Box Score
MK Breakers: 86 (15, 38, 61, 86)
St Helens Saints: 68 (18, 38, 50, 68)
MK Breakers lifted their third trophy of the season as they overcame Team Solent Kestrels 86-68 to be crowned 2024 NBL Division 2 Playoff Champions.
Rewatch the game here.
The Breakers returned to the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester having lifted the National Cup in the same arena back in January. This time they faced Team Solent Kestrels, the side they battled alongside all season before lifting the NBL Division 2 title.
The Kestrels were the last team to defeat the Breakers back in October, when they upset the odds at Bletchley Leisure Centre to hand the Breakers their only ever home loss, 80-87. The Breakers have since gone on a 30-game win streak, claiming the National Cup, NBL2 South League and Playoff titles in the process.
Jordan Spencer was crowned MVP as his 26 point, 11 rebound and 11 assist performance led the way for the Breakers. Chris Tawiah also put in a clutch performance with 21 points and 15 rebounds on 9/12 shooting – with Nate Robinson (17) and Dante Langley (12) also hitting double digits.
It was a quick start from Billy Beddow’s side as Chris Tawiah’s five points within the opening minutes opened an early advantage for the Breakers. It was Isa Brandon who opened Solent’s scoring for the evening before his three point effort put Solent ahead. A three point effort from Ashley Briggs followed shortly after to extend their lead to four points.
The frantic start soon calmed down as both sides struggled to find their feet in the clash with Solent holding a 10-4 lead five-minutes into the Final. Spencer scored his first points of the evening to bring the Breakers back to within four, but Solent would bite back to push their lead to eight points.
Buai Luak checked into the game and immediately scored two points from the free throw line before Spencer added two more points to his tally – bringing the Breakers to within four points. Solent pushed back to lead by eight, however, Spencer netted five points in the final 30-seconds to reduce the lead to 18-15 at the end of the opening quarter.
It was Solent who scored the opening points of the second quarter as Briggs scored twice from the free throw line. The same man then added a further two points to open up a seven point advantage. That lead became four after Will Issekya’s three point play, however, Briggs quickly made that lead six. Spencer’s two successful free throws followed by his steal and lay-up reduced the game to a two point game and took Spencer to 11 points.
The Breakers drew level after Tawiah converted his two attempts from the free throw line, but Briggs put his side back ahead with his lay up. That advantage didn’t last long as Tawiah became the second Breakers player to hit double digits with a lay up of his own.
Spencer continued to add to his tally, converting two free throws after yet another foul from the Kestrels. Langley then reduced the lead to one point with his three point effort, Brandon pushed his side back ahead to three before Spencer made three consecutive free throws to draw the sides level. Solent then retook the lead with seconds remaining in the opening half, but Spencer continued his impressive work from the free throw line levelling up the scores at 38-38 at the break.
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Dante Langley scored the first points of the second-half as he put the Breakers ahead before Spencer followed up with two points of his own. Having returned after treatment for his bloody nose, Freckleton converted an impressive driving lay-up before Tawiah and Langley helped the Breakers put up an eight point lead.
Solent hit straight back and made it a four point game with two quick lay ups, before Briggs made the game a two point match. Nate Robinson pushed the Breakers ahead to five with his three point effort, before Freckleton’s three point play put the Breakers up by eight. Chris Tawiah continued his impressive performance with his dunk taking his tally to 16.
Robinson made the lead 10, but Solent hit back in the closing seconds of the third to bring themselves to within eight points. Spencer was then fouled in the closing seconds of the third and took to the line for three free throws. He scored all three to ensure the Breakers lead 61-50 heading into the final quarter.
Brandon reduced the lead to nine as he scored the first points of the fourth, before the same man made it a seven point game seconds later. Robinson pushed the Breakers back to nine with his driving lay-up. Briggs scored two free throws to bring the lead back to seven, but Robinson sunk yet another three points to put the Breakers ahead by double digits. Tawiah took that lead to 12 points after he picked up an offensive rebound before dunking his way to another two points.
Brandon converted a deep three to bring the Kestrels to within nine, Spencer added a point from the free throw line to bring the lead back to double digits. Lloyd produced a possible shift in momentum when his three point effort saw the lead reduced to seven points with five minutes left on the clock. Robinson, however, did the same to restore that 10-point lead. Dante Langley wanted in on the action as he converted a free point effort of his own to push the lead to 13 points. Chris Tawiah made that lead 14 as he converted from the free throw line with just four-minutes left to play.
Dadds, however, was eager to ensure that wasn’t the game as he put up three points, however, Robinson hit back with a crucial dunk. Langley pushed the lead to 15, with Chris Tawiah making it 17 seconds later following Frecklton’s steal. Brandon converted his free throw to give his side some hope, but the Breakers ball management helped them see out the final seconds of the game.
Spencer added another two points from the free throw line as chants of MVP rang around Manchester as the Breakers completed the historic treble with an 18 point victory.
Join the team at the Club’s second annual Awards evening, Wednesday 1st May, 6:30pm at MK Sports Bar & Lounge, more information here.
