Phoenix Find Their Groove Over the Taipans

With a lot of pressure on the Phoenix to not make it five losses on the run, this was an important game for them to win. And that they did, running out 12 point winners against the Taipans at the Cairns Convention Centre.

The first quarter opened with a quick score from the Taipans' Keanu Pinder, before Phoenix found their rhythm through Xavier Munford and went on a 8-0 run. 

Brandon Ashley was called for an early foul, which saw Dane Pineau receive some early burn and he contributed immediately on the offensive boards. 

Scott Machado tied the score with a three before young gun Lachlan Barker slotted a floater to put the Phoenix up 24-22 into the first break. 

The second quarter saw Munford and Machado go bucket for bucket. Munford had his second consecutive big half with 17 points and Phoenix went into the main break up 43-38.

(Munford had 17 points in the first half and started the Phoenix on a high.)

As the second half started, Ashley returned and started to take over the game scoring a quick five points and three minutes into the quarter the Phoenix had blown the lead out to 12. 

Nathan Jawai and Majok Deng scored some points to close the gap but a late bucket from Tohi Smith-Milner got Phoenix back into a double figure lead heading into the last quarter.

A bit of deja-vu with Pinder starting the last quarter off with an easy bucket. This is the quarter that Phoenix had to improve on, and that they did in Ashley. As the quarter went on, he had stayed out of foul trouble and Phoenix started the last on a 10-3 run. 

The Taipans struggled from beyond the arc shooting 5-29. Ashley was the key for the Phoenix in the last with a career high 25 points and Phoenix took the win by 12 and ended their losing streak.

Phoenix have a quick turnaround as they head to Adelaide for another important game on Sunday afternoon.

The Result

Phoenix 86 - 74 Taipans 

The Numbers

Phoenix

Ashley 25 points, 4 rebounds

Munford 23 points, 5 rebounds

Creek 14 points, 8 rebounds

Taipans

McCall 14 points 10 rebounds

(Ashley had a stellar second half with scoring a career high 25 points.)

The Turning Point

With Ashley back on the court to start the second quarter, he took on Pinder and scored five points. This started off Phoenix’s run for the second half and the double point lead.

The Player of the Game

You can’t go past Munford starting off the game with 17 points in the first half but Brandon Ashley turned it on in the second. Ashley stayed out of foul trouble and scored a career high 25 points to help Phoenix get the win and the player of the game.

The Play of the Game

Munford’s tough buckets in the first quarter created the momentum for the Phoenix. On one drive he went baseline, took the contact, and made the basket while almost horizintial.

(Reuben Te Rangi in action against the Taipans.)

From the Coach

Simon Mitchell

"Guys did a really good job of finding a body out of that and cleaning up and I thought that helped us get a bit of momentum in the game. Obviously Xavier Munford in the first half was outstanding and then Bash took over in the second half. It was just pleasing to have a little bit of balance of taking off the dribble, pick and roll action and also being able to settle into the post and playing off that."

From the Player

Brandon Ashley

"Staying out of foul trouble has definitely been the biggest thing for me. Really in this league, not only this year but even in two year ago with the Breakers. And being able to just out there on the floor and having an impact it felt really good."

CLICK HERE for tickets to our next home game, Throwdown XVI

Kadek Thatcher for Phoenix Media (25/3/22)