LACEY LOWDOWN

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

The Shea Ili match up with Kevin Braswell was interesting

The 2015 Mexicali Fresh Summer Jam began at Atlas Place, headquarters of the New Zealand Breakers, on Saturday. The competition features four men’s teams and four women’s teams and takes place every Saturday through until December 20.

In the Men’s competition The Birdmen opened proceedings against Breakers Development with a couple of veteran v apprentice matchups catching the eye. Casey Frank enjoyed (I think) his battle with Tai Wynyard and the tussle between former Southland Sharks teammates Kevin Braswell and Shea Ili was a delight to behold.

The Birdmen will be without Marco Alexander for the majority of this season as the shooting guard has suffered a broken bone in the foot.

Jordan Ngatai with a tip in after strong work from Wynyard opened the scoring for the Breakers, Braswell replying for the Birdmen. The first quarter highlight was a Wynyard dunk from an Ili lob pass as the Breakers held a slender 25-21 lead.

Quarter two belonged to Brook Ruscoe the shooting guard helping himself to 18 points in the period. A four-point play is something of a rarity but Ruscoe managed it twice in 5 minutes as he helped the Birdmen to a 54-48 advantage.

The experienced Ngatai and Ili stood up in the third period and aided by Sam Waardenburg the Breakers regained the initiative to take an 81-77 lead into the final break.

The Breakers led by 10 points with 4 minutes remaining but a three fCasey Frank plus free throws from the veteran centre and guard Chris Duthie threatened a comeback. However the young Breakers squad held their nerve on the back of athletic plays from Ili, Wynyard and Brayden Inger to record a first up win in a highly entertaining game.

Final score;

Breakers Development 111 – Wynyard 29p/17r, Ili 23, Waardenburg 22, Ngatai 12, Dan Fotu 11

Birdmen 100 – Ruscoe 24, Braswell 18, Frank 17, Duthie 13, Robson Tavita 12, Isaac Davidson 10

The second game was less competitive as the Mai FM6ers, minus the services of Hayden Allen and Tall Black Duane Bailey, were out scored 126-99 by 68 Nelson Street (formerly Youthtown).

Houston O’Riley scored 7 quick points and Nick Barrow added a couple of put backs to give Mai an early 11-2 lead but that advantage was hauled in by quarter time. 68NS led by Dillon Boucher, Lindsay Tait and Ana Haku quickened the pace in the second quarter and their transition game was too much for the 6ers who trailed 68-44 at half time.

O’Riley began the second half in the same fashion as the first with a long three and when Anthony Jones hit back to back triples, a revival was on the cards. This was quickly snuffed out by the two Matt’s, Freeman and Lacey, and aided by threes from Daniel Green, 68NS held an unassailable 94-76 threequarter time advantage.

Final score;

68 Nelson St 126 – Tait 26, Haku 24, Green 24, Freeman 20, Lacey 14.

MaiFM 6ers 99 – O’Riley 31, Barrow 27, Jones 19, Adam Dunstan 12