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After a very back and forth game that was never truly allowed to flow the way either team would have liked, the Cairns Taipans were able to execute better down the stretch and as a result have taken a six point home victory over the Townsville Crocodiles.
Plenty of lead changes characterised the game, but in the end the ultimate depth of the Taipans, with all of their players getting hot at various times and contributing on both ends of the floor, were able to run over the top of the Crocodiles.
While Cameron Gliddon was named as the man of the match in the win for the Taipans, it was a complete team performance that led to the victory. Gliddon ended up with 16 points and 5 rebounds, however the input off the bench was key in the middle two quarters.
Mark Worthington, along with Torrey Craig and Steven Bruce made sure the Taipans would stay in the game at various points when it looked like the Crocodiles might have been able to gab the upper hand.
For the Crocodiles, it was all Brian Conklin early in the match and they were brilliant from the free throw line, picking up a lot of fouls and having a heavy inside presence.
Throughout the game though, Conklin’s impact lessened. He was replaced providing the input by Jordair Jett, although he was a little bit inconsistent at times. Clint Steindl and Nicholas Kay provided the Crocodiles plenty and kept them in the game.
After a fast start, the only thing keeping the Taipans in the game was Steven Weigh who had a seriously hot start to the match. At quarter time, the Crocodiles would lead by two points, before a similarly tight second quarter with plenty of lead changes led to a tied game at the end of the first half.
The third quarter would see the Crocodiles again gain the upper hand, playing a positive brand of basketball. In saying that though, a lot of the third quarter saw a lack of scoring, with neither team able to find the basket. However, the final couple of minutes saw the scoring open up again.
Going into the final quarter, the Crocodiles led the game by three points. However, they would not be able to hold their own down the stretch. Gliddon and Matthew Burston started to light it up, and the Crocodiles struggled to stay in the game, being down by 10 at one stage.
The victory for the Taipans leaves them with a two and one record, while the Crocodiles certainly didn’t play badly they will lose some of the momentum gained from their mid week win over the Sydney Kings. They sit with a one win, three loss record.
Next week, the tough start to the season for the Crocodiles continues as they travel to take on both Melbourne United and the Perth Wildcats while the Taipans also have a pair of away games against the Adelaide 36ers and Melbourne United.
Tonight though, the Cairns Taipans taking a hard fought victory over the Townsville Crocodiles at home by six points.
Final score:
Cairns Taipans 80
Townsville Crocodiles 74
The first reptile rumble of the 2015-2016 NBL season is shaping as an incredibly important and interesting game. The Cairns Taipans look to get back to their best when they take on the Townsville Crocodiles to close out Round 2 at the Cairns Convention Centre. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEDT).
For the Taipans, this is their only game in Round 2 after going one win and one loss in Round 1. They managed to record a strong home victory against the Illawarra Hawks before looking like a completely different team just two nights later, suffering a blow out loss at the hands of the Sydney Kings away from home.
Undoubtedly their best player across the two games was Mark Worthington, his impact across the bench giving the already strong Taipans starting line-up a real x-factor. His input is going to be pivotal to the Taipans’ success this season, no doubt about it.
It is certainly a question worth asking whether fatigue got to the Taipans in that away loss to the Kings, and it will be telling whether they can bounce back in this game.
The Crocodiles meanwhile lost both of their games in the opening round. Firstly, they had a huge loss at home against Melbourne United, before a close loss at the hands of the New Zealand Breakers away from home.
They then shocked the Sydney Kings on Thursday night to open Round 2, winning by just three points in a game that went right to the end. Their best feature, undoubtedly with a young side that at times is getting outplayed, is hanging in and playing tough basketball, waiting for mistakes and then making the most of them.
Last year’s MVP Brian Conklin is the key to their offence, however as shown against the Kings Jordair Jett really has the ability to stand up and be the difference for the Crocodiles.
Incredibly, the Taipans have won all of their last five against the Crocodiles and this will certainly be playing on the minds of both teams coming into the clash.
Prediction: Cairns should be the better side in this one. The Crocodiles have hung in during all their games, so expect it to be close, but Cairns have had a long break and will get the job done at home.
Taipans by 9.
Join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 7:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your thoughts and comments in the section below as the game unfolds.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde