Breakers breeze past Taipans

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans had to deal with Tropical Cyclone Jasper this week but it was ultimately the New Zealand Breakers that blew them away with a 111-82 conquest at the Cairns Convention Centre on Friday night.

The Taipans lost their last home game against the Kings only to get back in the winner’s column in a big way with a history-making win in Adelaide, setting a new league-high score (116 points) with their best first and fourth quarters of the year.

But, the Taipans have now lost three consecutive games at home and have been defeated by the Breakers three times this season.

It was a sluggish start from Cairns that saw Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde call two early time-outs, as their Breakers breezed past them and got what they wanted on the offensive end and it was a good indication of what was to come.

Back-to-back triples from Bul Kuol were the only Taipans points in the first three minutes, before Tahjere McCall also found an opening from range, but that was all the home side could manage as the visitors went on a 15-0 run.

The Breakers led by as much as 21 points in the first quarter, shooting at 76 per cent from the field, with the Taipans finding themselves down by 16 at the break.  

The second quarter was no different, with the Breakers pouring on another 26 points as Cairns struggled to contain Anthony Lamb and Parker Jackson-Cartwright. The two Breakers imports had combined for 33 points by the half and the visitors were up 62-36.

The Taipans returned from the main break looking more collected, but still struggled to get past screens and get stops with a frequently changing rotation. Sam Mennenga made the most of his minutes, scoring 11 points in the third quarter while Patrick Miller also worked his way into the game.

They both finished with 13 points each while Taran Armstrong led all scorers for the first time with 15 points and four assists.

Coach Forde said that New Zealand came in firing and shooting with accuracy, causing panic quickly in this weekend’s important double-header.

“We couldn’t match their physicality. They were setting some really good screens. And by comparison, we didn’t.

“I found myself searching pretty early on – two early timeouts in the first quarter, going deep into the rotation trying to find someone that would not play panicked.

“I probably put the cue in the rack pretty early on, knowing that we have to back it up in two days,” he said.

While he admitted it’s been an extraordinary week for the club and community, another slow start was costly, and that consistency continues to be a problem.

“This is two weeks in a row where we come out with a real sluggish start, and it’s becoming a bit of an issue.

“But it’s our level of consistency, which has always been the case.

“We have players that have good games, and then have poor games.

“We are trying to find who our main eight are. It’s really a challenge for us, because it changes with the weather.”