Basketball: Split lip leads to bad blood

By JULIE ASH

The Breakers and the Perth Wildcats may square off again tonight with an ugly incident from their Wednesday game unresolved.

The short time between the games means the Australian NBL judicial committee may not have time to rule on two clashes relating to the Christchurch match, which the Breakers won 104-97.

The Breakers have asked the ANBL to investigate an incident that occurred in the car park, involving Perth's Rashad Tucker and the Breakers' Dillon Boucher.

Breakers general manager Peter Chapman alleged that Tucker punched Boucher, who suffered a split lip.

Chapman said no other Breakers were involved. Team management had investigated the matter and felt Boucher was innocent of any antagonism.

It followed an episode on court where Boucher was cited for an unsportsmanlike foul on Tucker and ejected from the match late in the third quarter.

The judicial committee has charged Boucher with a code of conduct breach.

He may also be charged with unsportsmanlike conduct if he is found to have returned to the Breakers' bench after being ejected.

It was unclear whether the committee had started to investigate the car park matter.

Adding to the Breakers' worries is news that centre Ben Melmeth is out for the rest of the season after he suffered a tear in the plantar fascia in his right foot last Saturday night during the Breakers' win over the Hunter Pirates.

"The positive is that it is not going to end his basketball career," said Breakers coach Frank Arsego who, with star forward Mike Chappell, has signed with the club for the next two years.

"The sad thing is that there is not enough time this season to get Ben back.

"But that is the way it goes.

"It is now it up to people such as Blake Truslove, Iona Enosa and Mike Homik to step up and cover the void."

Arsego said the key for his team now was to back up Wednesday's performance in the second leg of the double-header tonight.

A fortnight ago they beat Townsville, but lost to them three days later.

"Both teams will get the chance to make an adjustment from the last game and that is the skill of playing in the Australian league.

"If you are asked to play one night you have to be able to back it up a few days later.

"The challenge for us is whether we can understand what we let slip last time against Townsville and make amends this time."

With five games to play, the Breakers are 10th in the 12-team competition.

The top eight advance to the playoffs.

Tonight's match tips off at 7.40.