Round 6: Taipans put on a show for Orange Army

CQUniversity Cairns Taipans (97) def. Melbourne United (72)
Round 6 | Cairns Convention Centre
Next Game: Taipans at Bullets, Saturday 19 November 7:00pm AEST

SUMMARY

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans were terrific defensively and then exploded offensively in the second half for their first home win of the season on Friday night, beating Melbourne United 97-72.

The Snakes had lost both games this season at Cairns Convention Centre coming into Friday night's contest but it was worth the wait for the local fans as their team put on a show highlighting their full offensive arsenal combined with effective defence.

The Taipans were without Tahjere McCall, Sam Waardenburg, Mirko Djeric and Jonah Antonio, but it didn’t matter as they turned an eight-point half-time edge into a 40-point lead during the fourth quarter on the way to the eventual 25-point win.

Melbourne scored the first four points through front court pair Isaac Humphries and David Okwera before Cairns got on the board beginning with a three-pointer from Bul Kuol.

However, the Snakes missed their other six three-point attempts for the quarter and went 5/17 overall, but Melbourne wasn’t much better at 6/18 and as a result scores were locked at 15-apiece by quarter-time.

The Taipans started to find their groove in the second quarter, though, and drained 5/9 from downtown along the way with DJ Hogg and Ben Ayre leading the charge combining for 17 points.

Cairns' defence forced Melbourne into nine turnovers from which they scored 15 points to go into the half-time break leading 41-33.

The third quarter saw the Taipans light up Cairns Convention Centre for the first time this season and send the Orange Army into raptures. It started with the first six points of the second half with Majok Deng and Bul Kuol finishing on the break.

Keanu Pinder dominated for a stretch scoring eight of nine points in a 9-0 scoring run with the Taipans lead getting out to 21 points in the matter of five minutes of the third quarter.

Kuol, Hogg and Shannon Scott all hit three-pointers to close out the third quarter with Cairns piling on 30 points to just 10 from Melbourne to see the home team on top 71-43 by three quarter-time.

The Snakes were far from done, in fact they really wanted to put on a show for the home fans knowing they don't have another game for two weeks. 

Triples from Ayre, Scott and Hogg helped blow the lead out further to 37 points midway through the fourth quarter. It got out to as much as 40 before the Snakes cruised to the thumping 25-point win.

STATISTICS

The Snakes ended up draining 15/36 from three-point land for the night including DJ Hogg going 5/10 and Ben Ayre and Bul Kuol hitting three of them, and Shannon Scott two.

The Taipans also forced United into 20 turnovers from which they scored 30 points while having just nine turnovers themselves and winning the rebound count, and taking 20 free-throws to just eight from Melbourne.

The spread was impressive from Cairns as well with six players scoring in double-figures with Keanu Pinder finishing with 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Bul Kuol 18 points and four boards.

DJ Hogg added 17 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals, Ben Ayre 16 points and five boards, Shannon Scott 13 points, six boards, six assists and three steals, and Majok Deng 10 points and five rebounds.

Gabe Hadley scored his first NBL points too hitting a late three with the Geelong Supercats stalwart making the most of his opportunity at the Snakes as a development player. Lat Mayen also had two points and two rebounds.

STATEMENTS

Head Coach Adam Forde: 

"We got our delay of games down from three to two so we are progressing in the right direction. Especially when adversity was presented to us, it was a great effort from the boys. For us (the defensive end) is where the game is won and lost and the guys that we recruited bring it every day and every night. It was a great energy out there and I'm always supportive of anyone who backs us, and the loyal fans came out to support us in force tonight so it was great. Especially for us this (FIBA break) ends up being perfect timing."

Taipans Guard Ben Ayre:

"I just came out and played my role. Us bench guys know what we have to do so I came out and we were able to do that. I just thrive off the trust of the guys in the room and I know my role, and just play to that. It was good out there and I think the crowd deserves that so we were happy to put on a show for them tonight."