Basketball: Breakers avoid longest losing streak with a gritty victory

The Breakers saved their best for last, but an overdue win is unlikely to enhance their play-off chances.

They ended their exhausting four-match road trip with a convincing win over West Sydney on Saturday night but remain rooted at the bottom of the Australian national league.

Any bid to overhaul the eighth-placed Hunter Pirates appears doomed after the Newcastle franchise sneaked past the Breakers 107-96 on Friday night.

Under-pressure coach Frank Arsego was relieved a gritty all-round effort prevented the Breakers creating unwanted history with a new longest losing streak.

The signs were ominous that a seventh consecutive loss loomed when the Razorbacks led by eight at the end of the first quarter.

But the Breakers regrouped to lead by one at the main break. The advantage had stretched to five by the home stretch before captain Pero Cameron landed three quick three-pointers to give the Breakers a precious double-figure buffer.

Arsego, whose job is in doubt when the season ends after five more matches, can at least reflect on a 3-0 series sweep over the 10th-placed Razorbacks.

"They're the only team we've swept, so it was a good result for us," Arsego said after his team delivered an improved 43 per cent accuracy ratio from the floor.

Mike Chappell top-scored with 24 - including 20 after halftime - and guard Aaron Olson contributed 23.

Dillon Boucher and Marcus Timmons were busy on the boards, each hauling in nine rebounds to compensate for the loss of forward Ben Pepper, who rolled an ankle in Newcastle. The injury is not serious.

"We could come on here looking tired as though we're playing game four or we could crank it up," Arsego said.

"The boys just energised themselves."

Cameron, who is nursing an Achilles injury, had a quiet game but stepped up at the perfect time to drill a trio of identical three-pointers from in front of the hoop inside a minute with nine to play in the final period.

"I just went for broke," said Cameron, who expected to be a passenger on the trip.

"I didn't think I'd play any games, just a couple of minutes here and there. Luckily they went down."

Cameron ultimately played 24 minutes - half the game - and also snared a couple of last-quarter rebounds to help keep the Razorbacks at bay.

The victory, only the Breakers' second in 12 away games, gives them an 8-19 win-loss ratio and the chance to overtake the Razorbacks and Cairns Taipans, who both have 9-18 records.

The Breakers must win their last five games and hope the (12-13) Pirates collapse on the run home to have any chance of making the eight.

"The reality is our chances were with the Hunter [on Friday], but we'll have a look at the calculations when we get home.

"Our job now is to keep people honest. We want to learn in the next five games so this roster can move on," Arsego said.

The Breakers now enjoy a break before hosting the Townsville Crocodiles on February 9 in Auckland.

Then they head across the Tasman for the return match three days later before backing up the following night against the Taipans.

A double-header in Perth rounds out the regular season.

- NZPA