The MK Breakers picked up a much-needed league win over second placed Derby Trailblazers on Saturday evening at Bletchley Leisure Centre, running out 75-67 winners.
American duo Adrian Scarborough (19 points, 13 rebounds) and KJ Johnson (19 points, 8 assists) shone for the home side as they improved their league record to 3-4.
Scarborough scored the first points of the evening for the Breakers before Derby replied with 7 quick points to take an early 2-7 lead. Scores from Scarborough and Troy McIndoe brought the Breakers to within a point, before Charlie Brown converted a 3-pointer for the visitors.
The teams continued to trade baskets until the end of the quarter. KJ Johnson began to find his groove offensively, tying the game at 19 with a pair of free throws, before a Jase Harrison lay-up to finish the quarter gave Derby a slim 19-21 lead after 10 minutes.
The second quarter would prove to be pivotal in the game, the Breakers scoring 27 points and holding Debry to just 15. A trademark Nate Robinson 3-pointer opened the scoring. Robinson then sunk a pair of free throws before Temi George hit a short corner jump shot to put the Breakers 26-25 ahead, their first lead of the game since 2-0.
A hook-shot from Chris Tawiah was followed by another Robinson 3-pointer as the Breakers found themselves 35-30 ahead. An insane put back dunk from Scarborough brought the Bletchley Leisure Centre crowd to their feet as the Breakers continued to assert their dominance in the quarter. A lay-up from Derby’s Leighton Elliott-Sewell would reduce the deficit to 10, the Breakers leading at half time 46-36.
Knowing they would need a complete 40-minute performance to keep the experienced Derby at team at bay, the Breakers came out in the third quarter with an increased defensive intensity.
KJ Johnson opened the second half scoring with a pull up jump shot. Jonas Dietrich responded for Derby. Scarborough scored inside and then Johnson hit a 3-pointer to give the Breakers their largest lead of the night at 53-40. Derby however, fought back through Chris Harris and Elliott-Sewell, who finished with 9 points in the quarter to keep the Trailblazers in striking distance. A much-needed Robinson lay-up ended the quarter to keep the Breakers ahead 59-50 with 10 minutes to play.
With the Breakers offense stalling slightly in the second half, Derby were able to leak out in transition as Jai Pathmarajah scored a pair of lay-ups in transition to open the fourth quarter. Tawiah however, would settle things for the Breakers, scoring 3 consecutive jump shots to keep the Breakers lead in double figures at 67-56 with 4 minutes to play.
The Breakers used the clock to their advantage in the final minutes of the game, and the place erupted as Nate Robinson flew down the lane for a dunk over the Derby defender, putting the exclamation mark on a much-needed league win for the Breakers.
Scarborough and Johnson scored 19 points apiece for the home side. They were joined in double figures by Robinson (14) and Tawiah (12). The impressive Leighton Elliott-Sewell lead all scorers with 24 points for Derby. He was joined in double figures by Chris Harris with 10.
The Breakers will be looking to pick up another league win next Saturday when they travel to City of Birmingham Rockets, tickets available HERE.
Attention will then shift back to the National Cup, as we welcome local rivals Hemel Storm back to Bletchley Leisure Centre on Sunday 15th December for a quarterfinal match up. Tickets available HERE.
The Breakers eliminated the Storm from the KitKing Trophy with a 100-88 win back in early November, before suffering a heavy league defeat away to Hemel the following week.
With the season series tied at 1-1, this proved to be another intense battle between the two teams which will sell out almost immediately, so get your tickets now to avoid disappointment.
