Phoenix dominate Snakes in strong response

Their backs were to the wall having lost five of six and being down double figures early but the South East Melbourne Phoenix responded emphatically to dominate the Cairns Taipans over the last 30 minutes to win 115-83.

The Phoenix were back home at John Cain Arena on Saturday having lost five of their last six games including in Brisbane on Thursday night as they hosted a Taipans outfit on a three-game winning run.

Cairns then started well with a 12-point first quarter lead and with Jonah Bolden putting up 15 opening half points, but the Phoenix took control over the last three quarters.

It was a total dominance from South East Melbourne with 35 points to 19 in the second quarter, 27 to nine in the third and 26 to 20 in the fourth to end up winning by 32 to steady to a 3-5 record.

Over the last three quarters, the Phoenix scored 87 points on 35/73 shooting including 11/31 from the outside while limiting the Snakes to 48 points on 20/56 shooting with 5/24 from deep along with another 13 turnovers.

Sobey had 24 points in the first half to set the Phoenix up for the win to end up with 29 with eight rebounds and six assists on 7/14 three-point shooting.

New father Jordan Hunter also had 19 points and 11 rebounds including eight o-boards with Angus Glover finishing with 14 points, four boards and four assists, Yannis Morin 11 points, 10 rebounds and two steals, Skylar Mays 10 points, and Dash Daniels 10 points, four rebounds and two assists.

Jonah Bolden finished with 17 points, five rebounds and two assists on 7/10 shooting for Cairns with Reyne Smith adding 14 points and five boards, and Keanu Pinder 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Jack McVeigh also had eight points with Jaylon Brown having eight points, three assists and two steals.

It might have been a home game for the Phoenix, but the Taipans were the fresher of the teams having not played since their third straight win on Sunday with South East Melbourne straight back from losing in Brisbane on Thursday.

And the Snakes started the better putting up 35 points in the first quarter on the back of a scorching 78 per cent shooting with 3/5 from the outside.

That included 11 points from Jonah Bolden and eight from Reyne Smith for them to be leading the Phoenix 35-27 after one despite the 15 points from Nathan Sobey on 3/5 shooting from the outside.

That lead for Cairns had been as much as 12 as well but the Phoenix worked back into the contest in the second quarter and got locked in better defensively, and found their offensive mojo on the back of that.

South East Melbourne flipped things around totally with 35 points in the second term on 14/23 shooting including going 7/13 from long-range to go into half-time leading 62-54.

Sobey was already up to 24 points with six three-pointers while Skylar Mays responded to starting on the bench with eight points and Daniel Foster chimed in with eight.

It took less than a minute into the second half for Taipans coach Adam Forde to call a standing timeout after they conceded three offensive rebounds on one possession leading to a Dash Daniels put back.

The timeout did nothing to stop the tide of the game and Cairns managed just nine points in the entire third quarter on 4/13 shooting and 1/9 from deep to go with five turnovers.

South East Melbourne collected 10 offensive rebounds and put up 27 points even without Sobey adding to his 24 for the game to go into three quarter-time in control 89-63.

The Phoenix then cruised to the 32-point win from there with another 26 points to 20 in the last quarter.

The Phoenix have a full week before playing again when they host the Adelaide 36ers next Saturday night while the Snakes are back home next Sunday against the New Zealand Breakers.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 115 – CAIRNS TAIPANS 83

SE Melbourne Phoenix
Nathan Sobey – 29 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists
Jordan Hunter – 19 points, 11 rebounds
Angus Glover – 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Yannis Morin – 11 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists
Dash Daniels – 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists

Cairns Taipans
Jonah Bolden – 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Reyne Smith – 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
Keanu Pinder – 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Jack McVeigh – 8 points
Jaylon Brown – 8 points, 3 assists, 2 steals