Snakes lose their way against 36ers
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BASKETBALL ADELAIDE all but hammered the final nail into the Taipans’ finals coffin last night as the 36ers dismantled Cairns for the third time this season.
After falling to New Zealand last Sunday, Cairns faced must-win games for the rest of the NBL season but fell at the first hurdle last night.
While the Snakes’ playoff dreams are mathematically still alive, the NBL’s top four looks almost set with five rounds remaining in the regular season.
Last night’s defeat drops the Snakes to 9-13 on the season, three wins behind the fourth placed Adelaide, with just six Cairns games remaining to try make up the difference.
Two crucial late season victories over Adelaide sealed the Snakes’ playoff berth last season but the 36ers got their revenge last night, all but ending Cairns’ finals ambitions.
Cairns’ performance last night was full of heart as they brought the margin back to five early in the final term before the hosts pushed it back out.
The ever consistent trio of Mitch McCarron, Alex Loughton and Cameron Gliddon did all the heavy lifting again to keep Cairns in the game against the deep 36ers.
Scoochie Smith added offence from the bench in the second half but played limited minutes once again.
Like they did the last time they were in the venue, Cairns dominated early on but could not build a sizeable lead as the hosts reeled them in approaching SCORERS the first change.
The men in orange led by seven early on but within a blink of an eye, the 36ers had ran their way out to a 13 point advantage.
It was a heated opening exchange as captain Gliddon and Nathan Sobey exchanged pleasantries in the first term while Majok Deng and Jerry Evans Jr also threw their weight around after a whistle.
Big man Nnanna Egwu rolled hard to the basket early on and his teammates found him, leading to two big dunks, before he succumbed to foul trouble.
The 36ers started paying rent at the free throw line, they were there that often in the first term, making 16 trips and converting 13 of them, as the Snakes committed 12 personal fouls.
Shannon Shorter got the 36ers going early on, draining three triples, while an unlikely hero in Brendan Teys delivered the daggers to Cairns later.
The Snakes do not play again until next Saturday when they host the finalsbound New Zealand Breakers.
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