NBL: Clutch Cotton’s fourth straight 40-point game, Taipans’ twelfth straight loss
Wildcats scoring machine Bryce Cotton (44 points and six assists) continues his domination of the NBL, recording his fourth-straight 40-point game in a 128-92 victory over the Taipans.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Wildcats scoring machine Bryce Cotton (44 points and six assists) continues his domination of the NBL, recording his fourth-straight 40-point game in a 128-92 victory over the Taipans. The superstar guard became the first player since Andrew Gaze in 1991 to score 40+ points in four consecutive games.
Cotton has been on an unbelievable shooting spree over the past three games leading into the tie, averaging 49.3 points.
This includes a historic 59 points against the Breakers (18-28 FG), 40 points (15-23 FG) against the Hawks, and 49 points (14-21 FG) against the 36ers.
“Just tried to stay in the moment,” Cotton said. “I’m not making (the record) bigger than what it is. It’s more important that we got the win (on the road). We’ve come a long way since the start of the season, with all the adversity we’ve had to face, we’re coming together at the right time.”
Early in the game, Cotton struggled to find the basket, as the Taipans deployed an intense blitz, forcing his teammates to step up.
Cotton had just four points at quarter time, with Rob Edwards, Jonah Antonio and Pedro Bradshaw all rotating as the match-up with a constant secondary defender zoning across.
The Taipans broke out to a strong first-quarter lead (28-22) trading scores from range, with point guard Taran Armstrong (24 points, eight assists, and five rebounds) leading the way with a combination of slashing and shooting.
Wildcats guns Dylan Windler (18 points, five assists, and four steals), Elijah Pepper (10 points), and Keanu Pinder (13 points and 10 rebounds) shared the scoring load early.
“When you play the right way you get rewarded,” Wildcats coach John Rillie said.
“(Bryce) had to be patient early, he trusted his teammates and then he was the recipient of their execution and his trust early on, when teams want to (double-team) we have to make them pay and capitalise with other guys. We did a great job of sharing the ball.”
Windler, in particular, was dangerous from range, launching five made threes, including two from absurd distances.
The Taipans had the lead at halftime (57-54), before the Wildcats went on a monster run with 74-point second half.
Cotton caught fire in the third quarter and broke the game open with 31 points by the close of the third quarter, before reaching the historic feat in the final term.
Taipans coach Adam Forde said you pick your poison with (different defensive) coverages with the defenders more conservative with Cotton in the second half.
Detroit deadeye Rob Edwards (20 points and six rebounds) was another player in rhythm early, but struggled to capitalise on his three-point opportunities in the second half (2-10 from three).
The Taipans’ losing streak has now stretched to 12 games and after losing three of their last four games in the final quarter, this time the contest was effectively decided by the end of the third.
Perth has now won 15 of its last 17 games against the Taipans.
The 128 points is a 40-minute era record for the Wildcats, while their 74 second half points is also a club 40-minute era record.
Waardenburg woes
Taipans Sam Waardenburg strained a ligament in his thumb during last weekend’s double header and was a big out heading into the game joining Akoldah Gak (knee) and Dillon Stith (knee) on the sidelines.
The big man who can play either power forward or centre has been on a remarkable run of form this season, averaging 15.3 points, seven rebounds and 3.5 assists per game this season.
His leadership, playmaking, rebounding and outside shooting was sorely missed in the loss, particularly when the side was forced to deploy a small-ball line-up in the third quarter.
Waardenburg will miss the next fixture, but has a chance to return for the Boxing Day clash in Round 14.
Teammate Tanner Groves had one of his better games of the season, recording 23 points (8-13 FG) and hitting 3-8 from beyond the arc.
“Tanner tried to galvanise the group and bring energy (in the second half),” Taipans coach Adam Forde said.
“He came out with intent, there’s no quit in him, we needed that from him especially with Waardenburg out.”
Keanu Pinder returns
Former Taipan Keanu Pinder returned to face his former side at the Snakepit after missing the past three matches due to illness.
Pinder, who won back-to-back NBL Most Improved Player awards, was an important inclusion particularly given import Kristian Doolittle’s absence due to a groin injury sustained against Illawarra last Friday night.
Rillie said the 29-year old was impressive in his return.
“Coming off the bench he brought great energy,” he said.
“He kept it simple, sometimes players get excited playing against their former side. He got shots around the rim, his defensive energy (was important) and he ran the floor.”
Pinder recorded a +32 while on the court.
Forde addresses future, red-hot Bryce Cotton
Staring down the barrel of a twelfth straight loss.
The Orange Army will welcome a star-studded Wildcats side to the Snakepit on Saturday night with a superstar scorer primed to continue his historic streak.
Wildcats guard Bryce Cotton has been on an unbelievable scoring spree over the past three games averaging 49.3 points, including a historic 59 points against the Breakers, 40 points against the Hawks and 49 points against the 36ers.
Forde said Jonah Antonio – who limited Bullets’ MVP-candidate Parker Jackson Cartwright to 11 points in round nine – would get the match-up against the three-time NBL champion.
“I don’t remember the last time someone was averaging 50 points on return from injury,” Forde said.
“We’ll come out with a game plan to try to counter it but Bryce Cotton is a hell of a player. So it’s going to be a great challenge.
“Jonah’s been our best on-ball defender, it’s important we keep going with what he is capable of doing defensively. This is going to be a great match-up for him.”
Pedro Bradshaw said if the match-up turned sideways early, Edwards or himself would get it done.
“Usually I will (take the assignment), or if Rob (Edwards) is feeling good, we will switch,” Bradshaw said.
With most of the side returning from the sidelines after a horror run to start the season – only Akoldah Gak is still out with a January return most likely.
The Taipans have room for optimism, but the inability to close out games in the fourth quarter was once again a theme of the round 11 road trip.
Particularly against SEM Phoenix – scoring 32 points in the third quarter, before posting just 12 points in the final term.
Taipans coach Adam Forde has addressed his future in the Far North.
“One of the best pieces of advice that Trevor Gleeson told (me) was ‘if you ever lose your job, you want to do it on your terms’,” Forde said.
“This is a brilliant situation that I’ve had here in Cairns. I’ve got to pick the squad, the staff, we can sit here and talk (about) injuries and illnesses.
“The reality is, this is the model that I wanted to put together. We wanted to go young. We’re not just talking about this season, we’re talking about just in general how you lose players in the off-season to better offers and bigger markets, but that was the route we wanted to go.
“I’ve always had a level of comfort with my standing and Cairns has always been fantastic. This is the industry, we are a results driven industry, there’s no one more comfortable about that than me.
“I don’t lose sleep over that. I lose sleep over trying to get Rob (Edwards) more involved in the offence and what we need to do with our defensive assignments.”
Alex Higgins-Titsha, who was signed as a development player after an impressive showing at the Taipans open gym call-out during pre-season, was a bright spark in the loss, igniting the side off the bench in the third quarter.
Forde said the 24-year old made the most of his opportunity against SEM Phoenix last Saturday night.
“He played really well,” Forde said. “When you talk about opportunities and guys capitalising on their moments, Alex is one who has (risen) to the occasion. He knows what he needs to do mentally to prepare for this.”
More Coverage
Originally published as NBL: Clutch Cotton’s fourth straight 40-point game, Taipans’ twelfth straight loss
Watch replays: Reds continue Langer dominance against Ipswich
The defending Langer Trophy champions continued its winning ways in Tuesday’s clash against an Ipswich side that included the brother of an Origin gun. Watch all three REPLAYS here.
Live stream: Payne Cup rivals not afraid of bash in clash
Two historic rivals will go head-to-head in a Payne Cup showdown that could have serious finals ramifications. Watch the best of NQ battle LIVE in a big triple header on Thursday.