Andrews Masterclass Powers Taipans to Last-Gasp Win in Bendigo

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans delivered a heart-stopping 93-92 win over Melbourne United in Bendigo on Wednesday night, surviving a final-minute classic behind an Andrew Andrews masterclass and Marcus Lee’s game-saving moments at the rim and the stripe.

The Snakes came out with purpose from the jump.

Sam Waardenburg opened proceedings with a tough three, before Mojave King followed with a sharp cut for a two-hand slam.

A slow grind early on, the scoreboard finally got moving when Kyrin Galloway splashed two threes to stretch the floor.

Floor general Andrews began directing traffic like a veteran conductor, including a pinpoint feed to big man Lee for a booming dunk against his former club.

The Taipans finished the first quarter with a surge, pushing to a 29-22 lead, their highest first-quarter score of the season, driven by unselfish offence.

Melbourne’s response came fast. United opened the second term with a 10-2 run, flipping the energy and turning the contest into a physical tug-of-war.

Waardenburg, after earlier taking a heavy body blow, returned with intent and produced a chase-down block that lifted his side.

Andrews answered with poise, including a no-look dime to Waardenburg for an easy finish at the rim.

The travelling side stayed within touch despite United edging to a 45-43 halftime lead.

Galloway’s first half was crucial to keeping Cairns alive.

Fresh off his 50th game milestone in Taipans colours, the power forward led all scorers at the break with 13 points (4-5 FG), spacing the floor, punishing closeouts and anchoring key moments defensively as a help defender and shot blocker.

The third quarter followed a familiar script, Melbourne struck first with a 7-0 run before the Taipans answered.

This was where the Jack McVeigh and Milton Doyle chess match ignited.

Former championship teammates from their time at the Tasmania JackJumpers, they went head to head showcasing their offensive arsenal.

McVeigh turned the heat on with tough midrange makes, including a fading jumper, scoring 11 points in the quarter and dragging Cairns back into the contest with a 75-76 lead at three-quarter time.

The fourth quarter pressure spiked and the intensity followed with every possession feeling enormous.

United opened with a 6-0 burst to lead 81-76, and the game tightened into a shot-for-shot, stop-for-stop scrap.

Cairns kept finding answers through their leaders. Andrews, McVeigh and Waardenburg ran the offence in winning time, McVeigh and Waardenburg both finishing on 20 points and Andrews finishing with a brilliant double-double.

McVeigh delivered a ridiculous fading corner three while drawing the foul, keeping Cairns alive in the clutch.

The tension hit its peak with the scores locked at 92-92 and then the defining plays arrived.

With less than a minute to play, Lee produced a massive block denying United import Jesse Edwards at the rim.

At the opposite end with seven seconds left and the game still on the line, Lee stepped to the stripe, nailed the first of two free throws and Cairns had to survive one final Melbourne possession.

That is where Cairns born-and-bred Kody Stattmann delivered the last statement, a huge final-effort contest in transition on Milton Doyle’s would-be game-winner, forcing the miss as the siren sounded and the Taipans sealed a thriller.

Melbourne stayed dangerous through Chris Goulding’s scoring, with the veteran finishing with 27 points (8-15 FG), while Milton Doyle added 15 points (6-15 FG) and Finn Delany had 14 points (5-9 FG) and five rebounds.

Next Star Dash Daniels impressed defensively in front of his hometown Bendigo crowd, with the projected first-round NBA draft pick making life difficult on the perimeter.

Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde:
“We can talk about Andrew Andrews 13 points and 13 assists, Sam Waardenburg being an elite all-round player and Jack McVeigh being an absolute bucket-getter. But it was an all-round contribution from a lot of guys. Kyrin Galloway hit big shots at the start to tick the scoreboard over. Lachlan Barker, Marcus Lee and everyone stepped up.”

Andrews Pulls The Strings
Portland point guard Andrews was enormous, finishing with 13 points and a season-high 13 assists, controlling tempo and unleashing bullet passes to his teammates.
By reaching double figures in assists, he also hit a significant franchise marker, tying Scott Machado’s 2020-21 season average of 7.0 assists per game for the second-best assist season in Taipans history.
‍
Crucial Grit From The Supporting cast
Galloway finished with 13 points, two steals and two blocks, bringing first-half shot-making and second-half defensive presence as a spacing four.
Lee added nine points and two blocks, none bigger than his late denial on Edwards. Stattmann brought a scoring punch off the bench, adding eight points and the final defensive contest with the Taipans walking out of Bendigo with a gutsy win.

Barker’s Return
Back after missing the last two games to get married, Barker was a handy inclusion. The gritty guard embraced his defensive role, provided stability off the bench and chipped in five points and an assist, including a first-quarter corner three that helped fuel Cairns’ early surge.

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans now return to the Cairns Convention Centre for a Queensland rivalry clash against the Brisbane Bullets on Saturday, January 10. Grab your tickets HERE.‍