TAIPANS LEFT LAMENTING COSTLY SLIP
BASKETBALL: Taipans coach Mike Kelly knew it was his squad’s chance.
At home, facing a Perth Wildcats side without starters Damian Martin, Terrico White and Angus Brandt, they almost toppled the reigning champions last week.
If the Cairns Taipans were going to snap their ever-extending losing sequence, all signs pointed to it being on Saturday night against the undermanned West Australians.
Cairns controlled the majority of the first half but could not make it count where it mattered most, on the scoreboard, as the Wildcats drew level for the first time approaching half-time.
As the contest wore on, the experience of Bryce Cotton, Nick Kay and Mitch Norton shone through as Perth handed the Taipans their seventh straight loss, prevailing 83-88.
“They were down some guys, this was the time, we had a great week of training again,” Kelly said.
“We were seeing signs of getting better but we were not able to finish off.
“It is frustrating to finish off that way and not get a win.”
The Wildcats led by four points with just seconds remaining and looked all but home before a clumsy foul from Cotton on Snakes point guard Melo Trimble as he shot a three-pointer, allowing him to level the scores with 0.8 seconds left in the game.
Once in the extra period, however, the Wildcats just pounded the ball inside and their big boys Kay and Tom Jervis were the difference in the end.
The heartbreaking defeat is Cairns’ seventh straight and dropped their season record to 1-7 as they sit at the foot of the ladder.