The focus on defence in training over the last week proved to be worthwhile as the Breakers Women held Oaklands Wolves to just 37 points in their dominant away win on Saturday evening.

Oaklands started the game well and it took MK a while to get going, but after Sarah Round netted the first five points for the Breakers, Courtney Gray came off the bench and made an immediate impact. Her performance at both ends of the floor helped MK to a seven point lead at the end of the first quarter (10-17).

At the start of the second period, Sarah Round once again started the scoring hitting the first six points from strong drives. When she was forced to temporarily leave the floor with a minor injury, Jordan Elliott-King, Lauren Milne and Vanessa Obanor highlighted the team’s strength in depth as they all chipping in with points of their own. MK went on an impressive run at the end of the quarter which ended with a well-executed play finished off by Courtney Gray that gave the Breakers a comfortable 15 point lead (19-34).

Going into the second half, MK’s mood was positive but Oaklands attempted to mount a comeback. However, even though Oaklands had their best quarter, good ball and player movement by the Breakers resulted in numerous drives to the basket or passes to the interior. By the end of the period, the Breakers had added three more points to their lead (34-52).

The instruction to the MK players as they came out for the fourth quarter was to maintain the defensive intensity and they didn’t disappoint. Great work as a unit made it difficult for Oaklands to get to the rim and forced some tough shots. This, combined with some intelligent steals held the hosts to just three points in the quarter. Offensively, MK slowed the pace of their offence but still managed to maintain a good scoring rate. Courtney Gray finished off her excellent game with the team’s last six points that took her personal total to 14 points. Sarah Round led the team’s scoring with 17 points and Coach Round was pleased to see so many of the players make significant contributions.

At the end of the game, Coach Round commented, “I like the way Oaklands switched their defence many times but we spotted and responded to the changes quickly.” He added, “The referees were happy for it to be a physical game and we embraced that. We didn’t shy away from the contact and we didn’t let it bother us. We stayed locked it on court and there was tremendous energy from the bench. Overall, it was a great team effort.”

The next game for the women will mean a trip up the M6 to play Trafford Mystics at the Manchester Basketball Centre on Sunday 30th November.

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A gutsy, hard-fought win in front of an enthusiastic home crowd moved the MK Breakers Women to the top of the league after the Saturday Division 2 – Pool A matches.

Going into the game, both teams were carrying just one loss and the expectation was that it was going to be a close contest. The expectation became reality as, when the final buzzer sounded, only three points separated the two sides.

The Breakers were back to full strength with the return of Sarah Round, who helped MK establish and early lead. However, despite her 13 first quarter points, which included there 3-pointers, the Rockets matched MK’s first quarter total of 24 points as a result of multiple trips to the free throw line.

Birmingham’s zone defence had frustrated MK through the first quarter, but in the second quarter MK started to find the gaps. Some great inside play from Lauren Milne earned her seven points in the period and several intelligent kick-outs from Vanessa Obanor gave Kirsten Moran and Courtney Gray opportunities to knock down some long range shots. At the other end of the floor, the Breakers held Birmingham to just seven points giving them a commanding 46-31 half-time lead. The mood was positive going into the break as the quarter had finished with a very well-executed sideline play that ended with a Courtney Gray score on the buzzer.

The Breakers run at the end of the second period had made it look like they had taken control of the game, but not in the eyes of the Rockets. Nuri Calderon led the charge for the visitors as they mounted an impressive comeback. Her fighting spirit on defence and her do-it-all offence energised her teammates as they shaved nine points off the MK lead to finish the quarter just six points behind (62-56). Arguably, the Breakers got what they deserved in the third quarter as their defence was lack lustre and they lost their way offensively.

Coming out for the fourth quarter, MK needed to dig deep to halt Birmingham’s progress. In what proved to be an exciting and entertaining final period packed with lots of impressive play from both teams, it was impossible to predict which way the game was going to go. A series of 3-pointers from the Rockets gave them the lead and it began to look like they were going to steal the win, but MK maintained their composure and re-took the lead. With 11 seconds left on the clock and the score showing as 77-74 in MK’s favour, Birmingham had one last opportunity to force the game to overtime from a sideline play. Although they managed to find the 3-point shot they needed, it was unsuccessful and when the rebound fell to the Breakers, the celebrations began.

Speaking after the game, Coach Round commented, “Birmingham are a talented, well-coached team. They were determined and aggressive in the right way. Calderon had a great game as did Grace Brownell who shot incredibly well.” He added, “We were fortunate that we managed to hang on for the win, but regardless of the result, I enjoyed being part of what was a great contest.”

Next week, MK Breakers Women make the short journey to St Albans where they play an Oaklands team stacked with WEABL players.

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MK Breakers suffered their first loss of the season after making the long trip up to Middlesborough to play Tees Valley Mohawks. MK travelled with a depleted squad as three of the normal starters were unavailable, but there was still confidence going into the game as Tees Valley could only field six players – two less than the eight required according to the league rules – but they made it clear that they weren’t going to make it easy for the visitors.

With Tees Valley playing a 2-3 zone defence for 40 minutes, the game was more frustrating than entertaining. MK struggled to break through the zone in the early exchanges and Tees Valley benefitted from several fast break opportunities. The Breakers energy levels seemed to be low, probably as a result of the early start and long journey, but they were able to establish a five point lead by the end of the first quarter (21-16).

Tees Valley fought back at the start of the second period to take a 29-26 lead and the teams then traded baskets for most of the rest of the quarter. A gutsy late run from the Breakers gave them a 36-29 half-time lead, but it was all still to play for.

MK started the second half with what appeared to be some new-found energy. A switch to a 1-3-1 zone forced their opponents to take some tough shots and some great defensive rebounding combined with improved positivity on offence resulted in the Breakers opening up what should have been a secure lead (44-29). However, halfway through the third quarter it was Tees Valley’s turn to change their defensive strategy and the introduction of a full court press proved decisive. A series of MK turnovers allowed the hosts back into the game and going into the fourth quarter, MK’s lead had been cut to just two points (49-47).

The final period followed a similar pattern to the third with MK having more success for the first five minutes and re-establishing a five point lead (54-49). To their credit, Tees Valley refused to accept defeat and continued to cause the Breakers players issues with the press through the latter stages of the game. With less than two minutes left, the Mohawks wrestled the lead from the Breakers one more time and never let it go. The game finished 62-58, although it will be up to Basketball England to decide whether or not the result will stand due to the eight-player rule. Either way, it was a game that MK let slip through their fingers.

The highlights for the Breakers were Vanessa Obanor’s 16 point, 16 rebound double-double and Lauren Dabbs’s 14 points which included shooting 40% from three-point range (4 from 10).

The overall stats for the game make interesting reading as MK had the better two-point shooting percentage (45.2% v 33.3%), the better three-point shooting percentage (27.3% v 18.4%) and they out-rebounded Tees Valley 60 to 47. One of the more relevant stats was the free throws as Tees Valley hit 13 of 23 attempts (56.5%) whereas MK only hit 3 of 8 attempts (37.5%). However, the most important stat of all was the turnovers as the Breakers committed 33 compared to Tees Valley’s 15, which gave the Mohawks what proved to be a significant number of additional offences.

The MK women can now focus on training for a couple of weeks as they don’t have a game in the coming weekend.

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MK Breakers Women knew they faced a tough challenge when they welcomed title contenders, Hemel Storm, to Bletchley Leisure Centre for their fifth league match last Saturday. In what turned out to be an absolute thriller, the enthusiastic crowd were treated to a contest full of passion, energy and impressive teamwork from both sides.

Earlier in the week, it wasn’t certain that MK were going to be able to field a team as several players had illnesses and injuries. However, when it came to the day of the game, only two of the squad were still unavailable so although not quite at full strength, MK had enough players to be able to play the game.

It was Hemel who took the early lead and looked the more confident of the two teams, but the Breakers players settled and not only slowed Hemel’s progress, but regained some control. By the end of the first quarter, Storm’s lead was cut to just 2 points (13-15).

In the second quarter, the Hemel coached subbed out a couple of her key players as they’d both committed two fouls and Breakers seized their opportunity. Strong drives to the basket sent MK players to the free throw line multiple times and at the other end of the floor, Storm were held to just 7 points in the period. Although MK were guilty of too many turnovers and allowing Hemel too many offensive rebounds, they entered the mid-game break with a slender 25-22 lead.

Both teams adjusted their defences in the second half with Hemel trying a 2-3 zone and MK closing up the gaps in their man-to-man defence. Neither team did enough to take control of the quarter and the difference remained single digit not just for this period, but for the remainder of the game. It was Hemel who won the third period, but only by two points so there was only one point separating the teams as they entered the final stage of the game (39-38).

The excitement built in the hall through the final quarter as it became ever clearer that the game was going down to the wire. Breakers had held onto a fragile lead until Storm wrestled it from them to go one point up with just nine seconds left to play. Knowing it was going to be a close finish, Coach Round had held onto a timeout which gave him the opportunity to draw up a play. From the sideline, the ball went straight to Vanessa Obanor who went to work in the low post and her move to the basket earned her a free throw as she was fouled on her successful shot attempt. Breakers had the lead once again.

After converting the free throw, MK transitioned immediately into an up-court zone which forced a crucial turnover. As Breakers now had a two point lead with time running out, Hemel had no option but to foul which gave MK two more free throws, both of which were successful. It was the second of Lauren Dabbs’s free throws that put the game out of Hemel’s reach and the celebrations began.

Both teams were unbeaten going into the game so with the scoreboard reading 52-48 in MK’s favour, it was the home team who had claimed an important league win. However, both sets of players should be proud of their efforts in what proved to be a fabulous example of women’s basketball.

Coach Round’s player will now need to shift their focus to their next game which will be against Tees Valley Mohawks after a long drive up to Middlesborough on Sunday 2nd November.

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MK Breakers Women maintained their winning streak in the league despite having to travel to Walsall Queens with several players missing. A combination of injuries, illnesses and cancelled trains meant that there were only seven fully fit players available for selection, plus Sarah Round. Round was able to play but although it was tempting at times, Coach Round opted not to put her on court to protect a minor injury.

The ‘magnificent seven’ started the game well and established an early lead, but Walsall’s combination defences disrupted MK’s normal offenses and proved effective. At the other end of the floor, Walsall shot well from long range and the Breakers were guilty of not putting more pressure on the shooters. During the first period, Courtney Gray and Jordan Elliott-King scored well and Vanessa Obanor was rewarded with several trips to the free throw line after some strong drives and putback attempts. MK deserved their 25-19 lead, at the end of the first period, but it was clear that it wasn’t going to be an easy game.

Through the second quarter, Walsall continued to shoot well and their triangle-and-two defensive tactic caused problems for the Breakers and limited the team to just 13 points. With a restricted line-up, Coach Round had asked his players to play safe on defence to avoid foul trouble in the first half. A consequence of this was the Queens players were able to get shots away and their conversion percentage remained high. They won the second period by 4 points (17-13) and although it felt like they had taken control of the game, it was MK who held the lead at the mid-game break (38-35).

The Breakers players had managed their fouls well in the first half so the instruction at half-time was to dial up the defensive intensity. MK’s on-ball defence became tighter and the off-ball defence was more disruptive. This had the desired effect on Walsall’s shooting percentage and the momentum swung back in MK’s favour. They limited Walsall to 12 points in the third quarter and then just 10 in the fourth.

Through the second half, Queens continued with their combination defences, but their close attention on Jordan Elliott-King and Lauren Dabbs opened up more opportunities for Courtney Gray and Vanessa Obanor. Walsall seemed happy to give MK long-range shooting opportunities and this worked well for the hosts as MK couldn’t convert their attempts. However, in the final phase of the game, one of Walsall’s key players fouled out and another had to leave the court with cramp. In addition to improved shot selection, more aggressive drives into the paint by the MK players resulted in several visits to the free throw line and despite Walsall’s valiant efforts, the Breakers ran the game out with the scoreboard showing 66-58 in their favour.

Reflecting on the game, Coach Round was generally pleased with the game management as the decision to gradually increase the defensive pressure through the game helped with the foul management and by the end of the game, only one of his players had reached three fouls. It was also satisfying to see that all players who entered the game contributed to MK’s total. Vanessa Obanor led the way pouring in 27 points and Courtney Gray scored 20.

MK Breakers Women remain unbeaten in the league, but they know there are some tough tests on the horizon. The hope is that the injured and ill will return to training very soon and the pre-game preparations can return to normal.

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MK Breakers Women (90) v North Herts Knights Women (25)

MK Breakers Women continued their winning streak in the league with a dominant victory at home against North Herts Knights.

MK missed some of their early shot attempts, but it didn’t take them long to find their form. Lauren Dabbs hits the first of a barrage of 3-pointers in the first quarter which contributed to a 27-9 lead. The standout performance in the quarter came from Tetiana Shevchyk who was making her debut for the team in the league. Soon after entering the game she ignited the crowd by hitting back-to-back 3-pointers as well as a couple of free throws.

The Breakers scoring rate slowed slightly in the second quarter, but not by much. Throughout the first half, Breakers had been guilty of allowing the Knights to claim too many offensive rebounds, but the visitors weren’t able to convert their second chance opportunities and only managed six points in the second period.

At the start of the second-half, Coach Round asked his team to up the tempo on offence and the intensity on defence. The players responded well with a number of them earning a trip to the free throw line after attacking the basket, and the collective efforts of the team at the defensive end held North Herts to just four points in the third quarter.

In the final quarter, Jordan Elliott-King added two more 3-pointers to the three she’d hit earlier in the game and she finished the contest with a game-high 16 points. She was one of the five Breakers who achieved double-figures and two others were just one point short of joining them. The spread of scoring highlighted the strength of depth in the team and the willingness to play for each other.

As the buzzer sounded , the enthusiastic crowd rose to congratulate the MK players on the impressive team effort that gave them a 90-25 victory.

Loughborough Riders D1 Women (81) v MK Breakers Women (53)

The Women’s team faced a much tougher test on Sunday as they travelled to Loughborough to face the Riders D1 team in the Women’s National Cup. The Riders team included a number of current SLBW players, but MK approached the game with a positive mindset and a determination to show that they could compete against the higher-league opposition.

Riders set the tone in the first quarter with their up-tempo, physical style and they were rewarded with a 21-8 lead by the end of the first quarter. Once MK players that the referees were going to let the players play, they became more comfortable and grew in confidence.

A combination of tougher defence and attempts to attack the rim meant that the teams were better matched in the second period, but there were lapses with MK’s weakside help and Riders were able to claim too many offensive rebounds. Although the Breakers did much better, Rider were able to increase their lead by another six points, giving them a 41-22 half-time lead.

In the second-half, MK made some more defensive adjustments and forced several turnovers. Their play-hard-to-the-end attitude wasn’t enough to turn the game around, but the in-game improvements were highlighted by the fact that Riders had won the first quarter by 13 points but could only win the second-half by 9 points.

In their well-deserved win, the standout performers for Loughborough were SBLW-players Miriam Carrasco Menendez (5/7 from 3-point range), Louisa Gibbins (16 rebounds, 9 of which were offensive) and Alex Shaw (19 points). Whilst MK matched the Riders in terms of steals and turnovers, the main differences between the two teams were the rebound count (53 v 33) and the shooting percentage (44.1% v 36.2%).

For the Breakers, once again there was a good spread of scoring. Sarah Round leading the team with 13 points, but Jordan Elliott-King (9), Vanassa Obanor (9), Lauren Dabbs (7) and Charleene Tom (6) all made great contributions.

Overall, Coach Round was pleased with the two performances. He commented: “On Saturday, we demonstrated that we could stay focused and the game on Sunday was perfect preparation for some of our upcoming league games as it showed we could maintain our composure and stay positive when put under pressure.” He added: “We enjoyed the game against Loughborough and we wish them well in the next round of the Cup.”

The women hit the road again on Saturday 18th October as they travel to Walsall Wizards to try to keep their winning streak alive.

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Firstly, MK Breakers Women will host North Herts at home in Round 3 of the league on Saturday at 13:15pm at Bletchley Leisure Centre before the Men’s Team kick off their BCB season against London Cavaliers at 17:00.

Admission is free to the women’s game, tickets for the men’s game can be purchased via Fanbase here. 

The Men return home riding a wave of confidence after booking their place in the BCB Trophy semifinals with a statement victory over Reading Rockets last weekend. It was a fitting response to a challenging start to their Trophy campaign, and a performance that showed the resilience and chemistry developing within Ben Stanley’s squad.

The Breakers are slowly finding their feet after mixed results in their opening fixtures. The Breakers opened their competitive campaign against Birmingham Rockets, falling 82–77 in a tightly contested clash.

A week later, the Breakers faced a double-header weekend that would define their Trophy fate. Saturday’s matchup against Hemel Storm ended in a narrow 89–82 defeat, despite a standout showing from Jordan Spencer, who netted 33 points, along with 9 assists and 7 rebounds.

In Sunday’s clash against the Bristol Hurricanes, the Breakers delivered a commanding performance, running out 92–63 winners to secure their place in the quarterfinals. Jordan Spencer once again set the tone, producing 17 points, 8 assists, 4 steals and 4 rebounds in a complete all-around performance. It was a true team effort and a clear sign that the Breakers were beginning to click at both ends of the floor.

That momentum carried into last weekend’s Trophy quarterfinal, where the Breakers produced one of their most complete performances to date, overcoming Reading Rockets to secure a place in the National Trophy semifinals.

London Cavaliers, meanwhile, matched the results of the Breakers, but would finish third in their group. They recorded a win over Essex Rebels, but would taste defeat against Worthing Thunder and Reading Rockets respectively.

Before the men take the court, the MK Breakers Women will open Saturday’s action as they host North Herts Knights, looking to continue their perfect start to the season. The Breakers Women have started the campaign in fine form, improving to 2–0 with a composed and confident victory last weekend.

The team’s early success has been built on strong defensive foundations, fast-paced transitions, and impressive depth across the roster. With back-to-back wins under their belt, the Breakers Women will aim to keep their unbeaten run alive against the Knights.

Saturday’s double header promises a full afternoon of top-tier basketball and community energy at Bletchley Leisure Centre. The Women will look to extend their winning streak and cement their place among the early frontrunners in their division, while the Men begin their league campaign ready to build on the momentum of their Trophy success.

With both teams playing at home and fan excitement growing across Milton Keynes, the stage is perfectly set for an electric day of basketball action.

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MK Breakers Women headed north up the M1 last Sunday for their first away game of the season against Nottingham Wildcats at the University of Nottingham’s impressive David Ross Sports Village. After a well-fought contest, it was the Breakers who were victorious securing a 48-66 win.

The two teams traded baskets in the early exchanges with Nottingham’s Captain, Macy Cook having an excellent first quarter scoring seven of her team’s 11 points. However, the defensive strategy applied by MK proved increasingly effective and MK began to stifle the Wildcats offence. At the other end of the floor, six of MK’s players contributed to the team’s 18 first quarter points giving them a 7-point lead.

As the game progressed, there were too many occasions when the Breakers created good shooting opportunities but failed to get the ball through the hoop. Although, the defence held firm through the second period, Nottingham managed to add 14 points to their total. Despite all the good looks and well worked endline plays, Breakers could only beat that by one to take an 8-point lead into the mid-game break (25-33).

In the third quarter, Nottingham tried a different defensive tactic and switched to a 2-3 zone defence, but MK were prepared. Their well-executed zone offence consistently found gaps inside as a result of good ball and player movement. At the other end of the floor, MK limited Wildcats to just seven points and Breakers finished the period with a 50-32 lead.

The gap between the two teams grew at the start of the fourth quarter which gave Coach Round the opportunity to run the bench. Nottingham managed a mini-run towards the end of the game, but it was too little too late and the Breakers cruised to an 18-point victory.

Reflecting on the game, Coach Round felt that at times his team lacked flow and the shooting percentage was lower than he would have liked, but he was confident that improvements will be made as the team gets deeper into the season. On the upside, he believed that there were plenty of positives. In particular, there were strong performances from Vanessa Obanor and Lauren Dabbs who scored 20 and 12 points, the endline inbound plays was successful on several occasions, the zone offence proved effective, and there were some impressive team and individual defensive plays.

Next weekend, the team has two games as they face North Herts at home in Round 3 of the league on Saturday and D1 team Loughborough Riders in the Cup away on Sunday. Admission to the league game, which tip off at 13:15pm at Bletchley Leisure Centre is free.

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MK Breakers started their league campaign with an 83-55 win over Charnwood Riders. All the work done during pre-season proved worthwhile as the Breakers jumped to an early lead. A combination of solid team defence and well organised offences gave Breakers a 22-9 lead after the first quarter.

However, a determined Riders team made it clear that they had no intention of rolling over. They intensified their defence and mounted a comeback. Despite their impressive efforts, they could only close the gap by two in the second quarter and the Breakers entered the mid-game break with the score standing at 33-22.

Breakers started the second-half with the aim of tightening up the defence and the plan worked. Thanks to a series of steals and well-worked offences, Breakers dominated the quarter (23-8). The period ended with the play of the day from the MK side. With just five seconds left on the clock, Riders had a sideline possession and the opportunity for the final shot in the period. However, a high IQ defensive play from Diane Addo followed by a steal and score from Kirsten Moran gave the Breakers the final shot and a 56-30 lead.

Going into the final quarter, Riders were trailing by 26 points and had left themselves too much to do against the Breakers team that appeared to be growing in confidence. However, to their credit, they continued to battle and only lost the final period by two points (27-25).

As the buzzer signalled the end of the game, the scoreboard confirmed the result as 83-55 in Breakers favour. Coach Round was encouraged by the fact that four MK players reached double figures with Sarah, Round, Courtney Gray, Vanessa Obanor and Jordan Elliott-King scoring 24, 14, 11 and 10 points respectively. He was also pleased with the overall team effort and spirit.

The next game for Breakers is their first road trip against another WEABL-based side in Nottingham.

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Box Score: Reading Rockets 102-91 MK Breakers

The 2024/25 season came to an end this past weekend with both our senior teams taking part in showpiece events as we travelled to Manchester for Play-Offs Finals to conclude a historic campaign.

Up first was Saturday’s WNBL Division 2 Final, pitting Breakers Women against London All Stars. Both teams made nervous starts to the game, trading baskets and uncharacteristic turnovers in equal measure before settling into the occasion as the lead repeatedly swung back and forth.

With Breakers trailing after the opening 10 minutes, the team came back into the game with a superb second quarter. Showing the quality that had seen her named league MVP, Sarah Round hit a jump shot to cut the deficit to 5, then hit youngster Oceane Yagoli for a layup to reduce it even further.

Yagoli then turned provider herself, assisting Jess Lee for two threes to put Breakers ahead before Round – who London had no answer for – knocked down a pair of free throws to extend the lead.

After the break, Courtney Gray came up with some big rebounds and vital free throws while India Morrell – who ended the game with 15 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists – and Vanessa Obanor made huge contributions.

Ultimately however, the London All Stars would prevail despite a game-high 25 points from Sarah Round, who also weighed in with 7 rebounds and 5 assists and went 7-7 from the free throw line.

Sunday saw the men take to the floor in a rematch of last month’s Kit King Trophy Final, taking on a Reading Rockets team who were in search of a treble after also lifting the NBL National Cup.

As always, Samit Nuruzade and his staff had the Rockets extremely well-prepared and they jumped out to an early lead. Breakers slowly fought their way back into the game behind high-energy contributions from Kai Walker (27pts, 5reb, 4ast) and Adrian Scarborough’s 27 point-13 rebound double-double.

Jordan Spencer (11pts, 9 assists) would keep the game close, repeatedly finding Chris Tawiah rolling to the basket with some superb passes but Reading’s depth allowed them to play a physical brand of defence that disrupted Breakers usual flow.

That should take nothing away from an incredible first season in Division 1. Breakers Men and Women will celebrate their accomplishments at Big Jay’s Smoke House on Monday, April 28. Entry is free and we look forward to seeing you there!

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