The Breakers Academy defeated Waitakere 72-58 in the final of the Supercity Competition at North Shore Events Centre on Friday. This was a fitting climax for captain Sam King (199-F-91), and fellow seniors Morgan Nathan, Inga Solofuti and Josh Bloxham who all graduated from the Academy following the game.

Both teams started the final hesitantly with the score in single digits through the first six minutes before Josh Bloxham nailed a couple of baseline jumpers to give the breakers a 19-14 quarter time lead. This advantage was quickly erased by Waitakere in the second period as Matt Aird poured in 13 points including three, three point shots and Houston ORiley demonstrated his ability to score in traffic. Brad Anderson kept the Breakers in touch with ten points in the quarter but Waitakere led 38-34 at half time.

Waitakere still led 46-45 mid way through the third quarter but thereafter their offence ground to a halt and the Breakers took control. Waitakere could not break down the 1-3-1 zone defence thrown at them by Academy coach Judd Flavell and scored just two more points in the period. Their cause was not helped when they picked up a coach technical foul, Bloxham slotted home the resulting free throws and the Breakers took a crucial 55-48 advantage into the final period.

Waitakeres shooting woes continued in the fourth period (4 from 27 from the field) as they could manage just 10 points in the period. The Breakers, led by Nick Burrows with an impressive 16 rebounds and Morgan Nathan 9 rebounds, were able to control their own boards and point guard Josh Bloxham controlled the tempo down the stretch to ease the Breakers to a hard fought 72-58 victory. Bloxham had a game high 21 points with Brad Anderson also in double figures with 17 points.

Breakers Academy 72 (Josh Bloxham 21, Brad Anderson 17, Sam King 8, Rueban Te Rangi 8)
Waitakere 58 (Matt Aird 18, Patrich Bolstad 14, Houston O'Riley 13)

 

3rd and 4th Playoff;

Northside 115 (Cam Stuart 31, Marco Alexander 29) Harbour Heat Reserves 95 (Hayden Allen 37, Dan Ryan 25)

 

Final placings for the Supercity basketball Competition 2010

 

1^st Breakers Academy

2^nd Waitakere

3^rd Northside

4^th Harbour Heat Reserve

5^th Auckland Rivets

6^th West Auckland

7^th Basketball Auckland

8^th Ngatiwai Soldiers

9^th Northland Suns