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Perth Wildcats vs Cairns Taipans: Wildcats win overtime epic

8th October, 2016
Tip-off: 9:30pm (AEDT)
Venue: Perth Arena
TV: Live, Fox Sports 503
Betting: Wildcats $1.14, Taipans $5.75
Last meeting: 25/1/16 - Wildcats defeat Taipans 84-74 at Perth Arena

Perth Wildcats (expected)
Point guard: Damian Martin
Shooting guard: Greg Hire
Small forward: Casey Prather
Power forward: Jesse Wagstaff
Centre: Jameel McKay
Bench: Jaron Johnson, Jarrod Kenny, Shawn Redhage, Lucas Walker, Corban Wroe, Dexter Kirnrich-Drew, Angus Brandt

Cairns Taipans (expected)
Point guard: Travis Trice
Shooting guard: Cameron Gliddon
Small forward: Stephen Weigh
Power forward: Fuquan Edwin
Centre: Nate Jawai
Bench: Alex Loughton, Mark Worthington, Damon Heuir, Jarrad Weeks, Nnanna Egwu, Anthony Fisher, Mitchell McCarron, Ashley Constable, Tevin Jackson
Nate Jawai will line up for the Cairns Taipans as they take on the Perth Wildcats away from home. (AFP PHOTO / GERARD JULIEN)
Expert
8th October, 2016
195
1988 Reads

Match result:

The Cairns Taipans have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in their first match of the 2016-17 NBL season, going down to the Perth Wildcats on the road by ten points in a match that went to overtime.

The Taipans held the lead into the last minute, and the last handful of seconds but an incredible shot from Jaron Johnson in the last two seconds from behind the arc would tie the game up and send it to overtime.

From there, the Wildcats played their best minutes of basketball so far this season, and ran away with a ten point lead in a fantastic effort. Johnson stayed on fire while Damian Martin and Jameel McKay added plenty for the side.

Apart from his excellent defence that so often keeps the Wildcats in the game, Martin knocked down some clutch buckets including a three in overtime – something he isn’t known for to extend their lead and heap the pressure on opponents.

While Perth certainly improved on both ends of the court from their season-opening loss, they still have plenty to work on. Their defence for the most part looks good, but their offence leaves a lot to be desired.

After being down by 11 at the end of the first quarter, the Taipans did a great job to stay with the game and get back into it at the end of the second and into the third.

Fuquan Edwin and Nnanna Egwu proved to be dominant in the paint while Jarrad Weeks and Mark Worthington added plenty with the ball, as did energetic guard Cameron Gliddon.

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The Taipans defence was also solid, but let them down in the clutch moments. They were blown off the court during the first quarter, and it took them a long time to get back into the match, and again in overtime as they failed to mark up or hit a shot of their own.

A loss like that will seriously hurt the Taipans, but all in all a strong start to their season as the Wildcats finally register a victory.

Final Score
Perth Wildcats 84
Cairns Taipans 74

Match preview:

The Perth Wildcats will be out to make a statement after dropping their first game of the season when they host the Cairns Taipans who could be in for a long season. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 9:30pm (AEDT).

Perth played in the season opener on Thursday night, going down to the Brisbane Bullets by seven points by leading at one point by 13.

While it wasn’t a shock loss for the defending premiers, it was one that has only elevated the profile of questions that hung over them before a ball was shot for the season.

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Where their creativity and points are coming from is a big issue, and even with Jameel McKay firing in the point they lack a closing scorer – Jermaine Beal played that role for them last year.

Damian Martin led them in their lockdown defence exploits, and it worked early but Brisbane seemed to figure them out as the match wore on and Perth never looked like matching them for points.

Jaron Johnson and Casey Prather were both poor on the offensive end though as they scored a combined 15 points shooting a poor five of 19 from the field so there is reason to think improvement is on the way.

Unfortunately for Cairns, they have been tipped by many to pick up the wooden spoon this season and while they aren’t that far behind the rest of the teams, the closeness of the competition means perfection must not only be strived for, but achieved.

Maybe the biggest storyline of this match is Cairns’ signing of Nate Jawai. He takes on his former club away from home in the first match of the season, and coming up against new import Jameel McKay won’t be an easy feat.

Cairns have been relaitvely settled with their veterans as the likes of Cameron Gliddon, Alex Loughton, Stephen Weigh and Mark Worthington stay on for another season, but the key man is import point guard Travis Trice.

He has to direct the team at the top, setting up scoring opportunities and ensuring the team stays structured.

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Given how well they played at the Australian Basketball Challenge, Cairns aren’t a team to completely write off either.

Prediction
Before the season opener Perth would have been runaway favourites and while they should still pick up their first win of the season at home, don’t expect it to be as big a gap as first thought. In saying that, they could make this a statement sort of game.

Perth by 12.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the Perth Wildcats first home game for 2016-17 from 9:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to get involved by dropping a comment in the section below.

Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde

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