McVeigh, Andrews Spark Taipans Early Before Phoenix Surge

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans burst out of the blocks and led at halftime, but the South East Melbourne Phoenix’s second-half surge powered a 118-91 win in a Pride Round clash at the State Basketball Centre on Saturday.

Cairns arrived on a punishing turnaround after playing in Perth on Thursday night before travelling to Melbourne for a Saturday afternoon tip-off.

However, the Taipans came out with sharp legs and sharper shooting for a first half dogfight.

Scoring machine Jack McVeigh (coming off a career-high eight threes against the Wildcats) and forward Kyrin Galloway opened proceedings with back-to-back triples.

The Taipans’ ball movement flowed, midway through the first quarter every Cairns starter had already recorded an assist.

The visitors began 5-7 from three, raced to a game-high 14-point lead (20-6) and carried a deserved 26-16 advantage into quarter-time.

The defensive tone matched the offense early. With 2:48 left in the opening term, the Taipans had held South East to just six points, swarming the ball and taking rhythm away from a Phoenix side that leads the league in scoring (100.1 ppg) and sits first across a host of attacking categories including assists (22.1), offensive rebounds (16.0), threes made (12.5) and bench points (32.2).

The home side’s response arrived in the second quarter through pressure, extra possessions and physicality on the glass, but Cairns continued to find answers through tough execution - none more symbolic than McVeigh’s miraculous and-one finish through a hard double team.

The Australian Boomer was unstoppable in the opening half, using his midrange arsenal and efficiency from three to punish the Phoenix defence. 

At halftime, Cairns still led 52-49, posting its equal-highest first-half score of the season.

McVeigh had 15 points at the break and Portland playmaker Andrews 11 points with five assists, while Phoenix were led by Angus Glover (11 points), with import wings Wes Iwundu and John Brown III (who ranks first in steals per 36 minutes) on eight points each.

Former Taipan Nathan Sobey - who dished an equal-career-high 10 assists in his last outing against Cairns - was quiet early.

The game flipped straight after the break.

South East grabbed their first lead (57–54) early in the third, then kept stacking stops into scores to open daylight.

Head Coach Adam Forde went to a two-point-guard look throughout, leaning on gritty defender Lachlan Barker (his fourth start of the season) and former Phoenix playmaker Kyle Adnam alongside Andrews to help combat the intense full-court pressure.

The Phoenix carried an 81-67 edge into three-quarter time and kept rolling to the finish, with milestones on the other bench as former NBA guard Ian Clark (19 points) and Owen Foxwell (13 points and eight assists) both logged their 100th NBL games.

Glover notched 22 points and Iwundu finished with 21 points.

McVeigh posted 21 points and six rebounds and with an assist on the night, brought up 300 career NBL assists.

Stretch four Galloway produced a terrific two-way line of 17 points and two blocks as he battled undersized in the absence of Sam Waardenburg.

Barker added 11 points, King 10 points and eight rebounds, but South East's second-half wave proved decisive.

Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde:
‍“A lot of these guys are playing their buts off, but they’re playing outside of what their intended roles were.”

“I credit players like Kyrin Galloway who had a great game. He played 25 minutes as our starting centre. He was supposed to be our backup four man playing eight to ten minutes. He shouldered a massive responsibility and I credit him for it.”

“Credit to South East, they play in waves, Angus Glover comes off the bench and is performing at both ends. He’s scoring and antagonising on defence. When I look at someone like Andrews, he was on his way to playing another 38-minute game. We navigate Wes Iwundu and Owen Foxwell in their starting group, then they have Ian Clark and Glover come off the bench."

"We knew the momentum with South East was going to happen, it was how we responded. We were in it at halftime. I wanted to play loose, play free and move the ball, but we found ourselves in stages where Andrews and McVeigh had possession and we were standing still. It can’t just be a two-man team. We need everybody to play their supporting roles adequately.”

Galloway’s Two-way Engine
After celebrating his 150th NBL game just two outings ago against the Breakers, Galloway has gone from starting the season on the bench to becoming a genuine pillar in Adam Forde’s frontcourt.

With big man Sam Waardenburg sidelined with an ankle injury, Galloway has been forced into a tougher, more physical role.

The 26-year-old, now in his second season in the Far North, has been one of the squad’s most improved with his off the ball work and dangerous shot from three, finishing the night  with 3-6 from three.

‍Andrews Creates Through Chaos
Eleven assists in a press-heavy game underlined Andrews’ composure and why he’s among the league’s elite floor generals. Andrews finished with 20 points and 11 assists, extending his outstanding playmaking run.

He entered the night with 15 straight games of over five assists and ranks third in the NBL at 7.3 assists per game behind premier guards Bryce Cotton and Parker Jackson-Cartwright.
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‍The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans now return to the Far North for their next home fixture against the Tasmania JackJumpers on Friday, January 30. Grab your tickets HERE.