Page 61 - Tropic Magazine Issue 13

TAIPANS 20 SEASON ANNIVERSARY
TH

that season. The 26-year old had his
No. 9 – DEXTER breakout on New Year’s Eve against the
KERNICH-DREW Hawks, managing eight of his 13 points
in the final term to seal the vital victory
in his first NBL season. Last year, he
HEIGHT: 199cm had his best outing for the Wildcats
WEIGHT: 83kg in their opening game of the season,
DOB: 16-10-91 dropping 11 points against Illawarra
in under 10 minutes. He spent the off-
DKD was part of the Wildcats’ 2017 title season playing in the SEABL, averaging
playing alongside Lucas Walker and Jarrod 22.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0
Kenny, and was integral to a crucial win assists with the Tigers.

No. 7 – KUANY KUANY No. 12 – LUCAS WALKER No. 14 – ROB LOE

HEIGHT: 198cm HEIGHT: 200cm HEIGHT: 211cm
WEIGHT: 93kg WEIGHT: 100kg WEIGHT: 112kg
DOB: 8-7-94 DOB: 6-12-84 DOB: 5-8-91

Kuany Kuany grew up in Melbourne Walker is coming off the back of one of Loe joins the Taipans following a Bronze
and went to Chaminade University his best statistical seasons of his eight- Medal win at the Commonwealth Games
of Honolulu, where he averaged 11.9 year career, averaging 8.8 points and 5.6 with the Tall Blacks. The New Zealander
points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists rebounds with the Wildcats. The forward boasts extensive experience with his
in his senior year. The Sudanese guard set a League record recently, with his 16 national team, starting in high school
graduated third in the school’s all- rebounds against Adelaide the most ever when he led the Junior Tall Blacks in
time scoring list (1600 points) second recorded in the NBL’s 40-minute era. scoring with 18.8 points per game at the
in rebounding (876). Recently, Kuany After playing with the Tigers, United and FIBA U19 World Championships at just
remained in Cairns to play a second then the 36ers, “Waxy” signed in Perth 17 years old – the youngest player on
year in the QBL, helping take the as an injury replacement. He excelled the squad. The versatile power forward
Marlins all the way to the Grand Final in his brief stint and was signed to a has spent the last two seasons with the
series by averaging 13.6 points and 6.9 full-time contract the following year. Breakers, averaging 7.1 points and 3.4
rebounds per game. In Game 2 of the Walker joins Cairns after winning Gold rebounds in his NBL debut and improving
Grand Final in Townsville, he top- at the Commonwealth Games during the to 7.3 points and 4.4 rebounds last year. His
scored for the Marlins with 23 points off-season. NBL career-high was in December, scoring
and 13 rebounds. 24 points off the bench against the Kings.

CORPORATE SUPPORT Bidfood
Paying tribute with Bidfood Cairns is proud to be a supporter of the Cairns Taipans and part of the Orange Army
some of the Taipan’s during the club’s 20-year journey. Bidfood look forward to continuing our support of the
key backers Taipans and wish them all the best for the next 20 years. We’re confident of a successful 2018/19
campaign for the club. Bidfood is inspired by you. Go Snakes!

61 • tropicnow.com.au