36ers show fighting spirit in loss to Wildcats

Adelaide 36ers stormed back in the second half but came up short in an 82-75 loss to Perth Wildcats at RAC Arena on Friday night.

After trailing by as much as 17 points at stages in the second quarter, the 36ers fought all the way back to take the lead in the third quarter before consecutive three-pointers from NBL Next Star Alex Sarr (16 points, six rebounds) down the stretch sealed Perth’s seven-point success.

Isaac Humphries was enormous for the 36ers, scoring a team-high 18 points on 100 per cent shooting to go with four rebounds, three assists and three blocks, while Jacob Wiley added 13 points with six rebounds and four assists.  

Jason Cadee entered the starting line-up for the first time in NBL24 to great effect, finishing with 13 points and four assists but Trey Kell (10 points, five rebounds, four assists) picked up two quick fouls and had to take a seat on the bench.

Adelaide got a lot of success early out of low post entries to take a quick lead, but the Wildcats kicked into gear, going on a 12-2 run as the 36ers offense stalled.

Bryce Cotton, who scored a game-high 19 points for the home side, was held to just seven last week against the Phoenix and the three-time NBL MVP outscored himself with eight in the opening 10 minutes as Perth took a 28-17 lead to quarter time.

Kyrin Galloway stepped up to start the second quarter, hitting his second three-pointer, but the Wildcats continued to turn up the heat, extending their lead to 39-22.

Adelaide’s shooting cooled off, especially from downtown before Cadee and Wiley hit back-to-back triples, then captain Mitch McCarron connected from deep, but Perth still held a 44-31 lead at the main break.

Hampered with foul trouble, Kell got to the free throw line, Humphries scored on back-to-back possessions and when the 211cm big man found Wiley under the hoop for a lay-up, the Perth lead was reduced to 46-39.

Cadee hit a three-pointer for 51-48, then Kell made a tough lay-up for 51-50, and when Cadee converted a three-point play, Adelaide had the lead 54-53.

Humphries stepped up big time, the 2018 NBL Rookie of the Year scoring 10 points in the third quarter, but Jordan Usher (16 points, five rebounds) hit back-to-back three-pointers to give the Wildcats a 64-60 lead with 10 minutes to play.

Wiley tied the game at 64-64 with a nice floater to start the final quarter, but the Wildcats then scored the next six points.

Sunday Dech came up big for back-to-back baskets, but Cotton hit some big shots and when Corey Webster connected from long range, the Wildcats lead was 76-71 with just over three minutes to play.

Keanu Pinder (10 points, seven rebounds) fouled out with just over two minutes to play after an unsuccessful coaches challenge, but Sarr replaced the Wildcats’ off-season recruit to hit the pair of triples to seal the deal for the home side.

Adelaide now travels to Sydney for a Sunday afternoon showdown with the reigning champion Kings from 3.30pm AEDT.

PERTH WILDCATS 82 (Cotton 19, Usher 16, Sarr 16) def ADELAIDE 36ERS 75 (Humphries 18, Cadee 13, Wiley 13) at RAC Arena.

BOX SCORE