Taipans season finishes up - but oh, how they played!

BY VELMA GARA

A depleted Cairns Taipans fought gallantly in the decider semi-final game played on Sunday against Sydney Kings, but it wasn’t enough and they lost 64 to 79.

Missing key players due to injury – Shannon Scott (hamstring) and Keanu Pinder (eye) – didn’t help their cause but playing five games in 10 days took its toll.

Pinder said he had wanted to play the decider playoff game but wasn’t allowed to.

“Not being out there hurt more than I thought it would,” he said.

“If we had won this game, I would have been able to come back to play the Grand Final so I was looking forward to that.”

Taipans Coach, Adam Forde, said he was disappointed their season had come to an end, but not with how they played.

“It’s been a hell of a schedule and a hell of a run,” he said.

“We were just running off adrenaline at the start, but you could see with how that fourth quarter went –missing layups, missing foul shots and had turnovers, it was signs of fatigue.”

Ben Ayres had 20 points and Sam Waardenburg with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Taipans 2022/2023 season standing – 28 games; 18 wins and 10 losses.