The SKYCITY Breakers helped christen the Claudelands Arena in suitable basketball style with an opening pre-season victory over the Wollongong Hawks in Hamilton tonight, with the home side prevailing 78 - 70. 

While it wasn’t pretty basketball there was no doubting the intensity in a first half notable for some physical battles, in particular between SKYCITY Breakers big man Gary Wilkinson and Hawks Joevan Catron, with the two Americans going toe to toe under the hoop at one point in the opening quarter.

Breakers Head Coach Andrej Lemanis summed up a typically messy pre-season game, but one he got plenty out of.

“That was a good first hit out for us, especially considering we have been together two days. It was always going to be a bit scrappy and it was, but we found a way to get into some sort of flow offensively. I thought whilst we were trying to figure that out our defence held up, the score at halftime was 28 – 27 so our defence held out and gave us some opportunities to stay in the game which is a good sign. As always with a pre-season game there is lots to work on, a good opportunity to go through the tape and there will be some teaching edits in that.”

While loathe to single out individuals, Lemanis was more than happy with his first look at new import Cedric Jackson. The American played a season high 29:59 minutes and contributed 11 points but most notably a game high 8 assists.

“Cedric did what we expected him to do; he came out and kept in the lane, made plays and made shots for his teammates. As he understands the league he will continue to get better and better, I guess it was a performance ‘as promised.’

It was a night to celebrate the first appearance of the SKYCITY Breakers in the pre-season but also a night to celebrate the Claudelands Arena with a first basketball game of this level played in front of a vocal crowd of close to 4,000. Lemanis certainly enjoyed the atmosphere and conditions.

“The stadium is impressive, the people down here are lucky to have a facility like this. I hope they continue to utilise it and come out and support it, it would be good if we can get down here again.”

Tall Black Leon Henry led all scorers with 18 points, shooting 6 of 11 from long range while new signing Daryl Corletto showed his value to the team with 17 points, including 7 of 8 free throws, most of which were in the final few minutes as the Hawks fouled to try and stay in the game.

Defensively the side was well marshalled by veteran Dillon Boucher with 8 rebounds and 2 steals. Minutes were evenly spread across the roster with development players Dion Prewster and Josh Bloxham contributing, as did the uncontracted Jarrod Kenny who saw game time in the absence of Tom Abercrombie and Mika Vukona, neither of whom suited up after their recent heavy international schedule.

SKYCITY Breakers 78
Leon Henry 18, Daryl Corletto 17, Gary Wilkinson 11, Cedric Jackson 11
Wollongong Hawks 70
Donavan Monroe 13, Joevan Catron 11, Oscar Forman 11