A MESMERISING offensive performance from Ky Stattmann was the biggest factor in the Cairns Marlins’ win over the Ipswich Force in the NBL1 North Men’s over the weekend.

The Marlins took on the Force at JBS Stadium on Sunday afternoon, looking to shake their inconsistent form of late and take down an Ipswich side that had cemented its spot in the top three over the first 12 rounds of the season.

Cairns did the most damage in the opening quarter, exploding out of the blocks in the first 10 minutes of play to put 41 points on the board and take a 20-point lead into the first change.

Although the Force managed to stop the bleeding over the final three periods, the deficit was too much to overcome as the Marlins cruised home to a 13-point triumph to move to 8-7 on the season.

The win was sparked by a memorable showing from Stattmann, who was a force to be reckoned with on the scoring front.

Ipswich Force (98) def. by Cairns Marlins (111)

Ky Stattmann – 52 points, nine rebounds, four assists

Stattmann produced one of the best scoring performances in Australian basketball this year as he torched the Force with a powerful showing with ball in hand.

Coming up against one of the best guards in the country over the past 10 years in Nathan Sobey, Stattmann showed his true scoring potential as he took full responsibility on the offensive end and drove his side to victory.

52 points was a career-high figure for the guard at NBL1 level, shooting an impressive 21/33 from the field at 64 per cent efficiency. He was the go-to option for the Marlins both in transition and in half-court sets.

Stattmann’s scoring preference was balanced enough to make him unpredictable to defend. The guard fired from behind the arc with seven three-pointers on 16 attempts, showcasing his range from downtown and willingness to fire off a shot before the defence can get set.

He was a massive influence on the match in the first quarter when Cairns got on top, pouring in 15 points in the first 10 minutes, including a trio of three-pointers to help get his side to an eventual match-winning lead.

Although many players deliver a strong start of this calibre, Stattmann was a consistent presence for the Marlins, continuing to produce offence across all four quarters.

It was an exciting performance for one of the strongest young guards in the country, who stood up to an experienced opponent and delivered a magnificent offensive showing.