BOXSCORE

A devastating third term helped the Carins Taipans romp to a 76-67 home win against the Perth Wildcats on Friday night.

It was all Jamar Wilson (24 points), Ian Crosswhite (8 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists) and Cairns' trademark defence as Perth’s big guns were squeezed out of the contest.

Kevin Lisch (16 points) and Jesse Wagstaff (12) finally came to life in the final five minutes to lead a late but fruitless charge.

The Taipans led 10-4 inside the first five minutes but were kept scoreless for the rest of the quarter to trail 12-10 at the break.

Their rebounding kept Cairns in the contest, and they shot back into the lead courtesy of a Wilson three-point play late in the first half.

Wilson had 14 of the Taipans' 29 points in the first half before Warren finally opened his account with a triple to start the third term.

Perth shied away from a long-range game, attempting just one three pointer in the opening two quarters.

Wilson’s opponent Damian Martin was kept scoreless until the final quarter, although his usual intensity forced the Taipans guards into repeated errors.

The Taipans scored 20-1 in the first six minutes of the third quarter, including a blistering 14-0 run to start the term.

Warren hit two triples before Wilson followed suit and Brad Hill drove hard to the rim.

Warren found his range again before Cam Tovey stopped the rot. It was only short-lived though, as another string of Taipans defensive stops blew the score out to 49-31.

Everything the Taipans touched turned to gold while Perth could not buy a basket in the second half as Cairns' defence continued to frustrate.

Even when Martin’s men managed to get open their aim was often astray and the Taipans capitalised to record a crucial victory.

Cairns Taipans 76 (Wilson 24, Loughton 11)
Perth Wildcats 67 (Lisch 16, Tovey 13, Knight 12, Nevill 12)

Crowd: 4609 at the Cairns Convention Centre