The team was given a major boost as Jordan Spencer returned to the lineup after injury, taking his place in the starting five alongside Dashawn Jackson, Jonas Dieterich, Chase Thompson and Xavier Wilson.

That unit clicked immediately, jumping out to a 10-0 lead to start the game and forcing Hoods to call an early timeout. Yet it seemed to have very little impact as Breakers renewed commitment to defence saw them repeatedly getting stops, heading into halftime with a commanding 42-25 advantage.

Hoods would rebound literally and figuratively in the third quarter however, dominating on the boards and capitalising on second-chance points to cut into that deficit. Yet in the final frame, it would once again be the Breakers who grabbed control of the game, widening their lead to as many as 26 points before eventually securing an impressive 81-55 victory.

Unsurprisingly it would be behind a solid Player of the Game performance from Jordan Spencer, the Captain almost recording a triple-double as he weighed in with 17 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.

But his team-mates made major contributions too, most notably Chase Thompson (15pts, 5 rebounds, 4 steals) and Xavier Wilson who stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, one steal and one block.

“It was a really committed performance from the guys,” said Breakers Head Coach Ben Stanley. “We really looked to execute the gameplan and put a tough Hoods team under pressure to hold them to such a low shooting percentage.”

“Our next steps will be to work on our consistency and not have those spells where we lapse or go away from what’s working.”

Ben and the team will now enjoy a rare weekend off, returning to action next Saturday when Reading Rockets visit Bletchley Leisure Centre. Tip-off is at 17:00 and tickets are available here.

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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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The home team were without injured duo Jordan Spencer and Blayne Freckleton, but were backed by a noisy crowd who got behind the team right from the opening tip-off. Breakers had a slow start, trailing 13-17 after the first six minutes of action before Luke Gregory was sent in from the bench.

Immediately, the veteran forward sparked his team into action, snaring an offensive rebound and scoring from close range. Gregory then cleaned the glass at the other end and ran the floor, converting another layup thanks to Xavier Wilson’s smart pass to bring the crowd to their feet.

It proved to be just the injection of energy that Breakers needed as they ended Q1 with a 25-19 lead that grew to 12 points by half-time, with Hurricanes unable to ever truly make it a contest after that.

Gregory would end the game with a team-high 16 points on 8-of-8 shooting, as well as five rebounds and an assist. Wilson also had 16 points of his own, adding three rebounds, three assists and five steals, while three other Breakers – Ben Baker, Chase Thompson and DaShawn Jackson – all hit double figures.

It was that feeling of collective effort that left Head Coach Ben Stanley most pleased after the final buzzer sounded. “A much more connected and urgent performance from us as a group today,” he said. “Things we’ve been working on were evident on the court today. It’s only one small step but we’ve proven we can move in the right direction”

Breakers will hope to continue that momentum when they travel to Harvey Haddon Sports Village for a game against Nottingham Hoods on Friday, November 7. Tip-off is at 19:30 and tickets are available here.

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With the other semifinal having already been played, the two teams knew before tip-off that Yorkshire Dragons – who beat Falkirk Fury – were waiting for them in the showpiece event.

The game got off to a slow start, with Breakers missing a number of three-point attempts and going into the half time break trailing 41-32. Rockets then started the third quarter in impressive fashion, forcing a number of turnovers and stretching their lead to as many as 19 points.

Despite the team’s struggles there was another impressive performance from Chris Tawiah, the Breakers big man weighing in with an impressive 14 points from just nine shots and adding 11 rebounds along the way.

It would ultimately be in vain however, Rockets holding off a late fightback from the visitors to see out the game, winning by a 79-71 final score, much to the dismay of Breakers Head Coach Ben Stanley.

“It was a poor performance from us across the board,” he said. “We’re really disappointed to go out at this stage and not reach the final, it would’ve been another big game and a great experience for our fantastic supporters.

“Instead we’ve got to look back at what went wrong for us, then get to work on putting that right as quickly as possible so we can start to display the quality we know we have in this group.”

Up next for Breakers is a long-awaited home game, taking on Bristol Hurricanes at Bletchley Leisure Centre on Saturday, November 1st at 17:00. Tickets are available here.

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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 Men made the long away trip to Newcastle on Saturday, taking on the Knights at Newcastle University in what would prove to be a complete rollercoaster of a game.

The team was boosted by the return of Chris Tawiah this week, and the big man made his presence felt in the early going, getting four of Breakers’ first eight points and pulling down vital rebounds in an evenly matched first quarter.

As the second got underway, Knights would tie the game at 29-29 only to see the visitors suddenly spark into life. Over the remaining eight minutes of the first half, the new-look Breakers would show just what they are capable of as they went on a superb run fuelled by good defence and free-flowing offence.

Dashawn Jackson, Ben Baker and Jonas Dieterich would all hit shots, while Jordan Spencer weighed in with seven points of his own as Breakers stormed into half-time with a 63-41 lead.

They would maintain that advantage throughout the third, but succumb to a flurry of turnovers and missed shots in the fourth that allowed Newcastle to tie up the game and force overtime thanks to a late Sam Trunley three.

The same player would then hit a shot with just two seconds left to take the game to a second extra period. That fired up the Knights and proved too much for Breakers, the home side eventually running out 128-123 winners despite Chase Thompson’s 32-point, 8-rebound performance.

“We threw the game away having played very well throughout the first three quarters,” said Breakers Head Coach Ben Stanley. “Poor offence, lackluster defensive effort and a real lack of togetherness in the 4th let us down.”

The team will look to bounce back in the BCB Trophy semifinal against COB Rockets on Saturday, October 26, with tickets available here.

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The Breakers would overcome a sluggish first half to complete a 15-point comeback, eventually running out 80-73 winners. 

Before the game, both teams held a minute’s silence to mark the passing of former Ipswich, London Leopards and Hemel Storm Centre Lee Linton-Hodges who passed away suddenly last Sunday.

When action did get underway, Nigel Lloyd’s men got off to a fantastic start as they made an array of tough shots to jump out to a 29-19 lead after one quarter. They would continue to score at a rapid rate all the way to half time, Marquel Beasley going 4-7 from three on his way to a 20-point, 5 rebound performance.

But Breakers would finally click into gear in the second half, holding Cavs to just eight points in a third quarter that saw them reduce the deficit to 51-59, before finally tying the game up in the final 10 minutes.

After a period of trading baskets back and forth, Jonas Dietrich would draw a foul as he scored a crucial layup, knocking down the free throw to give his side a one-point lead. Jordan Spencer and Chase Thompson then both hit huge threes, and the game was over as Breakers secured a 80-73 victory to get the new season off to a flying start.

It was another good performance from Thompson, ending the contest with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Jordan Spencer delivered when the team needed him in a 14-point, 6-rebound, 6-assist outing.

“We made things difficult for ourselves in the first half,” said Head Coach Ben Stanley. “But I feel that when we stuck to the game plan and executed the things we’d talked about, we had spells where we looked really good.

“Ultimately we did that enough to win this game and move on to the next one, with time to put in plenty of work this week to continue to improve in terms of consistency, especially on the defensive end.”

Up next for Breakers are two away games, travelling to Newcastle for a league game on October 18, followed by the BCB Trophy Semifinal against COB Rockets on October 26, with tickets available here.

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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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