Taipans fight against motivated Hawks in Cairns return

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans battled hard but in the end were overwhelmed by the Illawarra firepower in their return home on Saturday night with the Hawks claiming the 94-75 victory.

The Taipans made their long-awaited return to the Cairns Convention Centre for the first game in front of the Orange Army of 2022. Despite the absence of key trio Kouat Noi, Scott Machado and Mirko Djeric, they put up a good fight too.

The problem was this was a hugely talented Hawks team that came to Cairns on a mission to make up for a tough run in recent times, including two losses to the Perth Wildcats and another to Melbourne United on their home floor.

It was a motivated Illawarra team who worked their way on top of the Taipans throughout the second half, outscoring the Snakes 51 points to 37 to end up winning by 19, but the Snakes never gave up the fight.

Tahjere McCall was again given a significant workload in the absence of Machado, Noi and Djeric, but he was up to the challenge especially in the first half. However, foul trouble then limited his minutes and he finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two blocks but only in 24 minutes.

Keanu Pinder had a strong night for Cairns with 15 points and 10 rebounds while Stephen Zimmerman and Nate Jawai only combined to play 17:30 between them for four points and two rebounds.

Jordan Ngatai went 4/6 from downtown for 12 points with Majok Deng contributing 10 points and eight rebounds, Bul Kuol eight points and two assists, Jarrod Kenny four points and five assists, and Marshall Nelson three points and two rebounds.

Taipans coach Adam Forde might have been frustrated with the game, but not the support from the Orange Army.

"The crowd really impressed us," Forde said.

"The fact that we really played the way that we did and no one left, the atmosphere in Cairns and the support we have and the performance that we delivered in the last stretch, because I would have left… the break hasn’t been good for us. 

"We have regressed. Things start to creep in after you lose. You test the character right and this is where you see what your worth is and now you lose again at home. It’s nothing to do with the personnel, we’re not a team of plumbers and nutritionists.

"We need to know what it takes to win now. The things that we need to address isn’t anything to do with who is in or out of the team. I know we can get there, I’m just disappointed compared to where I thought we would be at. 

"This is by no means putting the cue in the rack, we are six games into a very long season. But if we were to chart where we were, we’re not where we should be. We have to be real with ourselves."

It wasn’t the ideal start for the Taipans in their first game at Cairns Convention Centre for 2022 with the Hawks racing to a 10-3 lead after the first two minutes. But the Snakes got the next four points with free throws to Majok Deng and a layup to Tahjere McCall.

However, again Illawarra got on a roll to lead 16-7 and forcing Adam Forde into a timeout. Deng came straight out of that and knocked down a three ball before scoring again on the next possession down the floor.

McCall then got aggressive and converted a three-point play and added another point at the line and got to the rack again before quarter-time to cut Illawarra's advantage to 23-20 after one.

Keanu Pinder then opened the scoring for the second quarter to make it a one-point ball game. He scored again soon after to keep the Snakes in touch of the Hawks before a brilliant steal and basket to rookie Bul Kuol got the Orange Army out of their seats.

Marshall Nelson then knocked down a three-pointer, Kuol did the same and suddenly scores were all level. Jordan Ngatai then connected from downtown shortly before half-time. He repeated that dose to limit Illawarra's half-time lead to 43-40.

Justinian Jessup scored the first five points of the third quarter to put Illawarra back on top by eight and the Hawks were soon able to push their lead out to double-figures.

The Taipans weren’t going away and got the margin back to a more controllable level thanks to scores from McCall and Pinder, before McCall scored again to bring the margin back to five. Pinder then brought it back to three but by three quarter-time Illawarra was out to a 68-59 lead again.

The Snakes had to start the final term well and they did thanks to Pinder and Jarrod Kenny to be within five again. A couple of Pinder dunks kept Cairns in touch but the Hawks were delivering the answers including a triple from Tyler Harvey.

But Ngatai's third bomb from downtown for the game had the Snakes sensing a fightback with the margin back to five with just over six minutes left. It wasn’t to be, though, and an Antonius Cleveland thunderous dunk for Illawarra certainly got everyone's attention.

Despite a fourth three-pointer from Ngatai, the lead continued to blow out and in the end the Hawks went on to win by 19.

The Taipans now have until next Saturday before playing again when they face the Bullets in Brisbane.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 9

CQUNIVERSITY CAIRNS TAIPANS 75 (McCall 19, Pinder 15, Ngatai 12)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 94 (Harvey 24, Jessup 17, Reath 15, Cleveland 15)

BOX SCORE