Snakes hold off JackJumpers for home win

The Cairns Taipans built a 24-point lead and then held firm to overcome the fast finishing Tasmania JackJumpers to make it consecutive home wins with the 90-78 victory.

Emerging point guard Taran Armstrong returned from a calf injury for the Snakes and was instrumental in the eventual 12-point win with three crucial late buckets on his way to 20 points, five assists and four rebounds.

On the back of their home opening win at Cairns Convention Centre against Adelaide, the Taipans came out flying with Rob Edwards (16 points, five rebounds, five assists) and Pedro Bradshaw (10 points) inspiring an 8-2 start.

Cairns were then leading 27-21 by the end of one before 13 straight points early in the second term with the lead growing to 20.

The Cairns lead was out to 24 to start the second half including quick triples to Bradshaw and Sam Waardenburg (12 points, seven rebounds).

The JackJumpers as is their way, refused to go away and responded with their own 19-5 run and then the stage was set with a four-point difference with four minutes on the clock.

However, Armstrong and the Taipans responded with the next 10 points including three straight buckets to the returning point guard who played a starring role in the 12-point win.

It's back to back wins for Cairns on the back of shooting 58 per cent from the field and overcoming 18 turnovers from which Tasmania scored 21 points from.

Kyrin Galloway also had 14 points with Tanner Groves especially effective in the first half for 11 points and four rebounds.

Taipans coach Adam Forde saw exactly why he wants Armstrong the point guard on his team.

"We were supposed to cap him at 20, but it's kind of hard not to put him out there when he's plus-22," he said.

"There's a level of stability he provides and even at the end when it started to get a little bit away from us, you chuck Kyle (Adnam) out there with him and we have these two level heads who are a calming influence for us to finish out the game."

Milton Doyle finished with 19 points for Tasmania with Will Magnay adding 14 points, Majok Deng 13 and Anthony Drmic 12, but they did shoot just 38 per cent and attempted only eight free throws.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth gave credit to the Taipans especially for building that 24-point lead on the reigning champions.

"They just played harder and longer than we did, and obviously put us on our back foot and you give credit to them and their aggression to go play," he said.

"I love the fight of our guys to get back within four and we'll just build off of that now while doing better in some areas."

It was a hot opening for the Taipans with Pedro Bradshaw and Rob Edwards giving them an 8-2 start before the JackJumpers got three balls from Anthony Drmic and Milton Doyle.

Big men Will Magnay and Tanner Groves then traded triples too, but it was Akoldah Gak with six quick points to close the quarter the helped Cairns to the 27-21 quarter-time edge.

The Snakes then opened the second term with a run of 13 consecutive points before a huge Sam Waardenburg block that led to a dunk up the other end in transition for the returning Taran Armstrong.

Tasmania only had two points in the first six minutes of the quarter with the Taipans lead getting out to as much as 20 points with the home team still up 53-37 at the half despite the 15 points from Doyle for the visitors.

It was a flying start to the second half too from the Taipans with the first eight points including three balls to Bradshaw and Waardenburg, and then a dunk from the latter as the lead got out to 24.

Tasmania did respond going on a 19-5 run in response to be back within 10 and that's where things remained by the end of three.

Then with Cairns leading by 14, Tasmania made its charge with a 10-0 run by forcing the Taipans into turnovers at one end and then getting up to score up the other to be back within four points with four minutes to play.

It was the Snakes who had the answers and it was Armstrong proving the difference down the stretch to lead his team to the 12-point win even with some late drama that started with an Edwards-Crawford confrontation before Magnay and Waardenburg became involved.

Both teams back up to play again on Sunday on the road with the Snakes first up against Melbourne United while the JackJumpers are at home to the Perth Wildcats.

Both their opponents also play on Friday night as part of Round 3.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

CAIRNS TAIPANS 90 (Armstrong 20, Edwards 16, Galloway 14)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 78 (Doyle 19, Magnay 14, Deng 13)

BOX SCORE