Snakes continue streak against United

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans have extended their excellent record against Melbourne United, defeating them 101 - 88 and spoiling their home opener at John Cain Arena on Sunday afternoon. On a weekend which saw the Taipans take down both grand finalists from last season, the Snakes slide up to fourth on the ladder with the best winning streak in the league right now.

Without import Tanner Groves who missed the game with a calf injury, the Snakes shot the lights out at John Cain Arena to build their 2024-25 campaign to a 3-1 record.

Jumping straight out of the gates, guard Rob Edwards brought the energy early, helping dial back a fast starting United. Hustling hard, the Taipans crashed the boards aggressively – winning the rebound count 7-2 in the opening minutes of the contest.

Shooting the lights out, Chris Goulding helped keep United an edge in front, hitting multiple threes quickly as both teams struggled to miss from range.

The fast-paced contest saw both sides trade blow for blow, with Melbourne not able to stretch their lead past seven points.

After five hits from deep in the opening term – primarily led by Edwards and Kyrin Galloway – the Taipans switched tactics, working into the paint and drawing fouls to give themselves the lead.

Returning for his second stint, Goulding resumed usual services whilst on his way to 19 first-half points, before Edwards replied in turn at the other end.

Now more accurate from range then from inside the arc, the Snakes took their shots to help take the lead going into the main break, while dominating the boards at the other end.

Continuing their strong defensive pressure into the second half, Edwards took the reins as Taran Armstrong took a breather – holding onto the lead as United searched for a way back into the contest.

Checking back in, Armstrong combined with Edwards and AK Gak to build the lead to double digits before receiving a wayward elbow to the face – forcing him to sit out the final minutes of the third quarter.

Entering the final term with 41 rebounds, the Snakes looked to continue their domination on the boards. However, United – entering the quarter with 24 rebounds – outworked the Taipans on the glass, cleaning up missed shots on both ends on their way to 20 boards in the final quarter.

Crawling the once 19-point lead back to 10 points, United looked ready to pounce in the dying minutes.

Quickly closing off any chance of an upset, forward Pedro Bradshaw put up a series of fastbreak points – both setup by Galloway – to close out the game for the Taipans.

The import headed the Taipans on the boards, with nine rebounds alongside his 10 points.

Fellow American Rob Edwards led Cairns at the offensive end, finishing with 23 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal.

Taking advantage of extra minutes on the court, AK Gak was crucial in the Taipans win – putting up 14 points and eight boards in his 23 minutes on court and finishing with a plus/minus of +21.

“There’s still a lot we need to work on,” Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde explained.

“We celebrate threes like we’ve done something, then give up an Ian Clark transition three as a return serve. We’re a lot of energy, and right now it just needs to be contained and controlled a little bit.

“We changed a lot of things with how we did the pre-season. We obviously changed what we did in the recruiting process. I’ve always had such a focus on a young group, and this is the first time that I really went for a veteran guy in free agency, and that’s working for us.

“I don’t know what it is, but we’re not trying to get too far ahead.”

“Everyone’s bought into what they need to do, and I think that stems down from what Fordey is delivering as well,” Taipans guard Kyle Adnam said.

“We’re not forcing it in any way. I’ll chime in where I need to and where I can help the group, like some of those moments where we need to settle down, take a breath, and get back to what we’re doing.”

Ahead of their Thursday night clash against the Perth Wildcats, the Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans will now return home to the tropics. Don’t miss the action when they attempt to make it four wins in a row – grab your tickets HERE.