Sport
31 May, 2026
Mackay second best
THE Cairns Dolphins and Cairns Marlins produced a dominant Saturday night at Trinity Ford Stadium, with both sides recording impressive victories over Mackay in round six of the NBL1 North competition.
The Dolphins opened the evening with a thrilling 84-81 win over the Mackay Meteorettes in one of the games of the round.
Cairns came out firing offensively, piling on 26 first-quarter points to take early control before surviving a late Mackay charge to secure the three-point victory.
After leading by nine at half-time, the Dolphins continued to push the tempo in the third term and carried a double-digit advantage into the final quarter.
Mackay stormed home late, scoring 22 points in the final period, but Cairns held its composure in the closing moments to protect the lead and claim an important home win.
The victory continues the Dolphins’ strong recent form and further strengthens their push up the NBL1 North ladder as the season begins to heat up.
The Marlins then delivered an even more commanding performance in the men’s clash, overpowering the Mackay Meteors 110-83 in front of a vocal home crowd.
Cairns was made to work early, trailing after the opening quarter before taking control in the second.
The Marlins exploded after halftime, pouring in 62 second-half points to blow the game wide open and remain unbeaten this season.
Kody Stattmann led the scoring with 24 points, while Luca Yates added an outstanding double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Amarco Doyle also impressed with 19 points and nine rebounds as the Marlins showcased their depth and offensive firepower.
In the post-game press conference Marlins head coach Joel Khalu said “the depth in our group is one of our biggest strengths.” He commended the team on their play, filling in for injured Marlin Jimmy Mitchell.
