Basketball: Breakers' victory a 'confidence boost'

Mika Vukona of the Breakers celebrates. Photo / Getty Images

Thursday night's comeback victory over the Townsville Crocodiles may prove to be the defining moment of the Breakers' season.

Assistant coach Dean Vickerman - on media duties after Andrej Lemanis suffered a facial injury playing with his dogs - believes the team rediscovered the indomitable spirit that carried them to last season's ANBL championship as they stormed back from a 23-point deficit at Vector Arena.

"Last year when we got down, be it on the road or at home, we always believed we were going to win," Vickerman said. "[Thursday night] goes a long way to building that back again. This group, whatever situation we are in, we are still going to believe there is a chance to get over the line.

"We were pretty composed. We didn't get overly stressed being down by that margin because we knew what kind of team they were - they go on some pretty heavy runs - but it was a long way back."

Point guard Cedric Jackson, who marshalled the comeback with an 11-point, 12-rebound and eight-assist night, also believed it was a character-revealing display.

"It was definitely a confidence booster," Jackson said. "We started slow but we believed. You saw our dedication and what we are really made of."

The Breakers now have a full week to prepare for the visit of fellow contenders Melbourne Tigers on Friday night.

Much of the attention is likely to fall on Daryl Corletto, the long-time Tigers servant who left the club in acrimonious circumstances after being jettisoned for NBA star Patty Mills.

With Mills announcing his departure for the more lucrative gymnasiums of China this week after just a month with the Tigers, Corletto's belief that he was treated poorly appears vindicated.

On Thursday he produced a breakout 19-point effort for his new club after being inserted into the starting five in place of the ailing CJ Bruton.

Vickerman wasn't sure if Corletto had been inspired by events in Melbourne, but the situation certainly didn't appear to affect his focus.

"He was pleased by the amount of [tweets] he got from Melbourne saying 'are you coming back, we want you back, can you get back on the roster'?" Vickerman said. "His response to that was 'I am really happy where I am. I am playing good minutes on a team that shares the basketball'."

Corletto is also reported to have said he would not return to Melbourne while Trevor Gleeson remained as head coach, a comment that is sure to stoke the fires before Friday night.

Corletto's sparkling form is timely given Bruton's continued struggles. After going 0/9 from the field against the Taipans last Sunday, Bruton failed to put up a single shot against the Crocs despite being on the court for more than six minutes. The result was a third scoreless outing from nine matches this season for a player accustomed to being a heavy scorer.

"We thought we'd just totally rest him then put him out there and see what he was like," Vickerman said.

"But to see him hobble to a free throw there, we just had to get him out. He is in a lot of pain. He is a tough kid, he wants to keep playing. But we have got to continue to assess it. He can't help us the way he is right now."