Snakes keep fighting in Blackout Game

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans battled hard and gave themselves a late shot at a comeback victory in the annual Blackout Game for IFYS Foster Care against the Brisbane Bullets on Saturday night.

It was just the second last home game at the Cairns Pop-Up Arena for the Taipans of the 2021 NBL season, and once again it was a familiar story with the visiting Bullets able to get off to a fast start.

That meant the Taipans were playing catch up once again the whole night, but they did give it a crack and never gave up while wearing the striking black uniforms for the annual Blackout Game for IFYS Foster Care.

The Snakes even started the fourth quarter on fire to have all the momentum and to get back within five points, but it wasn’t quite to be and the Bullets held on for their first win in Cairns in their last six attempts to win 96-87 and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Nate Jawai had another imposing night for the Taipans making the most of his almost 23 minutes on the court with 20 points and five rebounds on 8/16 shooting.

Majok Deng played his first home game since February 8 and second match back from a knee injury for 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals on 8/12 shooting from the floor, and 2/3 from downtown.

Mojave King's form is progressing nicely later this season too and he had 13 points and seven rebounds while hitting 3/4 from deep with Venky Jois also showing good signs with 12 points and four boards.

Scott Machado finished with eight points and seven assists, Mirko Djeric seven points, three rebounds and three assists, Fabijan Krslovic five points and four boards, Tad Dufelmeier two points and Jordan Ngatai two points and four boards.

Cairns coach Mike Kelly admitted it was difficult for the players to rise to the occasion, and surrendering 57 points in the first half was always going to be hard to come back from. 

"It is up to the players to fight for each other and have some pride," he said.

"For me, it is trusting that they can come out and play hard every day ... it is a decision for this group to keep fighting."

While finals are lost to the Taipans, Jawai said he was determined to keep competing with the veteran aiming to continue playing on in the 2021/22 season.

"I just continued to play and not worry about (being in foul trouble). I wanted to be aggressive and strong," he said.

"I have been fortunate to play every game this season, the body is feeling well and there are no niggling injuries. 

"Coach managed me back at the start of the season, and now we are at the back end. We are not where we want to be, but I feel fine and still feel like I could go around another couple of years hopefully."

The Taipans might have come into the game on a mission to get off to a better start, but it didn’t quite happen with the Bullets opening an 8-2 advantage early on.

But Mojave King provided a spark with five quick points for the Snakes before Fabijan Krslovic knocked down a three ball to make it a two-point ball game midway through the opening quarter.

Nate Jawai then got five quick points and Venky Jois finished inside for Cairns to bring scores level but by quarter-time the Bullets had pulled away a little again to be up 30-25.

The Snakes did fall down double-figures again early in the second period but it was Scott Machado who decided to do something about it. He scored four points himself and then found Majok Deng for a big triple that had the home team back within five.

It was then just two when King nailed his second three ball of the half but the Bullets again pulled away with their own three-pointers from Anthony Drmic, Lamar Patterson, Nathan Sobey and Jason Cadee as the lead got back out beyond double-digits.

The Snakes did at least score last in the first half thanks to Deng to cut the Brisbane lead to 57-45 at the break.

The Taipans did keep working hard throughout the third quarter but couldn’t quite close the gap with the Bullets extending their advantage to 78-63 by three quarter-time.

The Snakes did breathe life into the contest with a fast start to the fourth quarter, and all of a sudden after back-to-back buckets inside from Jawai it was a five-point ball game once again.

But ultimately five would be the closest the Taipans would get and despite throwing everything at the Bullets, the visitors did have the answers with their playoff hopes on the line.

The Taipans will next take on the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Friday night in Melbourne.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 17

CQUNIVERSITY CAIRNS TAIPANS 87 (Jawai 20, Deng 18, King 13)

BRISBANE BULLETS 96 (Sobey 25, Cadee 21, Drmic 14) 

BOX SCORE