IN WHAT was a close game in the National Basketball League (NBL) action at HoopsFest on Saturday night, the Cairns Taipans‘ inability to remain composed in crucial times ended up being their fate once again, bested by the New Zealand Breakers out west. Even while their stars did everything in their power to win the game, it was deemed not enough, as they went down 104-86, putting their record to 7-18 on the season.

At halftime, the score was just an arm’s reach away at 56-51, with the Breakers ahead, but on the back end of the third quarter and then the fourth quarter, it was all New Zealand, as they dominated the last quarter, as Sam Mennenga could not be contained with a 28-point game.

Izaiah Brockington followed up his previous 20-point game with another, scoring 24 points with five assists. Parker Jackson-Cartwright impressed as always and showed his passing prowess by throwing dimes from anywhere and everywhere on the court. Next Star Karim Lopez had his first double-double this season, along with 16 points, displaying his talent towards NBA and European scouts.

For the Taipans, Jack McVeigh was not able to get it going on the scoring side of the ball, and while turning to facilitating the ball and getting his teammates open, it simply didn’t get the job done. Mojave King and Admiral Schofield led the team in scoring with 19 points apiece, along with Andrew Andrews with 15 of his own.

With this win, New Zealand’s finals hopes are still alive but hanging on by a thread, as if they want to make that top six, then their next eight fixtures consist of the Adelaide 36ers twice, SEM Phoenix twice, Melbourne United, and the Tasmania JackJumpers, who are all above the Breakers. Even with such a hard next eight fixtures to finish the season, wins are needed, and they have no choice but to beat these teams if they truly want to make the finals.