Taipans with solid final hit out at NBL Blitz

A win might have again eluded the CQUniversity Cairns Taipans in their final game at the NBL Blitz against the Tasmania JackJumpers on Friday, but again the signs were encouraging nine days out from their #NBL22 season-opener.

The Taipans came into the game without starting backcourt pair Scott Machado and Mirko Djeric suiting up while Nate Jawai returned to the line-up.

Every player that hit the floor played at least 10 minutes as new coach Adam Forde ensures his group got what they wanted out of the five pre-season matches in Tasmania before the season-opener next Sunday in Perth.

While the JackJumpers won the game in front of their home fans at Launceston's Elphin Sports Centre, once more the signs were encouraging just over a week out from the season proper for the Snakes.

Once again every Taipans player that hit the floor got at least 10 minutes of court time and made a contribution as they again won the rebounding count against the JackJumpers 38 to 34 and the free-throw shooting also improved up to 92 per cent.

The 25 turnovers was a little high but when you consider the starting backcourt of Machado and Djeric didn’t play then that becomes less of a worry for coach Forde.

While everyone played at least 10 minutes, nobody played more than 29 with rookie Bul Kuol continuing to impress in his 28 minutes with another eight points and three assists.

It was Kouat Noi who top-scored, though, with 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals with Stephen Zimmerman delivering a fifth straight strong showing at the Blitz with another 11 points, eight rebounds and two assists.

Majok Deng is looking tremendous ahead of the new season and had another 10 points, three rebounds and two assists with Nate Jawai looking sharp too contributing nine points and two boards.

Tahjere McCall finished with seven points, five assists and four rebounds, new development player Brayden Inger six points, Jordan Ngatai three points and Keanu Pinder two points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

It was a hot start from the Taipans with Tahjere McCall at the centre of it all. He started off setting up rookie Bul Kuol for a three-pointer before Majok Deng knocked down a pair of free throws.

McCall then ran the fast break and delivered a pretty behind the back pass for Kouat Noi to see the Snakes lead 7-0.

Stephen Zimmerman soon made it a 9-2 start but by quarter-time the JackJumpers had turned the time to manage to lead 22-21.

Tasmania still went into half-time in Launceston leading 39-36 before stretching the advantage to 60-53 by three quarter-time, and then completing the job against the Taipans with another 23 points to 15 in the fourth quarter to end up winning 83-68.

The Taipans now turn their attention to the opening of the 2021/22 NBL season which will see them take on the Perth Wildcats at RAC Arena next Sunday before a home clash the following Saturday against the JackJumpers at the redeveloped Cairns Convention Centre.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

CQUNIVERSITY CAIRNS TAIPANS 68 (Noi 12, Zimmerman 11, Deng 10)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 83 (Magette 26, McIntosh 18, Adams 15) 

BOX SCORE