McVeigh, Taipans Fight Till The End Against United

A valiant performance from superstar Jack McVeigh and the Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans was not enough to secure a final home win of the season, with Melbourne United pulling away late for an 85-89 victory at the Cairns Convention Centre on Thursday night.

There was major news before the opening tip-off, with Taipans marquee McVeigh and the club mutually agreeing for the Australian Boomer to opt into the second year of his two-year contract.

United Head Coach Dean Vickerman missed the clash due to appendicitis, with assistant coach Rhys Carter stepping in to lead Melbourne in his absence.

Reyne Smith started his second straight game after returning from the injury he sustained in Round 7, and the sharpshooter made an immediate impact. He knocked down his first triple, then picked United’s pocket for a breakaway score.

Floor general Andrew Andrews found big man Marcus Lee in the opening term for a sledgehammer dunk. Lee continued to attack the basket against his former side with another two-hand slam soon after. Scores were locked at 19-19 at quarter time.

Smith drilled back-to-back threes to open the second term, with his second make coming after a crafty steal from Cairns local Kody Stattmann.

Melbourne import Milton Doyle kept the scoreboard ticking over off the bench as the lead swung between both sides. Lee continued to make his presence felt inside, swatting Kyle Bowen at the rim as Cairns took a 46-40 lead into halftime.

United lockdown defender Shea Ili exited in the second quarter with another soft tissue issue, continuing an unfortunate run with injuries this season.

Cairns guard Lachlan Barker provided a lift in the fourth quarter, knocking down a tough bucket to open the term before adding two more difficult midrange makes as the Taipans searched for a late run.

McVeigh and his offensive arsenal then took over, racing to 20 points midway through the final term with the scores level at 68-68. He found every part of his offensive bag down the stretch, scoring from deep, the midrange and at the rim.

Andrews knocked down a big three late to keep Cairns within reach, but costly turnovers combined with an experienced Melbourne side executing in the final moments closed out the 89-85 win.

Explosive guard Mojave King finished with 13 points, four rebounds and two blocks, while Andrews racked up nine points, nine rebounds and seven assists and Lee added 10 points and eight rebounds.

New York guard Tyson Walker finished with 17 points and three steals.

Dutch centre Jesse Edwards added nine points and 13 rebounds, while United forward Tanner Krebs also added nine.

‍McVeigh v Doyle

McVeigh and Doyle were championship teammates at the Tasmania JackJumpers, winning the club’s first NBL title together in 2024.

Two of the premier scorers of the league went shot for shot throughout, McVeigh finished with 25 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Doyle matched him with 25 points and three rebounds.

McVeigh entered the game averaging 21.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists for Cairns, while Doyle has become a scoring punch off the bench with 15.4 points, 4.5 assists and 3.6 rebounds for Melbourne.

‍Reyne The Rifle 

Smith continued to build after his welcome return against the Bullets on Sunday, finishing with 11 points, a trio of three-pointers and three steals. 

He set the tone early with his first make from range and his defensive activity navigating screens and pestering opposition guards, while giving Cairns an extra ball-handler and another threat beyond the arc.

Barker Gets Buckets 

Tasmanian Barker was important in the final term, playing big minutes off the bench and hitting tough shots to keep the Taipans within striking distance.

After joining the side as an injury replacement at the beginning of the season, Barker has consistently contributed in key moments, often playing an unselfish role while continuing to grow as the season has gone on.

He finished with 10 points, missing only one shot for the game, along with three assists and a steal.

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans will now prepare for their final game of the season when they hit the road to face the New Zealand Breakers in Auckland next Thursday. Join the Orange Army next season with memberships available NOW, with early bird prices available for a limited time only. Grab your membership at Taipans HQ or on tickets.taipans.com.