Corey Webster's role in leading his side to an 80-69 win over Melbourne United highlights his continual evolution as a player, says New Zealand Breakers coach Dean Vickerman.
Corey Webster is challenged by Melbourne's Hakim Warrick Photo: Photosport
Webster shot the lights out in Auckland last night with a career-high 39 points, as the Breakers stormed home over the Australian national basketball league competition favourites.
The win came two weeks after the defending champions' contentious 87-86 defeat in Melbourne, after which the ANBL apologised for a crucial late unsportsmanlike call against Webster.
Webster said there was an element of revenge going into the game after that controverisal loss.
"You know that was in the back of my mind ever since that happened but honestly wasn't really thinking about that during the game I was just trying to help the team wherever I could to get the win, they're at the top of the league right now, that's where we want to be so we're working our way up there so it was a good win for us."
The champions were down 35-32 at half-time to the NBL leaders, but trailed by just one point after three quarters - and the Breakers never looked back from there.
Webster was at the forefront of the final quarter effort when they went on a 29-17 run down the stretch, shooting a quick pair of three-pointers that put the home side into a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The Tall Blacks guard's personal haul included an impressive seven three-pointers - 14 of them in the fourth quarter, from nine long-range shots.
Breakers coach Dean Vickerman said Webster is controlling the game better.
"Thought he did a good job, you know we put him at point-guard, obviously Cedric Jackson wasn't 100 percent tonight and we went back with that kind of group that closed out the game in Sydney the other night and he did a really good job of getting a mixture of running plays for himself, and running plays for his team-mates. I thought that was another evolution of his game in being able to you know just dictate what happens at the offensive end."
Cedric Jackson was the only other Breaker in double figures with 10 points.
The Breakers are third on the table with a 7 and 4 record, while it was the third straight game Melbourne have dropped but they remain top of the standings with a 9 and 3 record.
It was the Breakers sixth home win from six games in Auckland.
