TAIPANS captain Alex Loughton is willing to cop the criticism for his crucial turnover, which handed the Sydney Kings the game in Cairns on Sunday afternoon.

But he insists there are deeper issues that need to be addressed too.

The affable forward was trying his best to smile yesterday as his Taipans officially opened St Francis Xavier's new multipurpose court with a few slam dunks and alley-oops.

Amid the shrieks and cheers of their tiny crowd, Loughton explained that the team needed to have a good look at their offensive strategy before Friday's trip to Townsville.

The skipper blamed a selfish habit once the hard work had been done for their heart-wrenching Sunday downfall.

"We've been getting up by 10 points and going back to individual ways and that needs to change sooner rather than later," he said.

"Certainly my turnover at the end was the icing on the cake, and we're prepared for the bad reviews, because they are deserved. But we were sitting there just about to put the clamps on them and got thirsty individually to make plays and it just didn't happen."

Loughton and his team had to linger on court post-game as their pink uniforms were auctioned in aid of Cancer Council Queensland.

That was just moments after his only turnover of the night in the final 20 seconds had given the Kings a seemingly impossible victory.

Earlier the Taipans had led by as many as 13 and had squandered several opportunities to seal the result.

"I don't think there is any worse way to lose a game," Loughton said.

"You've got to turn around and put on a brave face because it's for a good cause, but that was difficult."

The loss meant the Kings were the first team to record victories over Townsville and Cairns on the road in the same round since 2008 and means both those teams will be in desperation mode when they meet on Friday.

"Townsville (0-5) are in a real hole; they're desperate but so are we. In terms of reptile rumbles, it's going to be a dog fight," Loughton said.

"I think they just haven't been able to get it together with Gary Ervin and Larry Abney trying to find their feet. Ervin certainly hasn't been as aggressive this year but he's certainly a danger for us."

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