Pre-Game Lead-Up: Despite already having a finals spot all sewn up, this game is still of importance to Perth, they need a victory to try and avoid facing Melbourne in the first week of the finals. Although the other teams are Adelaide and NZ, so no matter who Perth face, it’ll be a tough task. While simply put, for Cairns, this game is all about trying to win back some pride and respect to their club after they have suffered 16 losses so far this season.
Perth last round lost 94-82 to Adelaide. They lost three out of the four quarters and the first quarter they lost 31-17. While they could only manage to put up 16 in the second. The only saving grace for them from this game was the 4th period, in which they won 26-15. Bryce Cotton shot a dismal 5-18 on his way to 14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal. Angus Brandt also had 12 points, 13 rebounds and an assist and a block each. Of the bench, Lucas Walker had 13 points, 2 boards and a steal. While Clint Steindl had 10 points, 3 rebounds and a dime. He also shot a bad 3-8, while Wagstaff also shot a laughable 2-10. For the Taipans, in their last match, they came close but couldn’t quite get over the line as they lost 93-86 to Sydney. They were down by 7 heading into half-time and 12 at the end of Q3. And despite their best efforts in winning Q4, 22-17, they couldn’t quite pull it back enough to win the match. Alex Loughton had a very good performance with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. While Weeks scored 18 and Gliddon 13. Mitch McCarron also got 14 points, 5 boards and 5 dimes. While of the pine, Heuir scored 10, had 2 rebounds and got a steal.
What Should Happen: A Wildcats victory. Yes Perth might be struggling, but so are Cairns and they’re coming of a lost to the last-placed Kings, so it doesn’t really get much worse than that. And leading the Wildcats to an all-important confidence-boosting victory should be Bryce Cotton. Last round he shot 5-18, but for the season he’s shooting 44%, while getting just under 20 points per game. The former Memphis Grizzlie is about to erupt against the poor old Taipans.