Breakers bounce back to beat JackJumpers
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The Breakers have won their second game at the NBL Blitz 26 in Bendigo, with a hard fought 96-86 victory over a confrontational Tasmania JackJumpers,.
New Head Coach Gordie Herbert was in charge for the first time as his side had to go deep to earn the win.
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There were contributions across the roster as Sam Mennenga (ankle) and Izayah Le’afa (foot) once again were not risked with an eye on the season opener at Spark Arena on September 20.
Kouat Noi did suit up after missing the Sydney defeat but managed just four minutes on his return from a knee injury with eight points on three of four shooting including two triples, giving fans a hint of what he will bring to the side this season.
Noi’s accuracy in the opening quarter helped the Breakers to a 22-19 lead, with smothering defence forcing the JackJumpers into five turnovers in the opening stanza.
With Noi soon joined on the sidelines by American Josiah-Jordan James, that depth was well and truly tested with development players Kael Robinson and Tukaha Cooper playing valuable minutes in the second half, both making solid contributions to the win.
Tasmania fought like Tasmanians do however, edging to a one-point lead at the main break, on the back of Majok Deng, Taran Armstrong, and David Johnson going a combined five of seven from the three-point line.
Against the Kings on Friday night, it was the third quarter that proved decisive in a losing performance, so it proved this time in a winning one, with the Breakers getting to the free throw line for 14 attempts with Charles Bediako at the centre of that effort, making all eight of his first half attempts.
Defensively they locked down the JackJumpers to 16 points in the quarter, in the process turning that one-point deficit into a six-point advantage going into the final spell.
There only ever looked like one winner from that point, with the BNZ Breakers going four of six from deep in the final stanza, and frustrating Tasmania at both ends of the floor with effort plays that more than matched the physicality of Scott Roth’s side.
Parker Jackson Cartwright had 23 points and eight assists, superbly supported by Reuben Te Rangi (18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists), Charles Bediako with a double double (13 points, 10 rebounds), DJ Vasiljevic (12 points) and an all-court effort from Carlin Davison (7 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists).
The team will move to Melbourne for two pre-season hit outs against South East Melbourne (8th September) and Melbourne United (10th September)
