Ili scored 38 points but Breakers development were still defeated
Round two of the 2015 Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam began with the hosts, Breakers Development, beaten 107-95 by MaiFM Sixers at Atlas Place, on Saturday. The Breakers were short handed as a number of the Academy players were absent due to injuries and both Jordan Ngatai and Tai Wynyard were in Melbourne with the SKYCITY Breakers.
Adam Dunstan opened the scoring with a three for the Sixeres but the early stages were even, 22 apiece at the end of the first quarter. Impressive Rangitoto College forward Sam Waardenburg splashed 13 points in the second quarter to give the Breakers a 45-41 half time lead. Hayden Allen, missing from the Sixers line up last week led their scoring with a dozen points at the break, forward Nick Barrow not far behind with 10 points.
For long stretches in the second half it looked like Shea Ili against the rest as the Breakers point guard continually challenged the defence of the Sixers with penetrative drives and pull up jump shots. Ili scored 27 second half points, swingman Liam Thornton helped out with 11 points but with just a two man bench, and foul trouble a concern, the Breakers eventually ran out of steam.
Barrow in the paint, Allen on the perimeter and the slashing drives of Houston O’Riley kept the Sixers in front once an Anthony Jones triple had given them a ten points buffer, 62-52, midway through the third period.
Final score;
Breakers Development 95 –Ili 38, Waardenburg 21, Thornton 15
MaiFM Sixers 107 – Barrow 25, Allen 25, O’Riley 20, Dunstan 9
The second game was a free scoring affair with the veteran pairing of Lindsay Tait and Dillon Boucher leading the NelsonStreet 68’s to a 117-100 victory against the Birdmen.
Recently announced as the new signing by the James Blond Super City Rangers Tait had 23 points and 13 assists displaying his full range of deft passes and probing drives. A Casey Frank triple helped give the Birdmen an early 9-4 lead but a couple of long range efforts from Sam Everitt propelled the 68’s to a 30-21 quarter time lead.
The spoils were shared in the second period, the Birdmen trailing 68-57 at half time despite 19 second stanza points (including two threes) from shooting guard Brook Ruscoe.
The Birdmen were well served by Frank, Robson Tavita, Chris Duthie and Isaac Davidson in the second half but could do little to halt the three point barrage of NelsonStreet. With Westlake Boys High School Sportsman of the Year Matt Freeman (7/11 3PG) leading the way as the 68’s unleashed 33 three point attempts and converted 18 at a highly respectable 55%
Final score;
68 Nelson St 117 – Freeman 35, Tait 23, Everitt 15, Boucher 15, Inga Solofuti 12
Birdmen 100 – Ruscoe 28, Tavita 18, Frank 13, Duthie 12 Zac Easthorpe 12
LACEY LOWDOWN 