Evergreen Loughton’s still leading from front
IF Cairns Taipan Alex Loughton was 24 instead of 34, how many NBL clubs would be chasing him?
In what could be the veteran forward’s last season, Loughton is in arguably career-best touch as he leads the Snakes’ front line towards a late-season playoff push.
While he could still go around again in season 2018-19, if the long-bomb shooting big man was 24, there is no doubt every club in Australia would be after his signature.
“At my age I’ve got to look after my body more than the younger guys and it’s just put myself in a position to succeed,” Loughton said following Cairns’ victory against Brisbane on Friday night at home.
“That is for the end of the season (if I will go around again next season), but I feel good and we’ll keep rolling with the punches. It is fun to play when you can contribute. The body isn’t wearing away too much, I just put more time into getting it right.”
On Friday night against the Bullets, Loughton was as aggressive as he has been all season, knowing he had been in form of late and taking it upon himself to make the big plays.
In a battle of the veteran power forwards with fellow elder statesman Daniel Kickert, Loughton and his club got the chocolates.
It was Loughton’s fourth consecutive game dropping 20 points or more. Leading into the Taipans game against New Zealand the forward has scored 22, 23, 22 and 20 Cairns’ last month of matches averaging of 13.4 points-per-game on the season.
“Al is having a great year,” Kickert said. “I was expecting him to come out and play like that, there was a bit of back and forth there but unfortunately he hurt us playing like that.”