Match Report Dec 20

Despite a strong collective performance from the Breakers, a career-high 47 points from marquee signing Jack McVeigh saw the Cairns Taipans deal a blow to the visitors' top-six aspirations with a 99-95 win in an explosive game at the Cairns Convention Centre.

McVeigh put together a sublime shooting performance making 16 from 21 from the field including 6 from 8 threes. When the power forward gave the Taipans a ten-point lead (95-85) with under two minutes to play it seemed that the hosts would ease to a comfortable win.

However, to their credit, the Breakers roared back into contention. Full court defensive pressure reaped benefits - a flurry of baskets created havoc and pulled the Breakers to within two points (97-95) with 12 seconds remaining

As the Breakers fouled to stop the clock, McVeigh fittingly sealed the result at the charity stripe. His final two free throws secured the 99-95 victory and prevented New Zealand from claiming an eighth consecutive win over the Taipans.

Sam Mennenga led the Breakers score sheet with 24 points and 8 rebounds, Parker Jackson-Cartwright constructed a seventh double-double of the season (12 points and 11 assists), Izaiah Brockington scored 17 points (7/10FG), Rob Baker 11 points and Carlin Davison 10 points.

There were also handy efforts from Tai Webster, Reuben Te Rangi and teenage Next Star Karim López who scored 7 points apiece.

At the outset the Breakers scored on their first five trips down the floor and were 16-9 ahead after five minutes although that lead was trimmed to four points (23-19) at quarter time.

Cairns favourite forward McVeigh was proving to be a danger to the Breakers defence and he was the first player into double figures - his second triple tied proceedings at 29 points apiece before an inside move gave the Taipans their first lead of the game.

Mennenga was the next player to register double digits, but when the Taipan’s Kiwi Sam Waardenburg landed a deep three - the Breakers had been outscored 19-8 in a little over five minutes and trailed 38-31.

López and Webster reduced the margin to two points before McVeigh hit a buzzer-beating three. His lone wolf performance gave him 26 points at the break on 11 from 12 shooting. Mennenga was the best of the Breakers with 6 from 9 from the field for 14 points as they trailed 48-43 at half-time.

A couple of Davison treys carried the Breakers to a 61-59 lead midway through the third term and when Brockington and Te Rangi made short range jump shots, in the shadows of three-quarter time, the Breakers led 72-69 with a quarter to play.

Brockington scored the first points of the fourth only for the Taipans to unleash an 8-0 run to retake the lead and eventually it was McVeigh that would decide the contest and settle the score from previous encounters.

The Breakers will remain in Queensland ahead of their encounter with the Brisbane Bullets on Monday (December 22). An away fixture against Tasmania Jack Jumpers follows on Boxing Day before returning for a home game on January 4 when they will host the Perth Wildcats at Spark Arena.

Result:

BNZ Breakers 95 – Mennenga 24pts, Brockington 17pts, Jackson-Cartwright 12pts & 11 assists, Baker 11pts, Davison 10pts

Cairns Taipans 99 -  McVeigh 47pts,  Waardenburg 16pts, Lee 15pts