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Dillon Boucher celebrates with Tony Ronaldson - Source: Photosport -
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The Breakers have moved one step closer to the ANBL playoffs after annihilating the Wollongong Hawks 88-60 on Thursday night.
Up by eight points at halftime, the Breakers took a stranglehold in the second half to account for their biggest win of the season (28 points). Their previous best had been a 20-point win over the Perth Wildcats early in the season.
The victory brings the Breakers' win-loss ratio back to level terms with 13 wins and 13 losses this season while it also extends their winning streak to four in a row.
But more importantly, New Zealand is now just one win out of the top four behind the Hawks.
With just two games remaining, next Thursday's clash against the Gold Coast Blaze in Auckland looms as a huge must-win.
Kirk Penney once again ruled the scoreboard and led all scorers with 23 points, including three triples and four rebounds.
CJ Bruton played deputy in outstanding fashion and was just as big a menace of defence as he was with ball in hand - he finished up with 19 points, four assists and five steals. The always uncompromising Dillon Boucher also had 12 rebounds.
For Wollongong, Cameron Tragardh and Tim Coenraad both had a team-high 12 points.
It was a scrappy opening to the hosts' penultimate home game with both sides missing shots and committing turnovers.
But the Breakers soon kicked into gear thanks to Bruton, who nailed a hat-trick of early three-pointers to give his side the advantage.
With the injured Rick Rickert lurking on the bench with only around a 40 percent chance of playing, coach Andrej Lemanis needed a big man.
Alex Pledger got the call-up in the first quarter and immediately had an impact in the paint on both sides of the ball.
The Hawks powered back but the Breakers were able to hold on for a 19-13 lead at quarter time.
New Zealand was quickly out to a double-digit buffer in the second quarter with Bruton once again proving the go-to guy.
However, in a carbon copy to the opening period Wollongong came storming back thanks to pin-point shooting from long range.
Wollongong brought it within two points before the Breakers poured on a late barrage to go into halftime up 42-34.
At the major split Bruton and Penney both had a game-high 12 points while Dillon Boucher had seven rebounds and four assists.
Intensity lifted a gear for the Breakers coming out of the locker rooms, with the hosts red-hot on offence while the defence began to rattle the Hawks.
Thomas Abercrombie and Jeremiah Trueman were almost unstoppable on the boards as the Breakers raced out by as many as 21 points.
By the fourth quarter the Breakers held fate in their own hands, leading 63-47.
The Hawks couldn't muster anything in the final period as New Zealand simply got stronger and stronger.
The Breakers (13-13) host the Gold Coast Blaze next Thursday night in their final game of the season on home turf.
Breakers 88: (Penney 23, Bruton 19, Ronaldson 10)
Hawks 60: (Tragardh 12, Coenraad 12, Campbell 8)
Halftime: Breakers 42-34
