The Santa Barbara Breakers continued their unbeaten record with a 92-62 victory over the Ladera Heights All-Stars.
The Breakers will move on to the Final Four of the WCBL 2013 Winter Season and play the #3 North Hollywood Thunderkats this Saturday at 1:30pm (Oakwood Center in Venice, CA). A win will advance the Breakers into the Championship Game at 4 pm.
In the victory over Ladera Heights, the red, white, blue and gold fastbreaked to a 26-20 first quarter lead behind Player of the Game Isaac Jone’s 8 points. Jone’s, a 6’9 rookie forward, also corralled 4 rebounds. In the second quarter, 6’10, 265 power forward, Malcolm Campbell, returning from a playing stint in Spain, began hitting short range jumpers, complimented by Tim Taylor’s two 3 pointers, and the Breakers held a commanding 49-34 lead at halftime.
Defense dominated the third quarter for both teams (Breakers 14-11 advantage) but Santa Barbara held strong behind Gerard Anderson’s game leading 10 rebounds and Allan Purnell’s defense. Ladera Heights cut the lead to 8 points midway thru the third quarter but point guard Larry Dew hit a 45 footer, just inside the halfcourt line, at the buzzer and a Breaker 63-45 lead going into the final frame. Frustration set in for Ladera Heights during the fourth quarter, which lead to many Breaker free throws (17-23 as a team) along with Taylor and Jones 2 three pointers apiece. In the end, the Breakers were just too strong both with their starters and bench play.
Veteran Tim Taylor stated, “We are gearing up for another playoff run and WCBL title. Our committment is there at both ends of the floor. I look forward to next Saturdays Final Four. We need to defend our title from last season.”
In the opposite WCBL bracket, the Number 3 ranked team, Venice Beach Warriors, will take on the 8th seeded LA United, who pulled a 88-86 upset victory over the Number 2 ranked Santa Monica Jump. That winner will face the winner of the Breakers/Thunderkats, who feature former Breaker forward Sheldon Bailey and former LA Laker Franklin Sessions.
