DJ Hogg has delivered one of the best all-round performances by a Taipans player to lead an understrength Cairns into a mouthwatering NBL Playoffs series with the Kings.
The Taipans bounced back from a tough loss to the JackJumpers in the seeding qualifier to best the Wildcats and spoil Perth superstar Bryce Cotton’s 200th game with a 91-78 win at Cairns Convention Centre.
Perth rolled into the contest after an unbelievable fourth-quarter comeback to end the Phoenix’s season on Thursday, and with the Taipans missing Tahjere McCall and Keanu Pinder, must have fancied their chances.
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But Hogg had other ideas.
The All-NBL Second Team member showed why he was selected in the merit team with a huge performance on both sides of the ball.
The go-to man from the get-go, Hogg was the everywhere man the Snakes needed but made his Herculean effort look effortless.
He finished with the most points by a Taipan in a post-season game with 32 points, hitting at 57 per cent from the field with five-of-12 from deep, nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.
Every Snake stood up.
Bul Kuol was put together a monstrous performance with 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Next Generation player Sam Waardenburg had 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Lat Mayen had eight points in his first NBL start.
The Taipans will now go on to face the Kings in the NBL Play-offs with a spot in the Championship Series on the line.
Cotton had 19 points, while Corey Webster (14), Tashawn Thomas (14) and Brady Manek (13) all hit double figures for Perth.
THAT’S THE TRACK
DJ Hogg was always going to be a key offensive weapon for the Snakes, so it should come with no surprise he had eight of his side’s first nine points.
Hogg was recognised for his outstanding campaign with selection in the All-NBL Second Team, his 17.45 points (at 44 per cent from the field), 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 steals playing a major role in Cairns being in this position at all.
With McCall and Pinder out, Hogg was the man from the jump, and his accuracy and efficiency from the field helped the Snakes establish a six-point lead at the first break.
Cairns’ man in the clutch, he landed some crucial buckets throughout the contest to add to the home side’s lead and put more pressure on Perth.
Hogg had 21 first-half points, including four-from-eight (50 per cent) from three, as Cairns held a 52-43 lead at the main break.
His block to deny Cotton with 70 seconds left in the second term earned just as loud a reaction from the home fans as any of his big hits at the other end.
It’s going to be tough for Cairns to retain Hogg’s services beyond this season as he showed night-in, night-out, he can hang in a higher league.
MILESTONE MAN
Bryce Cotton brought up his 200th game in the with another typically strong performance for a Wildcats team desperate to reach the NBL Play-offs.
The man’s resume speaks for itself.
He’s a three-time MVP – many say he should’ve picked up a fourth a week ago – and three-time NBL championship winner, and is always the most dangerous man in red.
In case anyone needed a reminder of the threat he poses he hit 18 fourth-quarter points as the Wildcats dropped 41 points in the last term to end South East Melbourne’s season.
While the NBL great had 10 points at the break the Taipans held Cotton to just eight field goal attempts in the first half – an ideal outcome against one of the most lethal shooters in the league.
BIG BLOW?
The Taipans were already hurting with the loss of star forward Keanu Pinder, but the partial shoulder dislocation suffered by Tahjere McCall in the seeding qualifier truly put the side behind the eight-ball.
McCall is an integral piece of this team. He is a leader in every sense of the word, and while he was vocal on the bench, the outstanding defender wasn’t there to put his body on the line as he so often does.
According to Wildcats John Rillie, he couldn’t afford his side to focus on McCall’s absence.
“They kicked our butts without him in their lineup in Perth,” Rillie said.
“They played probably a little more disciplined without him in the lineup, and guys played with a bit more freedom offensively.”
He is expected to miss at least one week, pending the results of an MRI later in the week, which would rule him out of at least one game of the semi final series.
NBL SEMI-FINALS SCHEDULE
Sydney Kings v Cairns Taipans (3-game series)
Game 1 at Qudos Bank Arena, 7:30pm AEDT Wednesday February 15
Game 2 at Cairns Convention Centre, 7:30pm AEDT Friday February 17
Game 3 (if required) at Qudos Bank Arena, 4:00pm AEDT Sunday February 19
New Zealand Breakers v Tasmania JackJumpers (3-game series)
Game 1 at Spark Arena, 4:00pm AEDT Sunday February 12
Game 2 at MyState Bank Arena, 7:30pm AEDT Thursday February 16
Game 3 (if required) at Spark Arena, 2:00pm AEDT Sunday February 19
