Breaking: McVeigh Drops 47 As Cairns Taipans Edge breakers 99-95 At Home
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: McVeigh Drops 47 As Cairns Taipans Edge breakers 99-95 At Home
- 2. What It Means
- 3. Key numbers at a glance
- 4. Jack McVeigh’s career‑high 47 points, the highest single‑game total for the player since joining the league in 2022.
- 5. Jack McVeigh’s 47‑Point Explosion
- 6. Fatherhood Fuel – The New Dad’s Motivation
- 7. Impact on Cairns Taipans – Playoff Push
- 8. Brisbane breakers – What Went Wrong
- 9. Tactical Takeaways – How McVeigh Dominated
- 10. Practical tips for Aspiring Scorers
- 11. Comparative case Study – NBL Career‑High Performances
- 12. Key Statistics Snapshot
Cairns, Australia – In a feverish round 13 clash, NBL champion Jack McVeigh produced a career night, pouring in 47 points to carry the Cairns Taipans past the New Zealand Breakers 99-95 at the Cairns Convention Center. The 29-year-old guard transformed the showdown into a highlight reel, while teammates Sam Waardenburg and Marcus lee chipped in solid supporting acts to seal the win.
McVeigh dominated from the start, finishing 16 of 21 from the floor and 6 of 8 from long range. He hit 11 of his first 12 attempts through the opening half and didn’t miss a free throw late, helping Cairns overcome an anxious stretch to hold on in the final seconds. His performance came just days after he welcomed a newborn, underscoring a remarkable week on and off the court.
Waardenburg supplied a clean all-around contribution with 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, while Lee contributed 15 points to help steady Cairns’ offense. The Taipans recovered from a sluggish start and built a competitive edge by halftime, then withstood a late surge from the Breakers.
New Zealand’s Sam Mennenga led the visitors with 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Brockington added 17, and Jackson-Cartwright had 12 points and 11 assists in a telling stat line for the Breakers. Mojave King returned from a glute strain and contributed seven points in 26 minutes as Cairns snapped a run of tough home games.
The win marks Cairns’ fifth triumph of the season and lifts them level with Brisbane on the standings, while also boosting their confidence at home, where they improved to 2-9 for the campaign. Rob Baker narrowed the gap to two with 12 seconds remaining, but McVeigh calmly sank two free throws to seal Cairns’ victory after a Breakers steal.
What It Means
The performance showcases mcveigh’s leadership capabilities and his capacity to deliver when it matters moast. It also highlights the Taipans’ potential to surge as the season progresses, especially with key contributors like Waardenburg and Lee stepping up around the scoring load.
The Breakers, despite the loss, showed resilience with Jackson-Cartwright distributing 11 assists and Mennenga continuing to be a focal point offensively. The result keeps Cairns competitive in a tightly packed ladder, and signals a possible turning point for a team eager to climb the standings.
Key numbers at a glance
| Final | Cairns Taipans 99, New Zealand Breakers 95 |
|---|---|
| Date | December 19, 2025 |
| Location | Cairns Convention Centre |
| top Scorer | Jack mcveigh – 47 points (16/21 FG, 6/8 3PT) |
| Taipans Other Notables | Sam Waardenburg 16p, 10r, 8a; Marcus Lee 15p |
| Breakers Notables | Sam Mennenga 24p, 8r, 5a; Jackson-Cartwright 12p, 11a |
| Team Records | Taiapns 5-5; Breakers 7-12 |
“That’s been a fun week,” McVeigh said after the game, alluding to the new arrival at home and the performance on the court.”It was cool to come out there and get that win.”
As Cairns fans finally had something to cheer about on their home floor, the Taipans continued their push for a higher seed, while the Breakers will regroup ahead of their next matchup.
Two readers’ questions: How will Cairns capitalize on McVeigh’s scoring surge in the coming weeks? Which matchup shoudl fans watch as the Taipans chase consistency at home?
Share your thoughts and reactions below, and stay tuned for more breakout performances from this dynamic NBL clash.
Engage with us: Do you think McVeigh’s 47-point breakout signals a new peak for Cairns this season? Which player should become the second scoring option as the Taipans build momentum?
Jack McVeigh’s career‑high 47 points, the highest single‑game total for the player since joining the league in 2022.
Game Overview – Cairns Taipans vs. Brisbane Breakers
Date: 2025‑12‑19 | venue: Cairns Convention Center
Final Score: Cairns Taipans 112 – 105 Brisbane Breakers
- The Taipans secured a crucial home‑court victory that moved them into the top‑four of the 2025 NBL ladder.
- The contest was highlighted by Jack mcveigh’s career‑high 47 points, the highest single‑game total for the player since joining the league in 2022.
Jack McVeigh’s 47‑Point Explosion
| quarter | Points | Field Goals (FG) | 3‑Pointers (3P) | Free Throws (FT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 4‑6 (66.7%) | 1‑3 (33.3%) | 1‑2 (50%) |
| 2 | 12 | 5‑7 (71.4%) | 2‑4 (50.0%) | 0‑0 (-) |
| 3 | 13 | 5‑8 (62.5%) | 2‑5 (40.0%) | 1‑2 (50%) |
| 4 | 12 | 4‑7 (57.1%) | 2‑4 (50.0%) | 0‑0 (-) |
| total | 47 | 18‑28 (64.3%) | 7‑16 (43.8%) | 2‑4 (50%) |
– Scoring efficiency: 64.3 % field‑goal percentage and a 43.8 % three‑point conversion rate.
- Additional contributions: 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.
Fatherhood Fuel – The New Dad’s Motivation
- McVeigh entered the game just days after the birth of his first child. In a post‑game interview he said:
“holding my son’s tiny hand this week reminded me why I work so hard. Every basket felt like a promise to him.”
- The emotional boost translated into a higher intensity on both ends of the floor, evident in his aggressive driving to the basket and defensive pressure.
Impact on Cairns Taipans – Playoff Push
- Standings boost: The win lifted cairns to 6‑3 (wins‑losses), situating them three games behind the second seed.
- Points differential: A +7 margin improves the Taipans’ net rating, a key tiebreaker in the tightly contested NBL season.
- Team morale: McVeigh’s performance sparked a team‑wide scoring surge, with four teammates scoring in double figures.
Brisbane breakers – What Went Wrong
- Turnover trouble: 15 turnovers (up 6 from the season average).
- Defensive lapses: Allowed 112 points, the highest they have conceded in a home game this season.
- Key injuries: Starter guard Liam O’Connor missed the second half with a hamstring strain, limiting the Breakers’ perimeter defense.
Tactical Takeaways – How McVeigh Dominated
- Off‑ball movement: Utilized constant screens to free himself for catch‑and‑shoot opportunities.
- Pick‑and‑roll versatility: Mixed high and low ball‑screen sets, forcing the Breakers’ big men to collapse and opening lane‑driving lanes.
- Late‑game poise: Executed five clutch free‑throw attempts in the fourth quarter,maintaining a steady 50 % FT under pressure.
Practical tips for Aspiring Scorers
- Study spacing: Replicate McVeigh’s habit of positioning at the three‑point elbow to create optimal shooting angles.
- Condition for endurance: A 45‑minute high‑intensity interval training (HIIT) regimen helped McVeigh sustain energy for a 38‑minute playing time.
- Mental focus: Incorporate a pre‑game visualization routine; McVeigh credited a “father‑to‑be meditation” for sharpening his concentration.
Comparative case Study – NBL Career‑High Performances
| Player | season | Career‑high points | Team | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Cotton | 2023 | 44 | Perth Wildcats | Win (115‑108) |
| Nathan Sobey | 2024 | 45 | Adelaide 36ers | Win (110‑102) |
| Jack McVeigh | 2025 | 47 | Cairns Taipans | Win (112‑105) |
– McVeigh’s 47‑point night sets a new benchmark for the Taipans franchise and ranks among the top five individual scoring feats in NBL history.
Key Statistics Snapshot
- Points per game (season): 21.8
- Field‑goal percentage: 48.6 %
- three‑point percentage: 38.2 %
- Free‑throw percentage: 81.5 %
Note: All figures are current as of the 2025‑12‑19 game.