Kirk Penney's final address to Breakers fans was followed with a rousing haka from teammates. Video / Andrew Topping
Melbourne United 88 New Zealand Breakers 86
The New Zealand Breakers' title hopes are dead and buried, but it took a mighty effort to finally kill them off.
A buzzer-beating layup by Josh Boone saw the Breakers bounced out of the Australian NBL playoffs – losing 88-86 in overtime to an excellent Melbourne United side. The result sees Melbourne sweep the semifinal series 2-0, and advance to the final, where they will be favourites for their first title since 2008.
In the end, the Breakers' final moments could be seen as a microcosm of their entire season. Against Melbourne tonight, they got off to a superb start, but were eventually hunted down – just - by a superior side. Look at their entire season, and an early 9-1 record manifested into a fourth place finish in the regular season, and a semifinal defeat as Boone stunned the home crowd.
With 2.9 seconds left, Boone had his shot blocked by Tom Abercrombie, but he picked up the scraps and laid it back in, just before time ran out - ending the Breakers' 2017-2018 campaign.
In totality, there are two ways to look at that campaign. Starting the season with nine wins in their first 10 games set high expectations, which ultimately they fell short of. However, before the season began, few impartial observers were predicting a playoff berth for the Breakers, and to be in the mix throughout is a credit to the organisation.
The reality is probably somewhere in the middle, and the Breakers' eventual elimination wasn't due to a lack of fight.
The hosts were fiery to start, shooting out to a lead on the back of a full-court press, attacking the Melbourne ball-handlers with non-stop intensity.
They forced Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman to take a timeout within 86 seconds, and the swarming limbs kept coming as Melbourne managed just four points in the first seven minutes to fall into a 13 point quarter-time deficit.
Their offensive impotence wasn't going to last, and the visitors managed to drag the deficit back to five points by halftime, despite having four of their key players failing to produce.
Chris Goulding was the first to come to life as Melbourne took their first lead, but his emergence was countered by DJ Newbill, with the Breakers import knocking down three triples as he poured in 14 third quarter points to keep the Breakers narrowly on top.
The contest swayed back and forth in the fourth quarter, and with the scores tied at 78, the Breakers had a chance to win it in regulation, but a sloppy final possession saw the contest head to overtime.
There, Boone capped off his unbelievable performance. The former NBA centre had his way all night, and shone in the extra period, finishing with 33 points and 15 rebounds, and built Melbourne a six point lead with two minutes left.
Two Rob Loe triples tied the game with 22 seconds left, giving the Breakers hope, but on the final possession, Boone broke the Breakers hearts to end their season.
The defeat also sees the end of Kirk Penney's storied career, with the 37-year-old signing off on a high with 17 points, before receiving an emotional post-game haka from his teammates and coaches.
Jordan Ngatai leads a haka for the retiring Kirk Penney. Photo / Photosport
His singlet will soon go in the Spark Arena rafters, but this year, it will not be joined by a championship banner.
