Breakers suffer narrow loss to JackJumpers
An understrength New Zealand Breakers couldn't quite stage the comeback they needed against the Tasmania JackJumpers, going down 77-79 in the NBL
The visitors came close to forcing overtime on the buzzer in Launceston, but a slow start to the first and third quarters ultimately cost the Breakers a chance to end their losing streak.
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Two imports fell to injury and two players fouling out, the Breakers were always facing an uphill battle that was not helped by a lopsided foul count of 27 to 15.
Coach Gordie Herbert spoke with pride in his team's effort in the face of so much adversity.
"We lost the game but to a certain extent I thought we got better - if that is possible. We are in a result-oriented business and get judged by results. But I thought our habits were better, our effort was really good, we won the rebounding battles.
"We just didn't get to the foul line enough, but I thought our effort was outstanding, we never gave up, we were down most of the game and came back multiple times."
After a slow start saw the Breakers trail throughout the first half, one of those runs was a remarkable unanswered 11 points to end the second quarter and tie up the game at 43 a piece at halftime.
After the JackJumpers scored the first seven points of the third quarter, the Breakers were playing catch-up for the rest of the game.
The New Zealand almost took the lead with a shot from Sam Mennenga over a defender on the buzzer looking good all the way, until it wasn't.
The Breakers have now lost five straight to be 4-8, and played most of the game without starting point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright and centre Charles Bediako.
Bediako took a nasty fall in the first quarter and did not return, while Jackson-Cartwright managed just 11 minutes as he struggled with a lower leg injury.
Reuben Te Rangi and Nelson Weidemann fouled out to leave the Breakers with limited options off the bench.
Mennenga continued his dominant form with another 29 points, 17 rebounds, two assists and two blocks on 13 of 19 shooting.
Anzac Rissetto put in plenty of work around the court for his six points and five rebounds in 16 minutes in the absence of Bediako.
Tasmania JackJumpers 79 Dakota Mathias 18, Will Magnay 16, Josh Bannan 14) Breakers 77 Sam Mennenga 29, Kouat Noi 9, DJ Vasiljevic 7)
