The Cairns Taipans held off the New Zealand Breakers 99-95 in a high-scoring encounter at Cairns Convention Centre on Thursday, December 19th. The Taipans' offense, which had struggled recently, exploded to life, led by a career-high performance from one of their young stars. New Zealand matched Cairns shot for shot for much of the game, with the lead changing hands numerous times in a thrilling second half. In the final minutes, Cairns made the crucial defensive stops and hit their free throws to ice the game. The Breakers' late three-point attempt to tie rimmed out, sealing the Taipans' victory. This result was a vital one for Cairns in the congested middle of the league table, providing a much-needed win in front of their home fans.