Taipans finish full of fight in Rotorua

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans threw everything at a season-ending win over the New Zealand Breakers in Rotorua but ultimately they fell eight points short as the Mike Kelly era came to an end.

The 2021 season of the Taipans came to an end at Energy Events Centre in Rotorua on Wednesday evening and despite only having nine players available, it was a fighting performance from the Snakes and they gave themselves a real sniff of ending things on a high.

The Taipans were on a real roll up eight early in the fourth quarter and then after resisting a run 15 consecutive points from the Breakers soon after, they fired back and were within two with 25 seconds to go.

While New Zealand steadied to claim the 84-78 in their sixth consecutive match back in front of their home fans to close the season, once again there was a lot to be proud of in the fighting performance delivered by the nine players available for Cairns and the coaching staff.

Despite the news that was announced on Monday evening after the loss to Melbourne United that reigning NBL Coach of the Year Mike Kelly wouldn’t be continuing at the helm beyond Wednesday's game, it didn’t stop the Taipans throwing everything at it.

Even without a decent starting five of Cam Oliver, Fabijan Krslovic, Venky Jois, Kouat Noi and Mojave King, the Snakes fought hard on the road in the final game of the season.

In the end, all nine players took the court for at least 11 minutes, all nine of them scored and each and every one of them can be proud of the contributions they made, and commitment they showed.

Scott Machado finished his second season with the Taipans in outstanding form delivering 21 points, 10 assists and five rebounds on 7/13 shooting from the field and 3/7 from three-point territory.

Nate Jawai had an especially exciting second half of the season pointing to his future remaining bright and he finished strongly with another 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots on 5/9 shooting.

Majok Deng was the other Cairns player to again score in double-figures with 11 points on 5/7 from the floor.

Development player Jordan Hunt also put up seven points, two rebounds and two steals for the Snakes, Mirko Djeric seven points and three boards, Jordan Ngatai six points, Jarrod Kenny six points, George Blagojevic five points and four rebounds, and Tad Dufelmeier one point, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

It was a philosophical Taipans coach Mike Kelly afterwards but he did admit it wasn’t so much bittersweet given the lack of sweetness in the current circumstances.

"There was a not a lot of sweet in it. We lost the game and I got fired. Bitter? A little bit but we focused on what we could do as a team, and the guys gave a great effort with nine players," Kelly said.

"Talking about the plan moving forward, I don't know what the plan is. I know that God does, so I will leave it in his hands. I do my job as best as I can, and I will be in basketball somewhere coaching."

Machado also paid credit to his coach and admitted he felt partially responsible for the results this season.

"He gave me the opportunity to be here in Australia, he trusted me with the ball and to be a leader," he said.

"This is how the business goes, and I feel like I failed him a little bit, but to be positive, he gave me my chance out there."

The Taipans made a strong start to their last game of the season with Jordan Ngatai knocking down a three ball and then Scott Machado completing a three-point play for the 8-3 lead.

Ngatai hit another opening quarter three and Mirko Djeric closed the term connecting from deep but New Zealand still went into quarter-time leading 25-16.

Cairns again started the second quarter impressively, though, going on a 10-2 run with Machado and Jarrod Kenny both hitting three balls. Another 6-0 run including an inside bucket to Nate Jawai and three from Machado then saw the Snakes take the lead.

A third three-point of the half from Machado then ensured that the Snakes went into the sheds leading 42-41 at the half-time interval.

Levi Randolph hit two quick threes to open the second half for New Zealand but the Taipans responded with the next six points. Then headings towards three quarter-time, development player Jordan Hunt scored five quick points and the Snakes were still up 59-55 with one to play.

Tai Webster brought New Zealand back within a point to start the fourth, but then Kenny responded with his own triple and then scores to Jawai, George Blagojevic and Machado saw that lead grow out to 68-61 with just under eight minutes remaining.

The Breakers then blew the game wide open scoring 15 consecutive points over the next four minutes to turn that seven-point deficit into an eight-point lead. But the Snakes weren’t going away and when Majok Deng hit a triple to complete a 6-0 run, the margin was back to wo.

A couple of Machado free-throws made it a one-point game with a minute left and then when Deng scored on a turnover with 25 seconds on the clock, it was still just two points in it. But a full court New Zealand pass to set up Colton Iverson proved pivotal and they beat Cairns 84-78.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 21

CQUNIVERSITY CAIRNS TAIPANS 78 (Machado 21, Jawai 14, Deng 11) 

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 84 (T Webster 23, C Webster 16, Iverson 15)

BOX SCORE