Basketball: Boucher to hit ton against Adelaide

Dillon Boucher plays his 100th game for the Breakers against the 36ers on Thursday. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Dillon Boucher's basketball career will take on a pleasing symmetry when he plays his 100th game for the Breakers in Thursday's Australian National Basketball League against the Adelaide 36ers.

Six years ago, Boucher played his first ANBL game for the Breakers - against the Adelaide 36ers. He played 60 games as a foundation player before spending a year with the Perth Wildcats and two seasons with the Brisbane Bullets, including an ANBL title in 2006-7.

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 chalked up his first double double of the season, scoring 16 points and grabbing a massive 18 rebounds.

The rebounds were a personal best for Rickert in his time at the Breakers and only Ben Pepper with 20 has snared more rebounds for the club in a single game.

The unpredictable Adelaide 36ers will be another tough hurdle for the Breakers.

Last week they suffered an 81-70 home defeat against Melbourne Tigers and then travelled 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 game format.

The Breakers hold a six-win, four-loss advantage over Adelaide in the games played in New Zealand, and last season won two of three home games against the South Australians.

- NZPA