Wildcats Clinch Fourth Spot with Hard-Fought Victory Over 36ers
The Perth Wildcats have successfully navigated the final hurdle of the National Basketball League (NBL) regular season, securing a crucial 86-74 home win against the Adelaide 36ers. This victory, witnessed by a passionate crowd of 13,574 at Perth’s RAC Arena, ensures the Wildcats finish in fourth place, earning them a direct entry into the semi-finals and avoiding the sudden-death play-in qualifiers.
The Adelaide 36ers, having already cemented their second-place standing, opted to rest five-time MVP Bryce Cotton for this encounter. Cotton, a former Wildcat himself, did not feature on his old stomping ground for the season’s final regular-season clash.
The game itself proved to be a captivating contest, with the 36ers drawing first blood, igniting the scoreboard with an opening nine-point run. This early dominance prompted Wildcats coach John Rillie to introduce captain Jesse Wagstaff. The veteran forward responded emphatically, pouring in 18 points and snagging seven rebounds, including his team’s initial four points, injecting much-needed impetus into the Wildcats’ performance.
The momentum continued to swing, particularly with Elijah Pepper’s explosive first half. Pepper’s sharp shooting saw him drain five three-pointers, contributing 17 points by halftime, which propelled the Wildcats to a comfortable 48-34 lead.
The Wildcats extended their advantage to a commanding 19 points in the third quarter. However, the resilient 36ers staged a determined comeback, launching a significant 12-2 run to narrow the deficit by the close of the term.
In the final quarter, Adelaide continued to press, reducing the margin to a mere three points. Yet, in a display of grit and experience, Perth, inspired by Wagstaff’s stellar performance in his 536th NBL appearance, did just enough to fend off the 36ers and secure the vital win.
This triumph solidifies Perth’s fourth-place finish with a commendable 21-12 record. Their next challenge will be a seeding qualifier against the South East Melbourne Phoenix, where a win would guarantee them a direct passage into the Grand Final series.
Key Performers and Coach’s Reflections
Elijah Pepper was the standout performer for the Wildcats, leading all scorers with 22 points, a testament to his sharp 6-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr also made a significant impact, adding 21 points and six rebounds to the scoreboard, with a crucial 13 of those points coming in the final quarter.
Wildcats coach John Rillie expressed his satisfaction with his team’s response following their previous loss in Sydney.
“The important thing for us was to bounce back from our last performance and feel what winning was about,” Rillie stated. “For a good period of time, we’d been playing play-off basketball for us to try and get into the top four. So to keep chipping away and the way we’ve handled it, I give credit to our guys for how they’ve handled themselves to allow us to get to fourth.”
The Wildcats managed to secure the victory despite relatively quiet offensive contributions from Kristian Doolittle (five points, eight assists), Dylan Windler (zero points, six rebounds), and Ben Henshall (zero points, six boards).
36ers Look Ahead to Ignite Cup Final
For the Adelaide 36ers, their focus now shifts to the upcoming Ignite Cup final, scheduled for Sunday on the Gold Coast against the New Zealand Breakers. The 36ers concluded their regular season in second place with a strong 23-10 record.
In their final regular-season outing, key contributors for Adelaide included:
- Nick Rakocevic: A formidable presence in the paint, Rakocevic notched 18 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.
- Zylan Cheatham: Cheatham provided valuable support with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
- Flynn Cameron: Cameron orchestrated the offense effectively, dishing out seven assists to complement his 10 points.
- Isaac White: White also contributed 10 points and added six assists.
36ers coach Mike Wells conveyed his pride in his team’s efforts throughout the season.
“Super proud of this group overall and thinking about post-season and the Ignite Cup now,” Wells commented. “We won the second half, we went on a 14-4 run in the middle of it, and I thought there was really a lot of great things.”
