MELBOURNE remains the only unbeaten team in the NBL after crushing the New Zealand Breakers 115-90 tonight.
In front of 3221 fans at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Melbourne, the Tigers withstood a strong first-half challenge – and the hot hand of Kirk Penney – before dominating last two quarters at both ends of the court.
Like his side’s 8-0 win-loss record, swingman David Barlow was perfect from the field tonight, landing a career-high 37 points from an astonishing mistake-free 14-of-14 shooting.
Also good for the winners were man mountain Chris Anstey (21 points) and Stephen Hoare (17 points).
After managing 58 first-half points, Melbourne shut down the Breakers offence after the break, New Zealand managing just 32 points on 24.2 per cent shooting.
Penney, who finished the night with 29 points, was on fire early, landing three from down town and netting 11 first-quarter points but Melbourne, on the back of 7-0 and 14-2 runs, led 31-28 at quarter-time.
Penney’s night out continued in the second term and he was joined by teammate Wayne Turner (14 points) as the visitors turned a nine-point deficit into a 58-56 advantage at the long break.
The Breakers took advantage of some poor Melbourne decision-making – typified by Darryl McDonald’s technical foul when he tossed the basketball into the crowd after he was called for a foul on Mika Vukona running in for an uncontested lay-up.
That one indiscretion cost seven points and Melbourne the lead.
Although Vukona failed to convert the three-point play, Phil Jones made the two free-throws for the technical and Penney took full toll the next play, capitalising on Tigers turnover to nail one from beyond the arc.
The Breakers (3-3) remain in Melbourne for a match against the winless South Dragons at Vodafone Arena on Sunday afternoon, while the Tigers’ next assignment is in a week’s time at home to Townsville.
Man-of-the-moment David Barlow admitted his perfect record was “in the back of his mind” during the final minutes.
“The whole season I haven’t been shooting well but I have been saying I’m going to keep shooting them, it’s only a matter of time until one game I shot well,” Barlow said.
“I shot well tonight. I’m loving being back home, I’m loving playing with Al and the team and just enjoying everything about it.”
Breakers veteran Tony Ronaldson said Barlow’s performance was “pretty awesome”.
“He’s an interesting one to guard because he’s six (foot) eight (inches) and can play one, two, three or four, probably even throw him in the five in some teams,” Ronaldson said.
“He’s a talented player and that’s why he’s in the Australian team. He hit some tough shots.”
Tigers coach Al Westover was pleased with the way his defence kept New Zealand’s shooters quiet in the second half.
“The offence was great throughout, but our defence in the second half turned it around,” Westover said.
“To hold them to 32 points in one half was a tremendous group effort. Once we got that little break on them they seemed to lose their rhythm a little bit and they struggled there for a few minutes and that gave us the break that we needed.”
Andrej Lemanis said Melbourne’s size was always going to present some challenges for his side.
“And that’s even without (the injured) Dave Thomas,” Lemanis said.
AAP
Source: foxsports.com.au
