The Santa Barbara Breakers were victorious in claiming the “Who’s Next” Classic Basketball Tournament held over the weekend in Lynwood, California. Ten teams from across California competed during the two-day event.
The Breakers had an easy time in game one, trouncing the Hollywood Aztecs 122-61 led by Tim Taylors 29 points.
In Game 2, the Breakers battled new WCBL-entry foe Nation-Wide All-Stars throughout the contest, trailing 48-42 at the half. The Breakers closed it to 76-74 but was unable to tie the game, losing 82-78. Tim Taylor was the leading scorer with 23 points while Tree Small led with 11 rebounds.
Moving to the Loser’s Bracket, the Breakers faced Team Say No and quickly jumped out to an 8-point lead in the first quarter but Say No’s outside shooting kept them within firing distance. Tim Taylor and Deon Marcus (6’8 Arizona State) ignited the Breakers offense with their three point shooting. The final score was Breakers 103, Say No 89. Taylor was once again the leading scorer with 26 along with Deon Marcus 19; Tree Small 17; and James Powell 16. 7’1 Center Rashid Byrd led in rebounds and blocked shots with 11 and 5, respectively.
The Breakers next opponent was WCBL brethren, Marina Del Rey Advantage. The game was a slugfest from start to finish. The Breakers went back and forth with Deon Marcus and Tim Taylor taking over the game with their transitional scoring. The Advantage led 63-59 going into the final period.
Both teams up the ante on defense with their physical play and it poetically resulted in the game tied at 72 at the end of regulation. In the overtime period, Tim Taylor’s last minute three pointer at the top of the key broke the backs of the Advantage as Jushay Rockett failed three point attempt from half court missed as time expired. The Breakers were victorious 81-78 and their top scorer’s were Marcus’s 20; Taylor’s 18; Byrd’s 12; Small’s 11 and Powell’s 10.
With the win, the Breakers moved into the Championship Game and were playing their unheard of, fourth game of the day. Ignoring fatigue, the Breakers jumped out to an 11-0 lead until the Pasadena Slam changed the game with hard, physical fouls in the paint and on the perimeter. The game slowed down in a methodical half court style contest. With the shot blocking and rebounding of Rashid Byrd; the offensive scoring of Deon Marcus and Tim Taylor, the Breakers stayed within two points throughout the final period.
Sam Ikwe provided additional scoring punch with three big baseline jumpers in the final period. Following two game tying free throws by Taylor, the Breakers came up with huge defensive stop. The key play was Rashid Byrd’s offensive rebound and finding UCSB Gaucho alum James Powell on an overhead pass for an open outside three pointer on the right side of the court with eight seconds remaining in the game. The Slam had two great opportunities to tie the game as time expired but both shots fell short. The latter attempt was shot by former Utah Jazz great and LA Laker, Byron Russell. With that miss, the Santa Barbara Breakers celebrated as they were crowned champions of the tournament.
Among the 120 plus players in the tournament, the Breakers star and all-time leading scorer, Tim Taylor, was named MVP. Also named to the First Team were Breakers Rashid Byrd and Deon Marcus.
The Breakers (6-1) will now gear up for the WCBL’s Black History Tournament, which will be held in February in Los Angeles, California.
