trekked across from Reefton to watch Phill and the Breakers make their Christchurch debut in the Australian National Basketball League match against the sharp-shooting Brisbane Bullets.

"It's good to catch up with them. I haven't seen them in a while and I've got a lot of relations here," said Jones, 29, who was born in Christchurch but now lives on Auckland's North Shore.

In the lead-up to the match the long-range, left-handed marksman was looking forward to reacquainting himself with the usually unforgiving rim the Westpac Centre provides.

"They are just the same as at North Shore and if you shoot the ball properly it will go in.

"They are not friendly, though, and if you are just off they don't do you any favours."

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Following last night's game against the Bullets, the Breakers next game is not until November 22 when they will line up against the West Sydney Razorbacks at the North Shore Events Centre.

If that date sounds familiar to sports fans, it is probably because it is the day that All Black fans are hoping New Zealand will reclaim the Webb Ellis Cup.

Because the Breakers are confident the All Blacks will roll the Wallabies this weekend, they have moved their tip-off time to 3.10pm, so people have time to get home and tune in to the World Cup.

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The New Zealand under-20 wheelchair side returned home with the transtasman trophy after beating the New South Wales juniors in the Slam Down Under tournament in Sydney.

The victory over NSW was their first since the trophy was first contested in 1998.

Overall the New Zealanders finished seventh out of eight teams..

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Former North Harbour forward Natalie Purcell delivered the winning points on the buzzer as Hutchinson Community College edged out Iowa Western 44-42 in the Kwik Stop Classic.

Purcell had 11 points and 15 rebounds for the game and landed the winning hoop after driving from the top of the key right to the basket.

"I wasn't really nervous," she said. "Actually I was more freaked out after the game. I was like 'oh my gosh'."

In the Hungarian national league, Tall Fern Gina Farmer helped maintain MAV Coop Szolnok's unbeaten start to the season with a 65-50 win over the BSE-ESMA.

He scored 15 points, two rebounds and a block in 24 minutes.