'Everywhere' McVeigh's clutch three sinks Bullets

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Million-dollar man Jack McVeigh was "everything and everywhere" in Cairns Taipans first win — 83-82 — of NBL26 posting a near triple double in 39 minutes against the Brisbane Bullets at the Cairns Convention Centre.

"He was everything and everywhere," Cairns head coach Adam Forde declared.

"I played him basically 39 minutes. Incredible motor. That’s what we brought him in for — making plays off rub action with Marcus, hitting big shots.

"He’s only finding his feet, but he’ll thrive as he gets more comfortable."

McVeigh, who spent a year in Houston as a NBA two-way player, hit a clutch three to put the Taipans up 81-79 with 1:41 to go after the Bullets came back from 12 down with 6:19 left in the fourth quarter. McVeigh finished with 19 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.

"It was ugly,' Forde admitted.

"But it was always — we knew it was going to be ugly, just with the state that we’re kind of in at the moment."

Brisbane was gritty. They lost point guard Sam McDaniel after just 3:41 with an ankle sprain compounded by the loss of Mitch Norton to a knee injury in Round 1.

"Cairns versus Brisbane — there are always going to be battles," Brisbane head coach Stu Lash said.

"Both teams seemed to be hanging on by a thread down the stretch, with a lot of guys cramping and fighting through.

"I give our guys credit for fighting back into the game, but we also put ourselves in that position. We don’t move the ball offensively as a team, we fall into one-pass shots, and that puts us in tough positions on both ends of the floor.

The compete was there — that’s all I can ask for right now. In defeat, it’s an opportunity to learn and get better. That’s our messaging. We’ve got a quick turnaround —Adelaide on Sunday — with some wounded bodies, but we’ll be ready for the fight."

Clutch Snapshot (Last 2:00)

• 1:52 – Casey Prather layup puts it 78–79 (momentum swing).
• 1:41 – Jack McVeigh 3 (assist Andrews) swings it back 81–79.
• 1:29 – Tyrell Harrison earns two FTs but misses both (big miss).
• 1:27 – Kody Stattmann goes 2/2 FTs → 83–79.
• 1:07 – JFL splits at the line → 83–80.
• 0:40 – JFL driving layup → 83–82.
• 0:07 & 0:02 – JFL gets two looks (blocked at :07; misses floater at :02); Alex Higgins-Titsha controls both late defensive boards to seal it.

Key Details

• Result: Cairns Taipans 83 def. Brisbane Bullets 82
• When: September 26, 2025
• Where: Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns

By the Numbers

• Jack McVeigh (Cairns Taipans) starred with 19 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in 38 minutes.
• Tyrell Harrison (Brisbane Bullets) scored 22 points, and had seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block in 30 minutes.

What Happened

The Taipans established control early, taking a 21-17 lead in the first quarter before extending their advantage to 45-41 by halftime. Cairns maintained their momentum through the third period, outscoring Brisbane 16-15 to take a 61-56 lead into the final frame. The Bullets fought back in the fourth, putting up 26 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Taipans' early advantage.

In a game featuring 18 lead changes, Cairns' defence made crucial stops in the final minutes. The Taipans built their largest lead of 12 points during their game-high 12-point scoring run, showcasing their offensive firepower at critical moments. Brisbane's best run of seven consecutive points wasn't enough to swing the momentum permanently in their favour.

Jack McVeigh delivered a near triple-double performance with 19 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, falling just short of the statistical milestone. Admiral Schofield matched McVeigh's 19 points while adding six rebounds and three assists in a strong two-way performance that helped secure the win for Cairns.

The Taipans' balanced offensive attack featured five players scoring eight or more points. Their 38.5% shooting from the field (30-from-78) was complemented by connecting on nine three-pointers compared to just two for Brisbane. The Bullets actually shot better from the field at 42.1% (32-from-76) but struggled mightily from beyond the arc, hitting only 10.5% of their attempts.

Defensively, Cairns protected the rim with four blocks to Brisbane's one, creating crucial stops during key stretches. The Taipans' tenacious defence forced 11 Brisbane turnovers while also controlling the battle on the boards with a 50-48 rebounding edge, including 14 offensive rebounds that led to valuable second-chance points in a one-point victory.