Taipans start season with a solid win

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The Cairns Taipans have started their season with a resounding 106-84 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers in Hobart.

This is the highest opening score for Cairns since 2005, despite fielding the least experienced team line-up in the history of the franchise.

It was a slow start, but the Snakes piled on the points in the second (33) and third (39) quarters, setting a new record for most points in a quarter against Tasmania.

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The JackJumpers rallied in the final quarter, restricting Cairns to just three points across six minutes.

But Tasmania could only get within 10 points of the Taipans, who went on to win by 22.

Majok Deng had a great game with 26 points, shooting at 81 per cent, and five rebounds.

DJ Hogg got 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two steals in his NBL debut.

Also impressive was new point guard Shannon Scott, with 16 points, six assists, three rebounds, and two steals.

Taipans head coach, Adam Forde, said nerves and a limited pre-season contributed to the slow start.

“The first quarter was a bit of nerves, and we’re a little bit behind because we didn’t have as many pre-season games as everybody else, and we didn’t have everybody available.

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“But we had to stay with it, stay disciplined, go through our stuff, don’t rush, and it will flow.”

Taipans point guard, Shannon Scott, said he enjoyed the win.

“I had tremendous fun.

“Fordey puts so much trust into us, allowing us to play the way we play but by also letting us know what we’ve got to get done.

 “That first half, that first quarter in particular, when we were struggling, we been there before, we go through scenarios like that every day at practice.

“We know how to weather the storm, how to get back together and stay composed. I think we did a great job with that.”

The Taipans play the South-East Melbourne Phoenix in Melbourne on Saturday before next Monday’s  home game against the Perth Wildcats.