Milestone for favourite son
FAN favourite Alex Loughton celebrated NBL game number 300 last night in the Cairns Taipans clash with the Sydney Kings.
The power forward has played the second most games in Taipans history (236), behind only club legend Aaron Grabau, who finished on 405 games at the end of his career.
Loughton recently went past Anthony Stewart for second on the all-time games played tally for the club, with Stewart registering 223 games across his career.
The 35-year old Loughton is in the middle of playing in his 11th season, after making his debut with the Wildcats in 2007.
The club’s captain is currently averaging 20 minutes a game and equalled a seasonhigh 12 points against the Wildcats on New Year’s Eve.
Last season, the popular Loughton was recognised for his work on and off the court at the Taipans annual awards ceremony in February, taking home the coaches’ award, players’ player award and winning members choice MVP by a landslide. Did the Cairns Taipans make it two in a row last night? www.cairnspost.com.au FORMER Far North-based gelding Tyzone returned to winning ways on Saturday on the Gold Coast.
Tyzone has been an outstanding money-spinner and on Saturday had his 14th success after trainer Toby Edmonds chose to drop him back in grade and use Jag Guthmann-Chester’s claim.
The apprentice delivered a superb performance, finding the fence from a potentially tricky alley.
“He’s come way down in grade, it was good to get a couple of kilos off him and he showed what he can do today with clear running,” Edmonds said. “It’s good to be home on our home track and owner Tom Hedley came down from Cairns to watch it.”
■ PORT Douglas ruckman Josh Wilson kicked a goal as his Wanderers fell to Southern Districts as the Darwin-based NTFL returned from their Christmas break.
Southern Districts grabbed a 56-point win over a pacy Wanderers side on Saturday night.
The Crocodiles were pushed hard by the young Eagles for three quarters before kicking away in the last 15 minutes.
Cairns City Lion Alwyn Davey booted four goals as Palmerston were beaten by the Tiwi Bombers.
■ Aron Baynes’ Boston never trailed in a 114-93 win over Dallas, with Jalen Brown (21) and Jayson Tatum (18) leading the scoring for the Celtics on Saturday.
Baynes and Boston take on Brooklyn today.