Snakes throw down gauntlet to Wildcats in Perth

The start of a massive three games in five days for the CQUniversity Cairns against three of the top four teams began in Perth against the Wildcats on Saturday night.

The Taipans took the challenge right up to the Wildcats as well in a hot start with 20 points in the opening six minutes and Keanu Pinder ended up having an impressive return home despite the eventual 106-87 defeat for the Snakes to the 'Cats.

It begins a hectic period for the Snakes who now take on United in Melbourne before hosting the Kings back in Cairns on Thursday.

On a night where the Wildcats were wearing the black-and-gold of the Westate Wildcats to celebrate the club's 40th anniversary in the NBL, the Taipans started on fire without Scott Machado, Stephen Zimmerman and Mirko Djeric.

With Keanu Pinder firing back in his home state, the Taipans put up 20 points in the first six minutes to put the onus back on the Wildcats to respond, and they did beginning with a combined 14 points to Jesse Wagstaff and Michael Frazier.

Bryce Cotton warmed to the task eventually with his only 10 points in the first half coming at the end of the second quarter before the 'Cats dominated the second half to win by 19.

Keanu Pinder delivered 24 points and eight rebounds for Cairns with Majok Deng contributing 16 points, Nate Jawai 12 points, four rebounds and two blocks, and Tahjere McCall 13 points, 11 assists and three steals.

Ben Ayre earned another start as point guard and did well with eight points, three rebounds and two assists with Jarrod Kenny adding six points, Bul Kuol five points, four rebounds and two assists, and Kouat Noi three points and four rebounds.

Taipans coach Adam Forde felt ultimately the difference between the two teams was Perth's ability to get offensive rebounds and to force the Snakes into some turnovers, and rushed decisions. 

"In the first half we just couldn’t defend the perimeter very well and we couldn’t defend without fouling, or just simply couldn’t stay in front of our men," Forde said.

"We did a reasonable job on Bryce for the first quarter and eight minutes, and then he goes and scores 10 points to close out that quarter. We had a few lapses there and then the third quarter was the offensive rebounds. 

"That's what Perth does really well and then when you do all the right things defensively, they get the o-board and capitalise on it which really takes the wind out of your sails. Those second chance points were pretty much the margin. 

"We could never quite close the gap in the second half because of an o-board and second chance points for them, or a turnover from us when we probably just needed to settle down a little bit."

Scott Morrison said on Thursday night he knew the Taipans would come into The Jungle smelling blood in the water and that's exactly how the game started with the Snakes racing to a 9-2 lead with Keanu Pinder unstoppable inside, and Ben Ayre draining a three.

Nate Jawai then came on to give Cairns an added spark and different look down low to see their lead grow to 15-9 before Michael Frazier hit the floor for Perth and delivered seven points in a matter of minutes.

The Taipans were up six having point up 20 points in the first six minutes, but the Wildcats finished the first term strongly with Jesse Wagstaff hitting seven quick points and Matt Hodgson throwing down a couple of dunks for the home team to lead 30-29.

Cairns was able to turn things back around to start the second with the opening seven points capped off by a second triple of the night from Ayre and they led 36-30.

The Wildcats were able to steady, though, beginning with a Vic Law triple and then they went on a run of 12 consecutive points topped off by another three from Law and one from captain Wagstaff.

Pinder ensured the Taipans stayed in touch with another eight points going into half-time giving him 18 points and six boards in the half. But Bryce Cotton finally got going with his only 10 points of the half coming in the last couple of minutes to help Perth lead 55-48.

It didn’t take long for Perth to blow the game wide open to start the second half with the opening eight points including a triple from Law and three free-throws from Cotton.

That suddenly saw the lead 15 and while Pinder and Jawai did what they could to keep Cairns close with their team's first 10 points of the second half, the 'Cats were pulling away with Frazier knocking down two more three balls, Cotton hitting another and the lead was 81-67 by three quarter-time.

The Wildcats continued to build some confidence in the fourth quarter even without Law as he sat after rolling his ankle as they cruised to the 19-point win.

The Taipans now fly straight to Melbourne to take on the league-leading United on Monday night before hosting the Sydney Kings and Brisbane Bullets in the final round.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 20

CQUNIVERSITY CAIRNS TAIPANS 87 (Pinder 24, Deng 16, McCall 13) 

PERTH WILDCATS 106 (Cotton 22, Frazier 19, Law 17)

BOX SCORE