Breakers lose Distance Derby to Wildcats in Perth
The Breakers suffered their second loss of the Australian NBL season, falling 97-93 to the Perth Wildcats in the Distance Derby away game.
Parker Jackson-Cartwright scored 30 points, four rebounds, eight assists, three steals and a block for the Breakers.
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still pressing for victory through the closing minutes. In a game with 12 lead changes, the Breakers were down four points at three-quarter time but back-to-back dunks by Mojave King and Sam Mennenga made it a one-point game with six minutes to play.
The Wildcats stretched their advantage to 92-85 with three minutes to play the response came from Jackson-Cartwright as he nailed a brace of deep threes.
DJ Vasiljevic and Reuben Te Rangi were held to a combined two points it was King with 18 points (4 from 5 three-pointers) and Carlin Davison with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks, that provided Jackson-Cartwright with the greatest support.
Despite having early foul trouble, Mennenga tallied 12 points and 4 rebounds while Charles Bediako added 3 rebounds and a pair of blocks to his 8 points.
The Breakers came out of the blocks slowly, compounded by Mennenga being forced to the bench inside the first two minutes with two early fouls as the Wildcats established a nine-point lead.
Coach Herbert called time out and got a response, back-to-back steals and layups from Jackson-Cartwright and six straight points from Davison changed the complexion of the contest – the Breakers ahead 26-22 at quarter time.
Consecutive triples from King then propelled the Breakers to a ten-point lead, although that soon evaporated on the back of too many turnovers.
The Wildcats closed to within a single point late in the second quarter, with Mennenga against sitting on the back of his third personal foul. Davison had the final say of the half though – a couple of energetic finishes propelling the Breakers to a 51-47 lead at the interval.
The Wildcats scored the first eight points on the resumption before Jackson-Cartwright and King combined to level the scores at 60 points apiece. The two teams traded baskets at the back end of the third before a Dylan Windler triple, on the three-quarter time buzzer, gave the Wildcats a 76-73 lead.
The Breakers battled gamely in the final quarter but were perhaps left to rue the fact that they lost the rebounding count 42-30, conceding 22 second chance points.
Coach Herbert lamented the lack of other play-makers in his squad
"Parker was outstanding, but he has to do everything. We need another ball handler." he said.
The Breakers departed Perth immediately returning to Auckland on Sunday to prepare for their first Ignite Cup game of the season against Cairns on Wednesday September 30 at Spark Arena.
