Basketball: Breakers make Steve Irwin proud

Charles Jackson of the Breakers takes a shot over Jordair Jett of the Crocodiles. Photo / Getty Images

If the Breakers wanted to experience pressure basketball to get themselves ready for another title tilt, they did a good job tonight.

The problem is, the four-time defending champions really need to try to find some rhythm and consistency and made awfully hard work of their win over the Crocodiles in Townsville tonight.

They jumped out to a commanding 28-15 lead after the first quarter. Charles Jackson continued his recent good form, collecting 13 points from six-for-six shooting, and Cedric Jackson was running the show from the point.

Everything looked under control and it seemed a matter of merely going through the motions and they would collect just their second win from seven games on the road this season.

But that was the problem. Sloppiness set in at the start of the second quarter and it allowed the home side to grow in confidence. They Crocs had narrowed the gap to 41-34 at halftime, were only two points behind a minute after the re-start and took their first lead in the final minute of the third quarter.

Turnovers were the Breakers' enemy, combined with some poor outside shooting and a dreadful return from the free throw line, and it meant Townsville remained in the game a lot longer than they should have.

The Breakers shot just 41 per cent of their free throws - 13 from 31 a criminal return from a part of the game known as the charity stripe for good reason.

Corey Webster had also been quiet. The shooting guard came into the game averaging a league-leading 24 points a game, but scored only five points in the first half. The shots finally started dropping and Tom Abercrombie also became more influential to assert their standing as one of the best one-two punches in the league.

Townsville refused to go away, much like the pesky little brother, typified by former Breaker Leon Henry who chimed in with rebounds, blocked shots and steals.

But the Breakers had too much class when it really mattered. Webster found his range, Charles Jackson kept battling away for a game-high 22 points and captain Mika Vukona made telling contributions at both ends of the court.

The win took the Breakers to 9-5 for the season to take them just one win off the top and also saw them win their fifth in their last six games. They return to the safety of home court, where they are undefeated this season, when they host the Sydney Kings on Friday night.

Crocodiles 75 (J. Jett 15, C. Steindl 13)

Breakers 86 (Charles Jackson 22, T. Abercrombie 19, C. Webster 17).

1Q: 15-28; HT: 34-41; 3Q: 59-59.