ID :
178909
Fri, 04/29/2011 - 14:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/178909
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NZ Breakers win NBL title
SYDNEY (AAP) - New Zealand Breakers established trans-Tasman sporting history on Friday as they crushed Cairns Taipans 71-53 in Auckland to claim Australia's National Basketball League title.
The Breakers are the first New Zealand team in any sport to win an Australia-based competition.
Roared on by a raucous capacity crowd at the North Shore Events Centre, the Breakers scored the first six points and never trailed at any stage in the final game of the three-match grand final series.
The Taipans made brave runs near the end of each of the first two quarters to stay in touch and got within three early in the third term.
A 16-4 run swelled New Zealand's lead to 15 and they maintained a double-digit advantage for the remainder of the game.
Guard and Australian Boomers representative CJ Bruton topscored for New Zealand with 14 followed by import American forward Gary Wilkinson 13 and guard Kirk Penney 11.
Forward Dusty Rychart top scored with Cairns with 14, but was the only Taipan to hit double figures.
Both teams shot below 40 per cent from the field, but the Taipans made just two out of 25 three-point attempts and were outrebounded 43-36.
New Zealand, who won the minor premiership with a 22-6 record, are in their eighth season.
Cairns, who were in their first grand final, finished third on the ladder with a 16-12 record.
The Breakers are the first New Zealand team in any sport to win an Australia-based competition.
Roared on by a raucous capacity crowd at the North Shore Events Centre, the Breakers scored the first six points and never trailed at any stage in the final game of the three-match grand final series.
The Taipans made brave runs near the end of each of the first two quarters to stay in touch and got within three early in the third term.
A 16-4 run swelled New Zealand's lead to 15 and they maintained a double-digit advantage for the remainder of the game.
Guard and Australian Boomers representative CJ Bruton topscored for New Zealand with 14 followed by import American forward Gary Wilkinson 13 and guard Kirk Penney 11.
Forward Dusty Rychart top scored with Cairns with 14, but was the only Taipan to hit double figures.
Both teams shot below 40 per cent from the field, but the Taipans made just two out of 25 three-point attempts and were outrebounded 43-36.
New Zealand, who won the minor premiership with a 22-6 record, are in their eighth season.
Cairns, who were in their first grand final, finished third on the ladder with a 16-12 record.
