Boucher's heart set on being Breaker to end

As Dillon Boucher plays his part in keeping the Breakers' playoff hopes alive, the 34-year-old has confirmed he wants to see out his career at the North Shore-based club.

The former Tall Black and now assistant coach with the national team is off contract at season's end and says if the club wants him, he'll come back for one more term to round out a storied career. Boucher, who had 12 rebounds and four assists in the Breakers' impressive 88-60 home victory over the Wollongong Hawks on Thursday, believes he is still playing well enough to warrant one last deal.

"My heart is set on playing for the Breakers, so the ball's in their court now. As long as they want me, I'll be a Breaker," he said. "I'd love to finish my career here, but if they didn't want me I'd have to look overseas. But right now I'm committed to the Breakers and this is where I want to stay."

Boucher is hoping to sort his future out soon. He and wife Nicki have twins on the way, and they're contemplating a move to the Shore to be closer to the club's training headquarters. "I feel like what I've done this year has been good for the team. My play is always reflected in results so now we're winning, I guess it makes what I do out there a lot better," added Boucher.

Even at 34, and vastly undersized as a power forward, Boucher is a valuable contributor. A renowned non-shooter, he remains highly effective as a defender, rebounder and passer, and is rated one of the NBL's smartest operators.

Kirk Penney, CJ Bruton, Tom Abercrombie, Paul Henare, Oscar Forman, Corey Webster and Alex Pledger are all inked for next season, and with Tony Ronaldson's retirement announcement there's at least one major hole to fill as the club looks to put together its roster for 2010-11.

Meanwhile, Boucher said the Breakers were fully focused on their task this week despite a growing unease that even if they extend their current four-game winning streak to six, it may not be enough to make the playoffs.

The 13-13 Breakers host the Gold Coast Blaze on Thursday night and then conclude the regular season with a visit to Cairns. They must win both and hope someone above them falters enough to be hauled in.

Boucher is confident the Breakers can keep up their end of the bargain. The rest, he admits, is in the lap of the gods.

"We're very confident at the moment, and feel like we're playing some good basketball. We just want to replicate what we did to Wollongong against the Gold Coast, and we feel if we play the brand of basketball we want to play, we'll win the game."

The Blaze beat Perth Wildcats 86-73 on Friday night to go to the top of the table.

- © Fairfax NZ News