Penney masterclass too much for NZ Breakers
Kirk Penney has many signature performances as an NZ Breaker, and now the Kiwi hoops great has one against them.
The 34-year-old Tall Blacks legend had himself a night against his old team on Wednesday in Wollongong, inspiring the Illawarra Hawks to an easy 96-75 victory over a Breakers side, which slipped worryingly back into the shambolic mode in which they opened the Australian NBL (ANBL) season in Adelaide last week.
The Breakers, now 1-2, had 25 turnovers – a club record in a 40-minute game – in a shoddy display, and paid the price as the Hawks grew in confidence as this contest wore on. The home side, coming off two road defeats over the opening round, muscled the Kiwi club around the hoop and hustled them out of the game with some suffocating defence to secure their first win of the new season.
But Penney was simply superb, as the veteran rose beautifully to the challenge of playing against his hometown club he spent four years with and led to their first championship in 2010-11.
The Breakers should have known the world-class Kiwi shooter would come out gunning, but they seemed ill-prepared for what played out as the one-time pride of Westlake Boys picked them apart at will, with a steady stream of triples interspersed with the odd drive to the hoop.
Penney finished with 36 points as he went 10-of-24 from the floor and 7-of-12 from beyond the arc. He also added three boards and three assists in a display which reminded everyone what a consummate pro he still is, even in these twilight years of his career.
The Kiwi’s chief support came from Aussie big man AJ Ogilvy, who had his way with some ineffective Breakers interior defence to finish with 23 points (10/14 FG), 10 rebounds, four steals and a pair of blocks.
But the rest of the Hawks team played their part. Their swarming guards forced turnover after turnover as the Breakers lost their poise badly, and they were able to play at a pace and with a precision the defending champions simply had no answer to. They had 20 more shots than their opponents, and a 14-of-33 hit-rate from three-point territory always kept them firmly in the driver’s seat.
The struggling New Zealanders now head to Perth for a Friday night matchup against the Wildcats, needing a massive turnaround in execution and effort. The return of captain Mika Vukona from the high hamstring strain that kept him sidelined in Wollongong can only help.
Cedric Jackson, coming off a fourth career triple-double against Townsville on Sunday, had a game to forget as he went 0-for-7 from the floor, 1-of-5 from the free-throw line and managed just a single point to go with five boards and six assists. Almost every one of his shots front-rimmed on a clear off-night for one of the ANBL’s superstars.
Few Breakers would walk away satisfied with what they brought to a sub-standard display, but big men Charles Jackson (20 points, nine rebounds) and Tai Wesley (14 points) at least battled away inside, even if it was in a losing cause.
Tom Abercrombie had 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, but his renowned defence failed miserably to put the clamps on his long-time Tall Blacks team-mate as Penney had his way with whatever the Breakers threw at him.
Backup guard Shea Ili provided perhaps the brightest note for the Breakers when he produced 12 points, three rebounds and three assists in a busy 15 minutes off the bench, but others such as Alex Pledger, Reuben Te Rangi and Shane McDonald were way off the level required. McDonald, in particular, is struggling with the step up in intensity.
The Hawks led 32-19 at the first break behind 14 first-quarter points from Penney, extended their advantage to 19 by the half and 22 by the end of the third period.
Penney mentioned in a halftime interview how much he loves the Breakers club for what they represent in his home country, and what they’ve done for the development of the game.
But clearly not half as much as he loves playing against them.
Illawarra Hawks 96 (Kirk Penney 36, AJ Ogilvy 23, Kevin White 10) NZ Breakers 75 (Charles Jackson 20, Tai Wesley 14, Shea Ili 12, Tom Abercrombie 11). 1Q : 32-19; HT: 59-40; 3Q: 74-52
MARC HINTON (Stuff.co.nz)