The Cairns Taipans have won a thrilling North Queensland derby 87-81 in over-time against their archrivals Townsville at the Cairns Convention Centre on Saturday night.
With Cyclone Olga knocking on their doorstep, more than 4,000 screaming fans were treated to a pulsating match. Dusty Rychart was the main star, single handedly pulling the Taipans back into the match when it threatened to drift away early in the third term. He was well supported by Rich Melzer, Skip Mills and Phill Jones who each contributed with big plays at key times.
Even inside the final minute of normal time it looked like another valiant effort that would come up short for the Taipans until Mills almost lifted the roof draining a huge triple from the top of the arc to send the game into over-time.
When over-time arrived the Taipans were at their best. They were never headed and went on to record their most cherished win of the season.
The hosts burst into action from tip off and held a comfortable 23-15 lead at the first break.
The Crocs hit back and dominated the second term on the back of some excellent offensive rebounding and strong defence. While the Taipans offence fell stagnant Townsville exploded scoring 19 of the last 23 points of the term to take a 43-37 lead into half-time.
Russell Hinder drained a big three to open the second half. When Rolan Roberts followed up with a dunk the lead was out to 11 at 48-37 and the Taipans looked to be in a big hole. But up stepped Rychart who drilled eight of the next ten points as the Snakes went on a 10-0 run to close the gap to one.
The big partisan crowd were on their feet with a minute to play in the third when a Jones lay-up on the fast break gave them the lead outright again at 55-53. A lead they held going into the last break 57-54.
Both teams went basket for basket to open the final term before a Brad Williamson triple grabbed the lead back for the Crocs 62-61.
Melzer then exploded with five points in two plays as the Taipans opened up a four-point lead. But in stepped Peter Crawford to drilled back to back triples and the Crocs lead again 68-66 inside five minutes to play.
Just when it looked like the Crocs were making all the key stops, Rychart again stepped up nailing a huge three from the baseline to put the hosts within two, and after Williams and Mills traded free throws the Crocs lead 73-71 inside the final minute.
The Taipans made the stop on Corey Williams but when Mills turned it over it all looked lost after Williamson had added an extra free throw. But Mills quickly turned hero hitting the clutch three from the top of the arc to level it up with 12.4sec on the clock.
The Crocs set up for one last play. ‘Homicide’ Williams drove to the hole, but as the ball rimmed out, over-time beckoned.
The hosts made the running in the opening two minutes of over-time with Mills opening the scoring and then Jones converting his own intercept on the fast break. When Rychart hit a couple from the stripe the Snakes lead by 6 and looked to skipping away with it. (80-74).
The Crocs got on the board with a free throw, but were right back into it with three-pointers to Michael Cedar and Crawford split only by a Rychart basket bought it back to a one point game at 82-81 with a minute to play.
The hosts owned the final minute and went on to record their sweetest victory of the season.
The Taipans lift their season to 10-15 and now have a ten day break before hosting Perth. The Crocs slip to 13-10 and will host the Breakers on Wednesday night.
Cairns Taipans 87 (Rychart 21, Mills 16, Melzer 14)
Townsville Crocodiles 81 (Crawford 16, Williams 13, Williamson 11)
Overtime @ Cairns Convention Centre, 23/1/2010, Crowd: 4123
