Three on the Bounce: Match Report Dec 6

The BNZ Breakers climbed into play off contention, as they made it three wins on the bounce, and four from the last five outings with a 99-86 win over the Tasmania Jack Jumpers at Spark Arena.

The victory, the 350^th in the club’s history, lifts the Breakers into sixth spot on the NBL ladder with a 7-10 record.

The wizard of Spark Arena, Parker Jackson-Cartwright was again bringing the magic, with his deep three with 1:40 to play stifling a late Tasmania charge. The Breakers point guard finished with a fourth double-double of the season (16 points and 12 rebounds).

Fellow imports also delivered the goods; Izaiah Brockington scored 22 points and Rob Baker II made 18 (7/12 FG). The American forward had the oven hot, serving up a feast of hot 3 pointers for the home fans.

While hindered by foul trouble, the other starters Sam Mennenga and Karim López tallied 16 points and 15 respectively. Both entertained the crowd with some powerful dunks.

The freshly signed returnee from Europe, Tai Webster provided some valuable minutes for 5 points and a couple of rebounds - in a promising first showing since linking up with the club earlier in the week.

Tasmanian hero, Bryce Hamilton led the way for the Jack Jumpers with 21 points. Their skipper Will Magnay scored 18 and there were also double figure efforts from Josh Bannan (12 points), Majok Deng (11 points) and David Johnson (10 points).

The BNZ Breakers won the rebounding count 45-38 and shot the three-ball at a better clip – 34% (10/29) versus 27% (10/37).

The Breakers came out of the blocks like Usain Bolt, and scored the first nine points of the game. A Mennenga two-handed slam making the highlight reel which he soon repeated. The Kiwi hardman Reuben Te Rangi dropped a three. Back in Breakers black for his first time since 2021, Webster scored with his first scoring attempt – pushing the BNZ Breakers ahead 28-14 at quarter time.

The Jack Jumpers started the second quarter with a stronger effort to trim the Breakers lead to 32-30 midway through the period. Tasmania then pulled within two (39-37) before Baker II (16 first half points) made a trio of threes to give the Breakers a 52-41 half-time lead. Less favourable for the hosts were the three fouls picked up by both Mennenga and López.

Ten straight points from Josh Bannan kept Tassie in the hunt, but the return of Mennenga and López from the bench bought some steel to the Breakers.

Tasmania’s imported star forward Bryce Hamilton peeled off a couple of long-range jump shots and with a quarter to play the 2023 NBL champions were within ten points (80-70).

The fourth quarter opened as a tense, basket-for-basket dogfight until Jackson-Cartwright seized control. The lightning-quick guard snatched a steal and raced away for a transition layup, shattering the deadlock and blowing the lead out to a commanding 12 points (88-76) with 5:22 on the clock.

Hamilton tried to keep the visitors in touch, but Brockington slammed the door shut with a triple and a relentless put-back, pushing the Breakers out to a 93-80 advantage with three minutes to play.

Tasmanian Boomer Will Magnay trimmed the BNZ Breakers lead to single figures, but Jackson-Cartwright made the settling three and López added the icing with another long-range effort.

The BNZ Breakers now hit the road in Australia, and won’t be sighted at home until January 4. Their tour of duty in Australia is a quartet of games beginning with South East Melbourne Phoenix on December 13. Visits to Cairns Taipans (December 19), Brisbane Bullets (December 22) and Tasmania Jack Jumpers (December 26) follow.

Fans will be excited to see them return to Spark Arena to host Perth Wildcats. With the recent move up the standings, fans will be there to back them drive for a playoff spot.

Result:

BNZ Breakers 99 – Brockington 22pts, Baker 18pts, Mennenga 16pts, Jackson-Cartwright 16pts, López 15pts

Tasmania Jack Jumpers 86 – Hamilton 21pts, Magnay 18pts, Bannan 12pts, Deng 11pts, Johnson 10pts.