Plenty of contributors for Snakes against Bullets

Five CQUniversity Cairns Taipans players scored in double-figures and seven had at least eight points in an encouraging showing at the NBL Blitz in Tasmania on Wednesday against the Brisbane Bullets.

While key players Nate Jawai and Mirko Djeric didn’t suit up for the Taipans in their fourth game of the NBL Blitz and no player spent more than 28 minutes on the floor, there was a lot to like in the performance even if the Bullets did win 94-86 at Ulverstone Sports and Leisure Centre.

The Taipans managed to open up a nine-point lead early in the third quarter and while they couldn’t quite maintain that, three three-pointers from Bul Kuol either side of three quarter-time kept them close and was just one of plenty of highlights for the evening.

It was a pretty good shooting night from the Snakes going at 48 per cent from the field and 41 per cent from three-point land even if the 12/20 free-throw shooting can do with some improving.

The Taipans once again won the rebound battle with 37 to 33 but the 20 turnovers was a little high for what coach Adam Forde would like to see.

Tahjere McCall might have had plenty left in the tank having played less than 25 minutes, but the new Cairns import looks ready to have a significant impact in #NBL22. He finished with 17 points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal on 6/9 shooting.

Stephen Zimmerman has been rock solid in all four pre-season games at the Blitz so far and the left-handed centre produced another 13 points and seven rebounds with Kouat Noi playing the most minutes on the team despite coming off the bench and delivering 12 points and five assists.

Scott Machado is gearing up for a third season in Cairns with 11 points and five assists with Majok Deng contributing 11 points and four rebounds, Bul Kuol nine points on 3/3 from downtown, and Keanu Pinder eight points and 10 rebounds.

Kiwi development player Brayden Inger who has won a championship out west with the Geraldton Buccaneers showed good signs too with three points and two rebounds with Jordan Ngatai contributing two points and two assists.

It was a strong start from the Taipans as they chased their first win during the Blitz. Stephen Zimmerman converted a three-point play to start following by a bucket to Tahjere McCall and Majok Deng triple.

Zimmerman scored again inside before a couple of strong moves and finishes to McCall with the Snakes going up 14-10 in the early stages.

Development player Brayden Inger then scored a couple of steadying buckets for Cairns before McCall continued his strong started and the Snakes had cut Brisbane's lead to 25-24 by the end of one.

Back-to-back threes from Keanu Pinder and Kouat Noi were welcome by Cairns to start the second term before consecutive dunks from Jordan Ngatai and Deng helped the Taipans grab the lead heading towards the half-time break.

Triples from Deng and Noi saw the lead for the Snakes grow to six and it was a 51-46 edge going into the half.

A couple of free throws to start the second helped Cairns to a seven-point advantage which soon became nine thanks to a Scott Machado floater, but it didn’t take Brisbane long to get back within one and Adam Forde called for time.

Despite Bul Kuol's three ball to close the third quarter, Brisbane still led 70-67 going into the fourth quarter but Kuol nailed another from downtown to open the last term and scores were again level.

Yet another three-point bomb a minute later kept the Taipans close and then Scott Machado drained one from deep too to put the Taipans up by a point with 6:30 on the clock.

The lead didn’t last long and despite the Snakes keeping themselves within striking distance, they couldn’t quite close the gap this time and Brisbane went on to score the eight-point victory. 

The Snakes will finish their time in Tasmania as part of the NBL Blitz against the Tasmania JackJumpers on Friday ahead of the #NBL22 season opener next Sunday in Perth against the Wildcats.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

CQUNIVERSITY CAIRNS TAIPANS 86 (McCall 17, Zimmerman 13, Noi 12)

BRISBANE BULLETS 94 (Sobey 27, Patterson 18, Franks 15) 

BOX SCORE