Taipans overpower Bullets in QLD NBL derby
Cairns have claimed the NBL bragging rights against their former captain in Brisbane, ousting Cameron Gliddon's Bullets 88-70 on Saturday night.
New Bullet Gliddon, who debuted for the Taipans in 2012 and captained them across the last four seasons, was dynamic with a career-high 29 points in Thursday's season-opening win in New Zealand.
But his former club spoiled their prospects of a perfect weekend, impressive import Melo Trimble starring with 32 points to give incoming Cairns coach Mike Kelly a win on debut.
The Taipans shot just five of 24 three pointers but defended stoutly and found regular buckets close to the rim to lead, albeit narrowly, at every turn.
Cairns led by six at the final break, with a Nathan Jawai tip-in pushing the advantage to a game-high 10 points with just over five minutes to play to snuff out the contest.
Guard DJ Newbill was another steadying influence for the visitors, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Nobody got hot for the Bullets, with Gliddon (11 points) threatening early but having no second-half impact while Reuben Te Rangi's 18 points off the bench were in vain.
The teams shot a combined one-of-14 from three point range in a stunted first quarter as the tight rims of the Brisbane Convention Centre offered little love.
Maryland-raised Trimble oozed class though; the 23-year-old scoring seven of the Snakes' 19 points in his first quarter of NBL.
New Zealand recruit Rob Lowe (14 points) then piped up as the visitors led by three - 40-37 - after a whistle-heavy first half that yielded 22 personal fouls.
Former Chicago Bulls big Cameron Bairstow (six points, three rebounds) was quiet in his return to Brisbane after more than a season out with a knee injury, worked over by Cairns pair Alex Loughton and Jawai in the key.
