Snakes shake rattled United
Gliddon fires but Cairns loses key import Michael Carrera in home win
CAIRNS have overcome an injury to star import Michael Carrera to snap their threegame losing skid as skipper Cameron Gliddon returned to form last night against Melbourne United.
The Taipans, who had lost their last three games before yesterday, returned to their best basketball that saw them beat the Perth Wildcats at home earlier in the season.
The convincing 92-69 win lifts the Snakes season record to 4-5.
Carrera, who has led the team with 18 points a game this season, could face an extended spell on the sidelines as he did not return from the change rooms later in the game.
The Venezuelan Volcano went down early in the first term with a knee injury after landing hard going for a block on United’s Casey Prather.
Just over a month ago the fiery forward had his right knee operated on while his left knee was the concern last night as he lay on the floor in agony before being helped to the locker room.
Carrera’s injury energised the Snakes as Scoochie Smith (17 points) and Gliddon straight away sensed their offensive efforts were needed and responded.
Smith showed the form that saw him almost single-handedly beat New Zealand in Round 1 as he attacked the rim whenever possible.
After quiet games against the Breakers last week, Mitch McCarron (14 points) and Gliddon (20 points) both returned to form as they stepped up in the third term when United mounted a fight back.
The hosts had their hands in the passing lanes all night as they grabbed 10 steals.
The Snakes skipped out to a double-digit advantage approaching halftime but United fought back to make the difference just four at the long break.
It was a physical start from both clubs as United star Chris Goulding was left frustrated on two occasions in the opening five minutes. Alex Loughton got the start instead of Stephen Weigh last night after a string of strong performances from the 34-year-old but Weigh was sharp as soon as he was injected. The Snakes hit the road over the weekend as they face Brisbane away on Sunday afternoon.