{"id":42435,"date":"2025-01-24T09:53:05","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T23:53:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/basketball\/?p=42435"},"modified":"2025-01-24T09:53:06","modified_gmt":"2025-01-23T23:53:06","slug":"taipans-stun-hawks-again-in-another-upset","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/basketball\/taipans-stun-hawks-again-in-another-upset\/","title":{"rendered":"Taipans stun Hawks again in another upset"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

DESPITE sitting at the bottom of the table, the Cairns Taipans<\/a> may have found their bunny in the National Basketball League (NBL) this season after defeating the ladder-leading Illawarra Hawks<\/a> by six points to open Round 18 on Thursday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming into the clash at the Cairns Convention Centre, the standings would say it was shaping to be a one-sided affair. However, the home side had produced a stunning boilover just weeks before, ending their 15-game losing streak and knocking off the title favourites in dramatic fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make things more intriguing, Cairns held home court advantage this time around, but did suffer the pregame loss of star point guard Taran Armstrong<\/a> to injury. The Tassie product is crucial for the Taipans’ success given how well he controls the offensive side of things, and would be sorely missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, despite missing a key piece, the Taipans were dominant throughout their clash against the top of the table Hawks, and held on for another vital win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cairns Taipans (100) def. Illawarra Hawks (94)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNS<\/th>31<\/td>23<\/td>17<\/td>29<\/td>100<\/th><\/tr>
ILL<\/th>17<\/td>20<\/td>27<\/td>30<\/td>94<\/th><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was the first quarter that set up Cairns’ win, with the Taipans storming out of the gates in the opening 10 minutes of the match. It was a case of simply outplaying the Hawks, with the hosts showing more hustle, heart and desire to win. At the first change, the Taipans led by 14 points in a stunning start to the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the Hawks were clearly more productive in the second quarter, they simply could not match the output of the Taipans, leading by as much as 21 points and holding a 17-point buffer at the main break in a result that not many would have predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third quarter was the biggest shift for Illawarra, finally finding its groove on the offensive end while also putting an end to Cairns’ high-scoring ways. A serious half time spray from Justin Tatum <\/em><\/strong>must have shot some life into the visitors, but the deficit was cut to just seven points thanks to a flurry of three-pointers in the third quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A triple to Tyler Harvey<\/a> saw the Hawks draw within four, but Cairns responded with a 7-0 run to get its buffer back out to double-digits. The teams went back and forth, but every time the Hawks drew within a single point, the Taipans answered, closing the deal at the free throw line for another almighty win, despite being eliminated from finals contention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite fouling out in the final minutes, Rob Edwards<\/a> was immense for the victors, posting a game-high 22 points on 8\/13 shooting from the field to go with four rebounds, while Sam Waardenburg<\/a> (18 points, six rebounds) and Pedro Bradshaw<\/a> (17 points, eight rebounds, five assists) also played crucial roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the Hawks, veteran Todd Blanchfield<\/a> was the spark that helped the team get back into the contest, leading the way with 17 points and knocking down five triples off the bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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