NBL Round 10 wrap: Bryce Cotton explodes while Chris Goulding waits on injury scare
Round ten was one for the books. A Bryce Cotton explosion broke a thirty year record, while United’s Chris Goulding continues to climb the all-time ranks. But an injury scare may spoil his party.
Bryce Cotton has added to his remarkable legend as one of the NBL’s greatest ever, exploding for the most points in a single game from any player in over 30 years.
Boomers great Shane Heal scored 61 for Brisbane way back in 1994, the last time anyone hit 59 or more.
It’s the equal fifth highest individual scoring outburst in NBL history, 12 short of Al Green’s league record 71 in 1984.
It’s the most points ever by a Wildcat in a single game - surpassing James Crawford’s 57 in 1987.
Important to note it’s not a 40-minute record - that’s Reg Biddings’ 63 in 1981, when the league did play 10-minute quarters, but Cotton’s outburst tops James Batemon’s modern era record of 51, which was set just two weeks ago for Brisbane - ironically against the Wildcats.
Cotton’s stunning effort, built on 18/28 from the field, 7 makes from deep and a near-perfect 16/17 from the charity stripe led the Wildcats to a 123-112 win over New Zealand.
Broke his own record too. 🙌
— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) December 1, 2024
Hear from BC post-game on his historic night.
Watch the full presser: https://t.co/iWMqqJgvYspic.twitter.com/H1CUegyMp6
Injury scare spoils CG43’s record night as United win rivalry thriller
On the day he moved into the top five on the NBL’s all-time three-point scoring list and played a monumental role in Melbourne United’s gripping 101-98 win over Sydney Kings at John Cain Arena on Sunday, there are fears that sharpshooter Chris Goulding could face an untimely stint on the sidelines.
With 1.51 left on the game, Goulding retreated to the bench with what he thought was cramp, but he never re-entered the game as the medical staff diagnosed a potential calf strain.
Goulding is in the midst of one of his hottest shooting periods of his career, having scored 46 against Perth three games ago, and taking Asia by storm with 31 against South Korea and 27 against Thailand while on Australian Boomers representation.
While Goulding will need scans to confirm the severity of his calf issue, United coach Dean Vickerman will be shattered if his captain has to miss any time in this kind of form, though he surely not be risked for Thursday night’s trip to New Zealand to face the Breakers.
“When I’ve coached him over these eight years or whatever it is, I think that’s one of the most elite patches that I’ve seen from him,” Vickerman said.
“Unbelievable confidence, which never has wavered too often, but yeah I thought his body was in a really good place.
“I’m so disappointed and flat for him when you’re having such a good run.
“He’ll get a scan tomorrow, obviously it looks like a little bit of a calf, we’ll see what it looks like.
“Flat for him to say when things are going great like that, you just want to keep on playing basketball.”
Goulding went on a shooting spree with five first half threes to set up United’s win.
He doesn’t miss 😮â€ðŸ’¨
— NBL (@NBL) December 1, 2024
Chris Goulding has 20 points in the first half 🔥
Watch live on ESPN | 10 & 10 Play 📺 pic.twitter.com/T0nKO1kUUW
The 36-year-old, who posted a game-high 28 points, finished with six threes for the game, with his 1242nd career three moving him into equal fifth all-time with the legendary Lenard Copeland.
“CG was hunting,” Vickerman said of his aggression to get to his spots.
United, who improved to 11-4, ran riot with 38 points in the second quarter, after guard Tyler Robertson put the Kings up at quarter time with a three-quarter court heave that could be the play of the season.
Vickerman was impressed with how his team defended Kings captain Xavier Cooks and point guard Jaylen Adams.
“Obviously the focus was on Cooks and Adams and I felt like we did a pretty solid job on both of those guys for the night,” Vickerman said.
“Adams found a little patch late in the game, but it was their other guys that had an exceptional shooting night for them, Brucey [Shaun Bruce] goes four-of-six, Cam Oliver shot it really well and I think he’s a good shooter and then [Keli] Leaupepe comes in and goes three-of-three [from three].
“There was a little bit of stuff to say we can live with if you’re going to take care of Adams and Cooks, but I think there’s still some areas that we really can be better there.”
United point guard Shea Ili was outstanding down the stretch, finishing with 18 points, four rebounds and three steals, while forward Jack White made a successful return from a calf strain to finish with a double-double 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Ili was Mr Reliable for Vickerman, keeping the team on track when it all looked to be unravelling in the second half as the Kings powered to the line.
“We lost our pace in that second half in all our actions, not just transition pace, we just got bogged down, the ball was bouncing too much and it wasn’t moving like it was in the first half,” Vickerman said.
“I thought it took Shea to really make plays for us and be aggressive to keep the scoreboard ticking over there for a while.”
Foxwell fires in career night to lead gutsy Phoenix win
It was a career night for young South East Melbourne Phoenix point guard Owen Foxwell, inspiring his side to a stunning come-from-behind 103-100 win over Illawarra Hawks in a thriller at John Cain Arena on Saturday night.
Foxwell was imperious, producing a career-high 22 points, six rebounds and seven assists in a stellar performance that saw the Phoenix come back from a 15-point deficit to topple the championship contending Hawks,
Phoenix centre Jordan Hunter had a major influence with 23 points and six rebounds.
The Phoenix are turning John Cain Arena into a fortress under new coach Josh King.
The locals made it three wins in succession at the Swan Street venue to improve to 6-8 and maintain their push for a play-in berth.
It took a whole team effort for the Phoenix to hold off the Hawks with six players registering double figure points.
JOE’S BACK
Import forward Joe Wieskamp was one of those players to reach double figures and he came in with a point to prove.
A DNP coach’s decision in the Phoenix’s last game before the FIBA international break, Wieskamp was injected into the game early and made a positive impact.
He finished with 13 points off the bench.
FAST AND FURIOUS
Foxwell came out breathing fire at the start the second half and drained a three before the seas opened up for two lay ups.
All of a sudden, a seven-point half-time deficit had been erased, and in a good sign for Phoenix, veteran guard Nathan Sobey found his shooting touch with a pair of threes.
The Phoenix’s lead was out to five before Darius Days drained a three to keep the Hawks in it heading into the fourth.
Just when the Phoenix looked destined to clinch a victory, Hawks guard Tyler Harvey stood up to make it a contest again as only he can.
OUT OF TOUCH
It all seems to be coming together for the Phoenix, with the exception of veteran guard Derrick Walton Jr.
One of the top recruits, Walton Jr’s season of frustration continued, as he was overlooked for second half action after a scratchy first half for Foxwell.
Put simply, he was out-played by Foxwell, who King trusted down the stretch.
The Phoenix will be hoping there will be better days ahead for Walton Jr, who is working his way back from a hamstring injury.
SLOW START
It was a concerning start to the game for Phoenix.
Phoenix coach Josh King vented his frustration, picking up an early technical foul for what he felt was unfair treatment on a Malique Lewis drive to the hoop.
A Matt Hurt catch and shoot corner three from an inbound that was not released in time added to the Nix’s frustrations.
It took three minutes and six seconds for the Phoenix to finally put the ball through the hoop courtesy of Hunter as the cobwebs of a fortnight of FIBA international break were clear for all to see.
The Hawks were red hot early, opening up an 8-0 advantage, with former Phoenix import Trey Kell in scorching touch offensively.
Harvey finished with 19, while Days scored 18, but it was not enough for the Hawks.
The Phoenix held on in spirited fashion.
With winnable clashes against Cairns Taipans at home next Saturday night, followed by the Brisbane Bullets, the Phoenix have an opening to make a run to the top six..
Wildcats leave Bullets firing blanks
by Brad Elborough
The Perth Wildcats clearly did their homework over the FIBA break.
Before the week off, Brisbane Bullet James Batemon dropped an incredible 51 points, an NBL record in the 40-minute era, to guide his side to a 20-point win.
On Friday night, he was worn like a glove in offence by Perth’s Dylan Windler, and the Wildcats cashed in with a much-needed percentage-boosting 117-89 victory.
Batemon was held to just 10 points, after scoring just five in the first half. Most of his points scored was when Windler was resting on the bench.
After knocking down an incredible nine of 15 three-point attempts in round 9, he made only one of four attempts on Friday night.
Windler finished with a handy 15 points, four rebounds and three assists.
LONG RANGE RADAR
The Wildcats dropped just four of their 28 three-point attempts in that round 9 loss in Brisbane.
They had better that before quarter-time on Friday night, having made five of 10 tries.
Bryce Cotton, who missed all six long shots in Brisbane, made two in the first 10 minutes in round 10.
They finished with 18 made of 40 attempts on Friday night.
Kristian Doolittle top scored for Perth with 17 points as seven of the Wildcats players contributed double figure scores.
It was the Bullets who struggled from long range, making only six of 24 attempts.
ROCCO TO NEW HEIGHTS
An illness to Tyrell Harrison meant Rocco Zikarsky was elevated to the Bullets starting line-up for the first time this season.
It wasn’t the greatest of starts, the Next Star’s dominant win at tip off against Keanu Pinder being picked off by Windler, who opened scoring within a couple of seconds.
But he was a handful for the Wildcats.
Zikarsky scored 13 points and pulled in eight rebounds in an impressive display.
Casey Prather did the most damage for Brisbane though, with 31 points.
ALL WENT WRONG
The third term was Brisbane’s worst third term for the season.
Trailing 63-46 at the break, they managed only 13 for the quarter. The Wildcats piled on 28 to open up a 91-59 lead at the final break.
Mitch Norton saw little time in term, spending most of it in the changerooms with doctors.
He didn’t look well when he left the court.
And the Bullets struggled without him.
He did return to the court, but only for a couple of small stints.
Originally published as NBL Round 10 wrap: Bryce Cotton explodes while Chris Goulding waits on injury scare
Kings overcome controversial coaches challenge in win over Taipans
A controversial coaches challenge in the fourth quarter threatened to overshadow the Sydney Kings win over the Cairns Taipans but the home side rallied behind Kouat Noi. Get the latest news from round 16.
Shocking details emerge from NBL star’s arrest
Cairns Taipans guard Jackson Makoi faces an uncertain NBL future after being arrested, with the matter now in the hands of the NSW police and Basketball Australia’s Integrity Unit. CONTENT WARNING
‘Zero’: Kings unruffled by axing of ‘boy wonder’
A failed fitness test by an import the Sydney Kings hoped could bolster their flailing season resulted in a match-day axing hours before a loss to their arch rivals.