Abercrombie ekes New Zealand past Crocs
By Grant Chapman, Pagemasters
Abercrombie ekes New Zealand past Crocs
After letting one slip last week, the New Zealand Breakers showed they still remembered how to win, finally prevailing 81-74over the Townsville Crocodiles at the North Shore Events Centre on Friday.
Forward Tom Abercrombie exploded for 24 points, including 15 in the first half and five three-pointers, nailing one from the arc... in the final moments to clinch the victory.
Sharp-shooter Daryl Corletto chimed in with 16 points, Gary Wilkinson added 12 and Mika Vukona 10 rebounds and five assists.
American Josh Pace and Todd Blanchfield had 14 apiece for Townsville, with import Brian Conklin adding 12 points and seven boards.
If the nature of their buzzer-beating loss to Adelaide seven days earlier was preying on their minds, the Breakers weren’t showing it, jumping out to an early advantage that reached 15 points in the second quarter.
Abercrombie was aggressive from the start as he connected from deep and got to the foul line at will, but he found willing assistance from the Breakers bench.
Corey Webster and Reuben Te Rangi provided the energy, while Wilkinson proved an effective counter for Conklin, who had dominated proceedings in the two previous meetings between these teams.
But Townsville remained nipping at the heels of the three-time defending champions, closing to within five just before the break and four late in the third period.
A turn-around baseline jumper from Conklin had them three behind down the stretch and when he converted a three-point play a few moments later, the scores were tied.
Right about then the Breakers probably started hearing footsteps, but they never lost the lead they had held since tip-off.
“The group had talked about getting back into a close game like that and making some changes to what happened, so this was pleasing,” beamed Breakers coach Dean Vickerman.
“We made some shots down the stretch, we made our free throws, we stayed aggressive and didn’t turn the ball over in the last few possessions.”
Corletto slotted a three that gave them a five-point buffer and Abercrombie, who left the court briefly after taking a blow to the face, returned for the clincher in the final minute.
“There were two pretty desperate teams trying to get another win on the board,” reflected Crocs coach Shawn Dennis.
“I was very proud of my guys that they were able to scrap and fight and put ourselves in the game like we did. It became a game that could have gone either way and it came down to the bounce of the ball – that happens sometimes.”
NZ Breakers 81 (Abercrombie 24, Corletto 16, Wilkinson 12)
Townsville Crocs 74 (Blanchfield 14, Pace 14, Conklin 12)
Abercrombie ekes New Zealand past Crocs
After letting one slip last week, the New Zealand Breakers showed they still remembered how to win, finally prevailing 81-74over the Townsville Crocodiles at the North Shore Events Centre on Friday.
Forward Tom Abercrombie exploded for 24 points, including 15 in the first half and five three-pointers, nailing one from the arc... in the final moments to clinch the victory.
Sharp-shooter Daryl Corletto chimed in with 16 points, Gary Wilkinson added 12 and Mika Vukona 10 rebounds and five assists.
American Josh Pace and Todd Blanchfield had 14 apiece for Townsville, with import Brian Conklin adding 12 points and seven boards.
If the nature of their buzzer-beating loss to Adelaide seven days earlier was preying on their minds, the Breakers weren’t showing it, jumping out to an early advantage that reached 15 points in the second quarter.
Abercrombie was aggressive from the start as he connected from deep and got to the foul line at will, but he found willing assistance from the Breakers bench.
Corey Webster and Reuben Te Rangi provided the energy, while Wilkinson proved an effective counter for Conklin, who had dominated proceedings in the two previous meetings between these teams.
But Townsville remained nipping at the heels of the three-time defending champions, closing to within five just before the break and four late in the third period.
A turn-around baseline jumper from Conklin had them three behind down the stretch and when he converted a three-point play a few moments later, the scores were tied.
Right about then the Breakers probably started hearing footsteps, but they never lost the lead they had held since tip-off.
“The group had talked about getting back into a close game like that and making some changes to what happened, so this was pleasing,” beamed Breakers coach Dean Vickerman.
“We made some shots down the stretch, we made our free throws, we stayed aggressive and didn’t turn the ball over in the last few possessions.”
Corletto slotted a three that gave them a five-point buffer and Abercrombie, who left the court briefly after taking a blow to the face, returned for the clincher in the final minute.
“There were two pretty desperate teams trying to get another win on the board,” reflected Crocs coach Shawn Dennis.
“I was very proud of my guys that they were able to scrap and fight and put ourselves in the game like we did. It became a game that could have gone either way and it came down to the bounce of the ball – that happens sometimes.”
NZ Breakers 81 (Abercrombie 24, Corletto 16, Wilkinson 12)
Townsville Crocs 74 (Blanchfield 14, Pace 14, Conklin 12)
Last Modified on 23/11/2013 06:03
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