Bol key in Taipans’ scorching revival
A THIRD-quarter avalanche from the sizzling-hot Taipans was too much for the JackJumpers to overcome in Hobart on Monday night.
Cairns held on for a 106-84 win to give Tasmania its second loss in as many games to start the season.
After holding a 50-48 halftime lead the JackJumpers were sucker punched by the visitors in the third term.
The Taipans caught fire from deep to set up a matchwinning lead Scott Roth’s men could not chase down.
The Taipans outscored the Jackies 39-17 in the red-hot third period to turn a halftime deficit into a monster 20-point lead at the final change.
Despite a typically Tasmanian fight back to cut the lead back to 10 points midway through the final term it was as close as the Jackies could muster.
After going scoreless in the first half it was Taipans forward Bul Kuol (20 points, six rebounds) – along with new import DJ Hogg (17 points) – who got scorching hot in the third period to leave the Jackies in their dust.
Kuol scored 14 points in the period, hitting four of six from deep, while Hogg chimed in with three long balls of his own to help silence the Hobart crowd.
Majok Deng also starred for the Taipans with 26 points – with 16 of those in the first half as he helped the visitors stay in the game after a slow start.
It was a vastly different opening for Tasmania in contrast to Saturday night’s loss to Phoenix, with the Jackies firing early to take a 23-15 lead into the first break.
Tasmania’s hot start was short-lived however as the visitors attack caught fire. It was a sign of things to come.