Perth Wildcats crush Melbourne United on road to claim record ninth title with runaway victory

Perth Wildcats have shellshocked Melbourne United to clinch the best-of-five grand final series 3-1 with a 13-point victory, but all credit lies to the performance of one player in the first half.

Mitch Norton of Perth (left) under pressure from DJ Kennedy of Melbourne.

It had to happen eventually because Perth’s Bryce Cotton is just too good not to make it happen.

Credit to Cotton, too, the Wildcats gamebreaker did it on Sunday with Terrico White and Damien Martin early on, the pair largely indisposed due to foul trouble. Cotton powered the Wildcats to an ultra-impressive 3-1 NBL grand final series victory over Melbourne United, scoring 28 points in the 97-84 victory at Melbourne Arena in front of a crowd of 10,007.

Damian Martin and Bryce Cotton celebrate after winning the NBL championship.

United made a promising start but its efforts were derailed as Cotton knocked down 18 points in a sublime first half shooting display. Someone had to stand up for the Wildcats, the league’s most successful franchise with nine titles, and Cotton delivered.

He had help, too, after the break as White and Mitch Norton found their range to sink United’s bid to become the first Victorian club to win back-to-back championships.

Casper Ware of Melbourne United drives to the basket. Picture: Getty Images

THE SURGE

Melbourne United has built a reputation for never giving up, no matter the margin. Again on Sunday, that resilience was on show, but all too often Chris Goulding-led United’s best efforts to build any momentum was stymied by an electric Wildcats shooting display.

United led by eight points during the second quarter but from there had to play catch-up for the remainder, often clawing back to draw level or close to, only then to see the Wildcats kick clear again.

Goulding kept the hosts within striking distance with 15 points off the bench, including four-from-11 from the perimetre but the Wildcats ultimately proved too strong down the stretch.

Chris Goulding under pressure from Mitch Norton (left) of Perth. Picture: AAP

THE QUIET ACHIEVER

Take a bow, David Barlow. Not one to seek out the limelight but United veteran, who will still be hurting after Sunday’s grand final defeat, has given reason for every other 30+ year-old athlete in sports — any code — to believe.

Barlow went past six-time NBL champion David Stiff (25), playing his 26th grand final game since he debuted in the league in 2004.

The four-time NBL champion, twice with Sydney Kings and one apiece at Melbourne Tigers and Melbourne United, got United off to a flying start with 10 points, including two threes.

The 35-year-old never stopped battling the Wildcats, providing a presence at both ends, but it was ultimately in vein.

David Barlow (right) attempts to get aroud Angus Brandt. Picture: AAP

UNITED MUST BE-WARE ABOUT PRIORITY SIGNING

Casper Ware’s signature for NBL 2020 will be Melbourne United’s priority, starting this week.

The reality is Melbourne chiefs will not be able to guarantee the battered guard, who went into Sunday’s loss to Perth Wildcats with a sore spot on his knee, until close to the start of next season.

But United is desperate to retain the talented core which took the team to back-to-back grand finals.

Casper Ware is consoled by coach Dean Vickerman.

Only Chris Goulding, Mitch McCarron and development guard Sam McDaniel are signed next season, with Craig Moller and Tohi Smith-Milner having options.

Ware is on top of United’s free agency hit list, alongside Josh Boone and DJ Kennedy.

Veterans David Barlow and Alex Pledger will also be looked upon favourable when United coach Dean Vickerman and chief executive Vince Crivelli sit down to plot the 2020 roster.

“There’s a core group of players that have been pretty special over the last two years,” Vickerman said.

“We’ll celebrate this season, it didn’t pan out, but to give ourselves a chance to go back-to-back, you celebrate that... (we) will start in a couple of days… about who we want to sign before free agency.”

The free agency window starts on April 1.

Vickerman on Sunday confirmed “warrior” Ware went into game four wounded, having to crash into a battery of heavy Wildcats screens throughout the 3-1 series loss.

“He took a heavy knock in Perth and the amount of screens that he was required to get through he took multiple knocks on a spot on his knee,” Vickerman said.

“He wasn’t doubtful today but we knew he was pretty sore and at times he looked like it today but he was a warrior.”

Goulding, who scored 15 points off the bench, on Sunday praised United’s resilience to reach the decider despite being stung by the loss.

“It’s sport, there’s always a losing team,” Goulding said.

“It sucks that it was us but I don’t think anyone can deny how well Perth played.

“We didn’t make some good looks at key times this series, this game, it’s disappointing, talented guys and coaches put us in positions to succeed, when we don’t make shots and make plays it’s disappointing.”

Casper Ware played with a sore knee.