9 Feb 2015

Cairns extends NBL lead over Breakers

1:03 pm on 9 February 2015

The Cairns Taipans are in the box seat to win the National Basketball League's minor premiership after setting a club record and moving one win clear of the New Zealand Breakers.

Corey Webster of the Breakers bodies up on Cameron Gliddon of the Taipans.

Corey Webster of the Breakers bodies up on Cameron Gliddon of the Taipans. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Taipans have spilt their road double this weekend, beating the Sydney Kings 92-78 on Sunday after losing 65-54 at third-placed Perth on Friday, when they were held to their lowest score of the season.

Sparked by 23 points off the bench from Cameron Tragardh, Cairns recovered from an early deficit on Sunday.

The Breakers suffered a shock 79-71 away loss to lowly Townsville at the weekend.

If the Breakers lose at home to red-hot Adelaide on Thursday and Cairns beat visiting fifth-placed Melbourne the following night, the Taipans will go a long way to clinching the minor premiership before their final round fixture in New Zealand.

The Taipans' victory in Sydney represented their eighth road win of the season, their most ever in a regular season.

"My first year we won one game on the road," Cairns coach Aaron Fearne says. "We had seven wins on the road last year and go to eight now and we've still got one more (away game) in New Zealand."