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Breakers forward Dillon Boucher - Source: ONE Sport -
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One of New Zealand's most proud and decorated basketballers brings up a personal milestone for the Breakers on Thursday night when Dillon Boucher plays his 100th game for the ANBL club.
Ironically Boucher will achieve the feat against the same opposition that he faced in game one back in October 2003 when the Adelaide 36ers helped launch the New Zealand club's participation in the Aussie league.
Boucher played 60 games as a foundation player and since his return has not missed a single tip off and brought great experience, leadership and his well known defensive qualities to the North Shore based club.
The Breakers will go into the game with renewed confidence following their morale boosting 92-82 victory over the high flying Crocodiles last Thursday, with Boucher playing a key role when elevated to the starting five by Coach Andrej Lemanis.
Rick Rickert was again outstanding for the Breakers as he chalked up his first double double of the season scoring 16 points and grabbing a massive 18 rebounds. Those rebounds were a personal best for Rickert in his time at the Breakers and only Ben Pepper (20) has snared more rebounds for the club in a single game.
Awvee Storey with a game high 22 points, 4 rebounds and a block had his most productive game of the season.
Oscar Forman with 12 points became the 6th Breaker to score 1100 points for the club at 10.6 points per game
Tony Ronaldson with 8 points became the 9th Breaker to score 800 points for the club at 12.0 points per game.
Rookie Tom Abercrombie again featured strongly scoring 13 points, passing 100 points for the club in his 19th game at 5.3 points per game.
CJ Bruton came very close to a double double as he dished off 9 assists to compliment his 14 points. With those points Bruton became the second player in the league to pass the 100 points mark for the season.
The unpredictable Adelaide 36ers will be another tough hurdle for the Breakers. They last week suffered a 81-70 home defeat against Melbourne Tigers and then traveled to Cairns and walloped the Taipans 106-69, one of the largest margins in the history of the competition and certainly under the new 40 minute format.
The Breakers do however hold a 6 win, 4 loss advantage over Adelaide in the games played in New Zealand and last season won 2 of 3 home games against the South Australians.
CJ Bruton needs 4 points to become the 13th Breaker to score 600 points for the club.
