KEY POINTS:
The Breakers are down but definitely not out after beating the West Sydney Razorbacks 125-104 in an agonising game at the North Shore Events Centre last night.
Both teams are out of the playoffs and having nothing left to play for other than pride, they provided a foul-riddled game of basketball for a loyal band of supporters.
At the start of the final 12 minutes of the last home game of the season, the Razorback hit hard with nine unanswered points, coming to within four points of the Breakers at 93-89. But Aaron Olson went on a three point shooting spree to pull the Breakers out of danger.
Olson top scored with 30 with Carlos Powell on 28.
Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis has blamed his team's harsh travel schedule for failing to make the playoffs, saying it is harder for them than the other sides.
He says when the team is getting up at 6am and not reaching their destination until 10 o'clock at night, there is not time for a recovery session.
The Breakers' away record this season has been an abysmal two wins from 16 games.
The form at home has been better and Lemanis says despite missing the league post season, it was nice to reward the fans who support them, win or otherwise.
He says the crowds at the North Shore Events Centre have only been getting bigger so it was great to put on a good performance for their supporters.
However, Lemanis says the bottom line is they have not achieved what they set out to do and have missed the playoffs again.
It is the fourth time they have done so since coming into the competition in 2003.
While Lemanis points to the travel and the hanging around in airports waiting for clearance, he fails to mention the fact Singapore is in the playoffs in their debut season.
The Breakers complete their regular season in Perth tomorrow night when they face the third placed Wildcats.
- NEWSTALK ZB
