EX-TAIPAN SENDS MARLINS PACKING
BASKETBALL THERE are specific gyms some basketballers feel more comfortable in and for former Taipan Shaun Bruce – the Fish Tank is one of those.
The now Sydney King played his first game as a professional against Washington State way back in 2013 as a Taipan at the Aumuller St facility, which still brings back positive memories for him.
Or, there was the night the aggressive point guard hit three massive triples inside the final 90 seconds of the fourth quarter to send a QBL game to overtime back in 2017, while playing for Mackay.
We will now have to add the 2019 QBL quarter-final for Rockhampton to the list of Bruce’s highlights at the Fish Tank.
The win would be even sweeter for Bruce as he trained with the Taipans for much of last season, without the NBL club giving him a deal, before he was soon snapped up by likely championship contenders Sydney.
The 28-year-old was a man against boys on Saturday night as he sent the Marlins packing for their earliest QBL exit over the last four years.
He shot the ball at 46 per cent from down town, made 11 of his 12 trips to the charity stripe, and just controlled the speed and flow of the game.
“Some gyms you go into you just feel good,” Bruce said.
“I have got good memories of playing here and every time I do, I feel good.
“That was no different on Saturday night and it feels good to get a win.
“The first two games of the year against Cairns I did not shoot the ball well and played into their hands as they could collapse on our big guys, so I knew coming in those looks were going to be there, I just had to shoot them.”
While the Rockhampton Rockets have had the talent all season, Bruce believes their defensive intensity is what lifted them on Saturday evening to cause the finals upset.
After falling to Cairns in their two previous meetings this season, the Rockets pulled away after halftime on the road, outscoring the hosts by 11 over the final two terms.
Determined Cairns captain Anthony Fisher did what he could to try to keep the Marlins in the game late, driving to the bucket whenever possible, but the Rockets just came up with enough stops.
The Marlins lost their way late on as the game slipped away, giving out two unsportsmanlike fouls that helped Bruce ice the game at the freethrow line.
Former Marlins captain James Mitchell had a quiet night for the Rockets but made a couple of smart plays in the fourth term when they were needed. And Marlins coach Jamie O’Loughlin questioned the way the game was called by the referees.