Import duo star, but 36ers fall to Wildcats

Massive contributions from import pair Kendric Davis and Montrezl Harrell was not enough as Adelaide 36ers fell 112-104 to Perth Wildcats at RAC Arena on Friday night.

Davis was everywhere for the 36ers, scoring a team-high 34 points to go with eight assists and three rebounds, while Harrell added 24 points and six rebounds before fouling out in the final stanza.

Captain DJ Vasiljevic added 16 points, while Lat Mayen was spectacular at both ends of the court for 13 points, four rebounds and two assists.

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Harrell opened the scoring for the visitors to snap an early 4-0 run by the Wildcats, then Vasiljevic tied the scores after a tough drive to the hoop.

The 36ers then scored the next 10 points through two jump shots from Harrell and one from Vasiljevic.

Harrell was the key focus of the Adelaide offense in the opening quarter, he had 10 points as the 36ers held a 14-11 lead.

Davis then scored on consecutive trips, but the Wildcats went on a 7-2 run before Adelaide responded, scoring nine of the final 11 points of the quarter to take a 27-20 lead into the first break.

Harrell continued to tick the scoreboard over to open the second quarter, scoring on three straight attempts as the 36ers kept a 33-26 lead.

But Perth bounced back, going on a 6-0 run before another Davis jump shot, before Mayen then Vasiljevic connected on three-pointers to open a 41-35 advantage.

Davis then took over with Harrell in foul trouble, adding nine straight points before finding Sunday Dech inside for a three-point play then swished three free throws as Adelaide took a 56-49 lead into the main interval.

Harrell opened the second half just like the first, with a basket inside before Vasiljevic swished another three-pointer for a 61-51 lead.

Another Davis three-pointer extended the 36ers’ lead to 12 points (66-54) before the Wildcats scored nine straight before a Mayen jump shot.

Perth went on a 7-0 run to take the lead back for the first time since the opening quarter before a Vasiljevic jump shot, then an Isaac Humphries layup, but the Wildcats took an 81-78 lead into the final 10 minutes.

Harrell swished a three-pointer to start the final quarter, but the Wildcats then opened up a five-point lead before Humphries scored inside.

Mayen then tied the game with a three-pointer, then came up with a huge block shot before Davis found Mayen in transition for another three-pointer to give Adelaide the lead back 89-86.

But the Wildcats then went on a 13-2 run to open up a 99-91 lead before Davis again took over the contest, getting to the free throw line then swishing a three-pointer before Dech swished a three-pointer to cut the Perth lead to 102-100.

But that was as close as the 36ers got as Adelaide finish the NBL25 regular season with a 13-16 record and will now have to await other results before finding out the final position on the ladder.

PERTH WILDCATS 112 (Cotton 49, Pinder 18, Windler 15, Doolittle 14) def ADELAIDE 36ERS 104 (Davis 34, Harrell 24, Vasiljevic 16, Mayen 13) at RAC Arena.
BOX SCORE