Hawks trip big test for Snakes
Home’s sweet but Taipans must overcome travel sickness
WE already knew the Cairns Taipans could win at home, now it is time to take the show back on the road and prove they have fixed their travel issues.
After an emotion charged home opening victory on Thursday evening, the Snakes fly out this morning ahead of their crunch Round 4 NBL contest with Illawarra tomorrow night.
The Hawks, who had lost their last four games, played the Perth Wildcats last night at home and will welcome back starting point-guard Mitch Norton for the clash with the Snakes.
The Taipans issues on the road are no secret, their last victory away from the Cairns Convention Centre was 364 days ago, and they have already dropped three games on the road this season.
The club play four of their next six games away from the Far North in a period which could define their season.
Taipans coach Aaron Fearne said his squad played on emotion and energy against Melbourne United on Thursday but knows the real challenge now waits.
“It’s a bit easier to do that at home when the crowd is really behind you, but now we’ve got to do that on the road,” Fearne said.
“It is all about toughness, that mental toughness and belief to deal with the opposing teams home crowd and the people there talking to you.
“And, feeling like you are getting a rough call here or there, all those factors that come into playing on the road.
“We felt we have been OK on the road, we have dropped games, but really in all three games down the stretch we could have made a couple of plays and had a chance.
“We need to get over that hump and that is where the execution comes in.”
Development player Tevin Jackson comes out of the squad that beat United for the travelling party to Illawarra.
The Taipans showed their offensive arsenal in the second term against United, scoring 30 points, the highest scoring second term by the Taipans during Fearne’s tenure.
Point guard Travis Trice found his feet, scoring 28 points, the most by a Taipans player this season, but quickly shifted his focus to the Hawks.
“We’ll just go back to the drawing board, get a game plan and try get out there and execute it,” Trice said.