Basketball: New players step up for Breakers

The Breakers win over the Cairns Taipans. File photo / Jason Dorday

A few new faces shone in the absence of the old hands to ensure the Breakers ended the weekend Australian Blitz content in their pre-season Aussie NBL preparations.

While Saturday's overtime loss to Cairns meant the Kiwi club left the tournament in Townsville with one victory and two defeats, coach Dean Vickerman would have been impressed by his side's efforts.

With Mika Vukona and Tai Wesley rested after picking up minor injuries the previous evening against Perth, and with Corey Webster (NBA), Tom Abercrombie (hamstring) and Alex Pledger (foot) also absent, the Breakers were under-manned.

But even with a combined 771 appearances' worth of experience missing from the roster, the performances of Everard Bartlett, Charles Jackson and Shea Ili saw the Breakers unfortunate to lose.

As in the tournament opener against the hosts, Bartlett showed he can be counted on to pick up some of the scoring slack in the absence of Webster. While the shooting guard chases his NBA dream with the New Orleans Pelicans, Bartlett assumed the offensive load with aplomb.

The Tall Black led all scorers with 25 points in an efficient effort, shooting 10-of-16 from the field and draining six triples while enjoying particular success in the final period.

"Everard really came to life when we needed a scorer," said assistant Judd Flavell, filling in for Vickerman after the head coach enjoyed a more observational role. "He was a man we could go to regularly."

Charles Jackson was another player who earned that tag, putting behind him the foul problems that plagued his participation earlier in the tournament. The new import scored 19 points and added 16 rebounds in an energetic display that will have heartened the coaches.

"Charles Jackson really stepped up," Flavell said. "He did a good job of staying out of foul trouble which enabled him to find his rhythm. He had a real presence at the defensive end which then flowed into his offensive game."

Development player Ili had by far his most productive game in a Breakers singlet, racking up 21 points on eight-of-11 shooting and combining with Bartlett to lead the offensive charge in the fourth and keep the Breakers in the contest.

"Shea Ili had a big game. He brings lots of energy and gets stuck into it at the defensive end," Flavell said. "He was getting into the paint and creating havoc and he also made some big shots towards the end. I'm happy and proud of his performance."

Another new recruit, guard Shane McDonald, also caught the eye with a dozen points, but the Breakers will be eager for their front-line starters to find fitness ahead of their October 7 opener in Adelaide.