Taipans strike to inflict more pain on 'Cats

Jack McVeigh and Jaylon Brown combined for 58 points and 14 three-pointers but it was a standout all-round performance from the Cairns Taipans as they inflicted a fourth straight defeat on the Perth Wildcats with the 100-92 win.

Both teams arrived at RAC Arena on Sunday having struggled of late with the 'Cats having lost three straight including in Brisbane on Wednesday while the Taipans had lost their past two including in Cairns on Thursday to the Illawarra Hawks.

Cairns came out hot knocking down eight three-pointers in the first quarter to put up 31 points before another four in the second quarter with five of those from McVeigh to be leading 53-48 at the break with his 23 points.

The Snakes then opened up a game-high 13-point lead early in the second half and even though the Wildcats made a couple of runs, the visitors continued to have the answers.

The last of those was inside three minutes with Perth getting back within five before Jonah Bolden delivered a picturesque pass to Malique Lewis for a finish.

Brown then forced one of the 18 turnovers in the game on the Wildcats leading to a Shaun Bruce layup and the Taipans went on to win by eight from there to improve to 7-6.

McVeigh finished with 36 points on 8/15 three-point shooting to go with six rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks.

Brown was also outstanding with 22 points, five assists and three steals with 6/10 shooting from the outside while 389-game veteran Bruce showed his veteran savvy with 14 points and 3/3 long-range shooting.

Keanu Pinder might have fouled out with two late offensive fouls, but had 10 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals with Lewis contributing nine points, six blocks and five rebounds, and Bolden five points, seven rebounds and four assists.

The Wildcats are now 5-6 having lost four straight and with nine of those 11 games having been inside RAC Arena.

Elijah Pepper top-scored with 26 points with 4/6 three-point shooting with Kristian Doolittle adding 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals, Dylan Windler 11 points, five boards, three assists and two steals, and Jesse Wagstaff 14 points in game No. 551.

Both teams came into the last game of Round 8 looking to return to winning form and it was a scorching start from Jack McVeigh for the Taipans.

He put up 16 points on 4/7 three-point shooting in the opening 10 minutes, with Jaylon Brown landing two triples as well for the Taipans to be leading 31-27 by quarter-time on 8/14 three-point shooting and getting up seven extra shot attempts on the back of six Wildcats turnovers.

Cairns then maintained a degree of control through the second quarter with McVeigh adding another triple and seven points to be up to 23 by half-time.

The Taipans were leading 53-48 going into the half with Brown also up to 14 points while Jonah Bolden was a +9 with three points, five rebounds and two assists.

Cairns were still shooting 12/19 from deep and had 14 extra shots for the half with eight offensive rebounds and forcing Perth into eight turnovers.

But the 'Cats stayed close with 60 per cent shooting and with 12 points to Elijah Pepper and 11 to Kristian Doolittle with four rebounds and three assists.

The Taipans then started the third quarter hot with the lead growing to 13 points four minutes into the half and McVeigh took things up another level with another three triples and 13 points in the period.

That saw Cairns leading 77-65 by three quarter-time with 16 made threes as a team and with Perth having had another five turnovers in the frame.

The Wildcats were able to get back within five with six minutes to play but over the next two minutes the Taipans scored the next eight points including three balls to Keanu Pinder and Shaun Bruce to blow the lead back out to 13.

Perth were able to get back within five with 2:30 to play, but Cairns again responded with the next four points and wouldn’t be denied the eventual eight-point win.

The Wildcats do remain at home to host the Tasmania JackJumpers on Thursday in what already will be their 10th home game of the season while the Snakes are back home also to host the league-leading Sydney Kings on Friday.

PERTH WILDCATS 92 – CAIRNS TAIPANS 100

Perth Wildcats
Elijah Pepper – 26 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 4/6 3PT
Kristian Doolittle – 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals
Jesse Wagstaff – 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Dylan Windler – 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Cam Huefner – 9 points, 2 rebounds

Cairns Taipans
Jack McVeigh – 36 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 8/15 3PT
Jaylon Brown – 22 points, 5 assists, 3 steals, 6/10 3PT
Shaun Bruce – 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3/3 3PT
Keanu Pinder – 10 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals
Malique Lewis – 9 points, 6 blocks, 5 rebounds