Basketball: Kings reign despite late Breakers fightback

The Bondi Shield stays in Australia and the New Zealand Breakers remain at the foot of the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) after the front-running Sydney Kings withstood a late resurgence to notch a 102-97 victory in their round 14 clash in Sydney tonight.

Looking forlorn when trailing by 20 midway through the penultimate quarter at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, the Breakers appeared on track for a thrashing.

But the back-to-back champions faded in the final quarter as an Aaron Olson three-point barrage threatened to cause a massive upset.

Guard Luke Martin ultimately closed out the contest from the free throw line to give the Kings a fourth successive victory and the retention of the trans-Tasman symbol of inter-club supremacy - introduced last year for the winner of their best-of-three match series.

New Zealand made the early running, winning the first clash 96-94 at home in October and held the early ascendancy tonight, forging an 11-point lead before the Kings trimmed their first quarter deficit to 31-36.

The Kings cranked up a gear after a rev-up from coach Brian Goorjian and looked to have put the contest out of reach, outscoring the Breakers 28-12 in the second term to lead 59-48 at half time.

However, Olson and recent arrival Marcus Timmons landed three-pointers to limit the damage after the Kings looked out of sight at 72-52.

Facing an 11-point deficit entering the run home, Olson hit the target with a trio of three-pointers, including one that bounced in off the top off the back board, to set up a spine tingling finish.

The Tall Blacks guard's late flurry saw him top score for the visitors with 27 points, one less than Kings' import Mark Sanford's game-high 28.

Breakers' Australian centre Ben Pepper, who was prominent in the two earlier meetings with 23 and 22-point hauls, was well contained under the hoop and managed just six points in the first half. He then got in foul trouble and added just two more points before his involvement was curtailed.

Captain Pero Cameron muscled to 18 points before he was fouled out with 1 minute 24 seconds remaining.

The Kings relied heavily on Sandford and fellow American Rolan Roberts who contributed 23.

Despite their stirring fightback the Breakers (6-12) have won only one game away from home and will look to end a difficult year on a high note by snapping a three game losing streak at Townville on New Year's Eve where the eighth-placed Crocodiles await.

Sydney Kings 102 (Marks Sandford 28, Rolan Roberts 23, Jason Smith 20)

New Zealand Breakers 97 ( Aaron Olson 27, Pero Cameron 18)

Halftime: 59-48

- NZPA