The Cairns Taipans are an Australian professional basketball team based in Cairns, Queensland. The Taipans compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at the Cairns Convention Centre, known colloquially as "The Snakepit".
The Taipans were founded in 1999, entering the National Basketball League (NBL) for the 1999âÂÂ2000 NBL season. Led by head coach Rod Popp, the Taipans' debut season ended with a 2âÂÂ26 record. The Taipans failed to qualify for the post-season in their first four seasons. In the 2003âÂÂ04 NBL season, the Taipans defeated the Perth Wildcats 103âÂÂ96 in an elimination final at the Cairns Convention Centre. In winning their first final, the Taipans moved on to the quarter-finals, where they were defeated 110âÂÂ88 by the West Sydney Razorbacks. After missing the finals in 2004âÂÂ05, the Taipans made three straight finals appearances between 2005âÂÂ06 and 2007âÂÂ08.
In December 2008, the Taipans were placed into voluntary administration. As a result, coach Alan Black was sacked and imports Larry Abney and Dave Thomas were let go. The rest of the team had to agree to a blanket 45 per cent pay cut for the rest of the season. Less than 12 months later, the Taipans were again in financial trouble â at the time, the club was almost $350,000 over budget and had only recorded a profit in one of the previous four months. In response, Basketball Australia and Cairns Regional Council vowed to continue supporting the cash-strapped Taipans.
The 2010âÂÂ11 NBL season saw the Taipans reach their first NBL Grand Final series behind star trio Ron Dorsey, Ayinde Ubaka and Daniel Dillon. They faced the New Zealand Breakers and lost game one 85âÂÂ67. In game two, they tied the series with an 85âÂÂ81 double-overtime win. It marked the first time in NBL history a play-off match was decided in double overtime. After Breakers guard C. J. Bruton hit a three-pointer in the dying seconds of regulation to send the match into overtime, Dorsey responded with a three-pointer at the buzzer at the end of the first overtime to force the match into double overtime. With momentum on their side, the Taipans were able to finish out the match on top. The Breakers went on to win 71âÂÂ53 in game three after import pair Ubaka and Dorsey shot 4-of-26 between them, as the Taipans finished the season as runners-up. Following the season, Dorsey, Ubaka and Dillon all left Cairns to join the Melbourne Tigers, each departing the Taipans after just one season.
The 2014âÂÂ15 NBL season saw the Taipans clinch their first ever NBL minor premiership. They finished the regular season in first place with a 21âÂÂ7 record, becoming the first regional team to finish on top of the ladder since the Geelong Supercats in 1984. The Taipans also made history by using the same starting five of Scottie Wilbekin (Point guard), Cameron Gliddon (Shooting guard), Stephen Weigh (Small forward), Alex Loughton (Power forward) and Matt Burston (Centre) all season. They went on to reach their second NBL Grand Final series, where they once again faced the New Zealand Breakers. Despite having home court advantage, the Taipans were defeated 86âÂÂ71 in game one and 83âÂÂ81 in game two. Breakers forward Ekene Ibekwe hit a game-winning fade-away shot in game two to clinch the series.
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