Cairns Taipans drop ninth straight game

That was the game. If the Cairns Taipans were going to snap their ever-growing losing streak, it was going to be on Friday night at home to Illawarra. But, the Hawks handed them their ninth straight NBL defeat.

THAT was the game.

If the Cairns Taipans were going to snap their ever-growing losing streak, it was going to be on Friday night at home to Illawarra.

The Hawks are second from bottom on the NBL ladder, being the logical option for the last on the table Cairns to claim their first victory against since Round 1.

Declaring that is disrespectful to the Hawks, who were 4-7 on the season and have played some very good basketball at times, but the battling Snakes needed a victory any way they could.

With Perth, New Zealand and Sydney on the horizon — it was the game they just had to win if they had any chance of keeping their campaign alive.

But, again, Mike Kelly’s men came up well short for what is required to win an NBL game as they fell for the ninth straight time.

Outside the opening minutes, Illawarra controlled the game and deserved to record their fifth win of the season — 95-84.

Cairns were so sloppy with the ball in hand, giving away 14 points from turnovers inside the first quarter and a half.

The Taipans looked like a 1-8 side on an eight-game losing skid as they were just bereft of any confidence to go and make a play and try change the game.

Taipans Melo Trimble gets past Hawks Jordair Jett during the Round 8 NBL match between Cairns Taipans and Illawarra Hawks at Cairns Convention Centre in Cairns, Friday, December 7, 2018. (AAP Image/Marc McCormack)

Simple mistakes like stepping out of court with no defender in touching distance, which occurred on three different occasions in the first half, killed the Taipans hopes of mounting a comeback.

If it was not for eight first half triples, three from hands of DJ Newbill, the game would have been long over.

Rookie Devon Hall returned to the starting line-up after a few game spell with the reserves.

Cairns started well but as the contest pressed on, the visitors slowly gained the ascendancy and momentum through attacking the bucket.

As well as strength around the basket, long bombs from Tim Coenraad and Daniel Grida pushed the Hawks lead out to 11 early in the second term when it seemed like Cairns was in control just minutes before.

Shooter Dexter Kernich-Drew left the game following a head knock from a physic AJ Ogilvy screen late in the second term.

Illawarra have now won their past four games against Cairns.

Hawks rookie Emmett Naar dished out seven assists in an impressive display.

Imports Melo Trimble, who did not wear a headband as he flagged he would during the week, and Newbill again carried the offensive load for the Snakes, as they combined for 40 points.

To make matters worse, the Taipans get on a plane on Saturday morning to play the top of the table Perth on Sunday.

Originally published as Cairns Taipans drop ninth straight game