By Steve Barrett
Bryce Cotton has shrugged off a horrific shooting night to help the Perth Wildcats stun the Adelaide 36ers 94-89 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, snapping a five-game losing streak.
Cotton was held to just three points on 1-of-9 shooting at three-quarter time on Saturday night, before flicking the switch to stun the 9071 fans – the Sixers’ biggest ever home crowd – into silence.
Bryce Cotton of the Perth Wildcats and Mitch McCarron of the 36ers during the round 6 match.Credit:Sarah Reed/Getty
The three-time league MVP buried four three-pointers to spearhead a 14-0 burst which turned a five-point deficit into a nine-point lead inside three minutes.
Under-fire Wildcats import Brady Manek defied his critics with a career-best 25-point haul.
“We had multiple contributors – everyone who came in did a great job,” Perth coach John Rillie said.
“Disappointing the way we have been playing but I always had the belief with these guys that it was going to come to fruition at some stage.”
TaShawn Thomas in action for the Perth Wildcats at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.Credit:Sarah Reed/Getty
Manek was particularly damaging early, drilling two triples and throwing down a huge dunk in the first term.
Adelaide conceded a 7-0 headstart and fell in a 21-8 hole, forcing coach CJ Bruton to call a time-out.
In the opening stanza, the 36ers trailed Perth in assists 8-1 while leading the turnover count 7-0.
The Sixers lifted their game in the second period and went about chipping into the deficit, tying the game on Craig Randall’s massive bomb on the halftime buzzer.
Adelaide led by one point at three-quarter time and looked to be easing their way into the driver’s seat before Cotton and Manek ended those dreams.
Americans Robert Franks (24 points) and Antonius Cleveland (22) impressed for the 36ers, while Randall (13 points at 29 per cent) endured a streaky night off the bench on his return from injury.
“We tried to stay in touch with him [Cotton], make him work and earn every bucket – he’s a hard check,” Adelaide coach CJ Bruton said.
“At the end of games, you know Bryce is going to be around.
“He’s sniffing, he’s looking for blood and they’re hunting for him.
“Manek was due for a game and I was hoping it wouldn’t be against us.”
AAP
