Big Al can't ride out Breakers
TweetTHEY hung around for a long time but in the end, Sydney just didn’t have the depth to bring Al Harrington’s tenure to a fairytale ending.
Cedric Jackson had a big night but was nursing a bruised knee as the Breakers came from behind to inflict an 86-74 beating in the end-game and second-to-last Kings match at the venue formerly known as the Sydney Entertainment Centre.
Corey Webster found his stroke in time and Everard Bartlett also was efficient, Tom Abercrombie corralling 15 rebounds as New Zealand headed home victorious to await Melbourne on Sunday.
Big Al finished his last game with a match-high 18 points, Josh Childress returning from suspension/injury and the NBA veteran of 1036 games heading home to enjoy some more couch-time.
THERE’s a nice twist to the fact Townsville’s Suzy Batkovic and SEQ’s Shane Heal are the WNBL’s Player and Coach of the Month for October.
(Don’t know who votes on this and better late than never, given we’re two-thirds through November.)
Their two teams meet in the first Queensland derby this round and the two award-winners also had a bit of a Twitter war earlier this year.
The Batgirl (above) averaged 22.6 points at 53 per cent and 8.4 boards for the month – tarnation! Them thar is super hero numbers – while the Stars went 4-1 when Shane wasn’t calling NBL games.
Tonight: THE only good news for Townsville in having Brian Conklin (one-game suspension) joining Luke Schenscher (inj) on the sideline is the Crocs’ younger brigade will have a red hot go against United in Melbourne. Mitch Norton also gets to be captain in his 100th game. But having already lost twice to United, once badly, it’s tough to see a depleted line-up doing what a full-strength team could not.
Last night: BREAKERS 86 (Webster 17, Pledger, Ce Jackson 14, Bartlett, Ch Jackson 13, Abercrombie 11; Abercrombie 15 rebs; Ce Jackson 7 assts) d KINGS 74 (Harrington 18, Cadee 17, Garlepp, Thonton 12; Khazzouh 7 rebs; Harrington 4 assts) at the Kingdome.