Round 15: Taipans overcome Hawks late at home

CQUniversity Cairns Taipans (89) def. Illawarra Hawks (84)
Round 15 | Cairns Convention Centre
Next Game: Taipans at Breakers, Sunday 15 January 1:00pm AEST

SUMMARY

It was a night of seesawing fortunes at Cairns Convention Centre on Friday night for the annual Blackout Game but eventually the CQUniversity Cairns Taipans went on a late 10-2 run to end up beating the Illawarra Hawks 89-84.

Despite the continued absence of superstar Keanu Pinder, the Taipans started the game on fire and led 18-4 during the first quarter, but to the Hawks' credit they fired back and even managed to lead by a point at quarter-time.

It remained a rollercoaster affair from there and with three minutes to play Illawarra was leading by three chasing their third win of the season. However, the Taipans dug deep and it was Tahjere McCall that sparked the late Taipans run to end up securing the important five-point win.

It was the most remarkable of starts from the Taipans who came out ready to make a statement. It was all led by Tahjere McCall who scored the first two buckets and set the tone defensively. DJ Hogg and Shannon Scott then hit three balls for the 11-2 start.

When Hogg hit from deep again and a couple of steals led to McCall buckets the Snakes were in complete control leading 18-4 to the delight of the Orange Army cheering on their men in black.

There was no sign of what was to come, but to the full credit of the Hawks they shook off that start and finished the quarter in similar fashion to the way the Taipans started it.

It began with four quick points to Dan Grida and then Mangok Mathiang started an 11-0 run that included a three point play from Tyler Harvey to suddenly see the Hawks grab the lead.

A Davo Hickey triple ensured Illawarra still led 24-23 by quarter-time but it was then Cairns' turn to flip the switch again with the opening seven points of the second period including three balls from Majok Deng and Sam Waardenburg.

It was McCall the biggest factor in Cairns maintaining a 45-40 lead by half-time as he went into the break with 15 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists, but a combined 20 points for the Hawks by Harvey and Hickey kept the visitors close as they shot 51 per cent from the floor.

Cairns started the third quarter on a 9-3 run including another three from Hogg to be back up 11 but a fourth foul to McCall kept him off the court until the start of the fourth.

The Hawks maintained touch with a strong third quarter especially from Mathiang with the Taipans narrowly leading 67-61 at three quarter-time.

Cairns were back up nine midway through the fourth but Illawarra just wasn’t going to be denied. Forcing some poor turnovers on Cairns, the Hawks hit threes through Grida and Deng. Then when Harvey scored on a floater, the scores were all square with 5:50 to play.

Despite a steadying Cairns dunk from Waardenburg, the Hawks were soon up three when Harvey drained a huge three with just over four minutes to play.

Illawarra maintained a three-point lead on an offensive rebound and putback that was all too easy to Hickey with three to play. 

Things were decidedly scrappy over the next couple of minutes, but the Taipans got the stops needed to regain a two-point lead when Bul Kuol knocked down a pair of free-throws with 36 seconds to play.

A couple of rough moments from Mathiang with a quick three and then stopping the ball going out of bounds when it would have been Illawarra's ball helped Cairns keep possession, and the Taipans nailed clinching free-throws for the eventual five-point win.

STATISTICS

The Taipans retain second position with a 15-7 record with the win ahead of taking on the third placed New Zealand Breakers (13-8) in Auckland on Sunday.

Tahjere McCall was again inspirational for the Taipans finishing with 24 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals including going 8/11 at the foul line.

Shannon Scott also contributed 15 points and six assists, DJ Hogg 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks, and Majok Deng 12 points and five boards.

Sam Waardenburg battled hard for another 10 points, six rebounds and four assists with Ben Ayre adding five points, and Josh Davey two points.

STATEMENTS

Head Coach Adam Forde: 

"It was kind of disappointing I thought. The start was good and I used it as a bit of an opportunity, rightly or wrongly, to have one eye on the quick turnaround so I thought we could try and rotate some things. Then the momentum completely shifted, and so did the vibe of the group and I know I played a part in that too. I probably got on them a bit harshly, but we're all professionals right and we have to address what's happening right now. For what was a 14-point lead we lost the lead and were down at the end of the first quarter, it wasn’t great. Collectively, not just me and the bench, but also the playing the group, we've all got to be better. I thought some players didn’t really get out of second gear and that's not to discredit what Illawarra did. But we're kinda spoilt now, we got a win and we would have been ecstatic with it last season, but I felt like it wasn’t a great win for us."

Taipans Guard Ben Ayre:

"We just played them so we were prepared for them. We still kind of struggled, and I struggled a little bit in that press, but we're just trying to play championship basketball down the stretch. We have to clean some things up going into the New Zealand game, but no doubt we can get that done."