NBL semi finals, sudden death: Melbourne United v Wildcats, Illawarra Hawks v SEM Phoenix
Melbourne Utd star Chris Goulding fired the last shot in an all-time classic NBL semi final as he and Ian Clark had the last laugh in an enthralling duel with Wildcats stars Bryce Cotton and Kristian Doolittle.
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Melbourne United has weathered an early Bryce Cotton storm to overturn a 14-point deficit and book a spot in the NBL Championship Series.
United had to overcome the mental hurdle of their game two capitulation from 20 points up and found themselves in a rough spot again as Wildcats five-time MVP Cotton lit up with 16 first quarter points.
But United’s veterans rose to the challenge.
Shooting guard Ian Clark capped an incredible semi final series with 38 points off the bench.
The cool-handed American shot 14-19 from the field, including six threes in a remarkable performance.
Not to be out-shone though was United captain Chris Goulding.
Goulding produced a three-point barrage with 30 points, including a stunning 9-12 from three-point land.
When Cotton airballed with the Wildcats trailing by three with 1.38 to go, Clark transitioned to put United up five and you sensed it was United’s game to lose.
But this series would be decided by the finest of margins.
JESSE WAGSTAFF OMG 😳
— NBL (@NBL) March 4, 2025
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DOWN TO THE WIRE
On the second last play of regulation, the Wildcats had three chances to tie the game up, with Kristian Doolittle and Cotton missing, but veteran Jesse Wagstaff’s experience shone through as he drained a game-tying three.
United had 2.6 seconds left to manufacture a score and they went inside to Goulding, who was fouled by Ben Henshall with 0.8 on the clock.
Goulding scored the first free throw before presumably deliberately missing his second to force the Wildcats into a full court heave and Dylan Windler’s shot went wide.
United has a chance to atone for last year’s Championship Series heartbreak against Tasmania JackJumpers.
Dean Vickerman’s team will go in search of their first title since 2021.
“One of the greatest games we’ve seen in NBL history,” Andrew Gaze exclaimed in commentary.
DYNAMIC DOOLITTLE
Doolittle had his fingerprints all over the ball for the Wildcats in a stellar 37-point, 10-rebound and five-assist game.
It was cruel to see Doolittle on the losing side of the ledger.
Cotton left his best performance for the last game of the series, scoring 33 points with five rebounds and six assists.
The question now is, will this be the last time we see Cotton in a Wildcats uniform?
You can bet John Rillie will move heaven and earth to keep the five-time NBL MVP.
The Wildcats picked up where they left off from game two on Saturday night, racing to a 37-26 quarter time lead.
After being kept relatively quiet in the first two games, the 32-year-old Cotton piled on 16 first quarter points, including three triples, and the signs were ominous.
CLARK COUNTERATTACK
United veteran Ian Clark went against the grain of the game and kept United in the contest.
Clark converted on four of his first five threes and hunted the ball with confidence.
The 33-year-old almost single handedly eroded what was a 14 point Wildcats lead.
CG43 EXPLOSION
Then United sharpshooter Chris Goulding entered the chat.
The 36-year-old converted on his first six three-point attempts to give United the lead for the first time and move past Wildcats legend Ricky Grace (145) on the all-time three-pointers made in finals list.
A couple of sloppy United plays saw the Wildcats go to half time with a 62-58 lead as Cotton and Clark led the way with 22 points apiece.
Jack White, who endured the yips from the free throw line at a crucial moment late in game two, was a non-factor with 0/4 from the field in the first half.
But United never lost faith in their forward, going straight to him after half-time, and he buried two threes and created a three-point play as part of a 12-point third quarter.
It got to the stage where every possession mattered.
A huge moment came when Goulding made a Superman-like dive to save the ball from going out and went up the other end to knock down a three.
The next play, Goulding hit another three, giving United a handy seven-point buffer.
The Wildcats never gave up, taking it to the very last second for United to salute for their home fans.
NBL SCOREBOARD
Melbourne United 113 (Clark 38 Goulding 30) d Perth Wildcats 112 (Doolittle 37 Cotton 33)
Melbourne United wins the best-of-three series 2-1.
At John Cain Arena, Melbourne
THE SERIES SO FAR
An extraordinary second half from Dylan Windler kept the Wildcats alive in the Semi-Final series against Melbourne United on Saturday.
Windler piled on 20 points and brought down seven rebounds in the second half, to lead a remarkable comeback by the Wildcats, who claimed a 96-89 win at RAC Arena.
In Game 1, a trademark Chris Goulding scoring blitz was the impetus for Melbourne United to overturn a half-time deficit and take game one of its best-of-three semi final series 105-93 over Perth Wildcats at John Cain Arena.
For Marcus Lee, this one’s personal.
There’s a little asterisk nagging at the Melbourne United centre as he gears up for a chance at back-to-back titles.
The 211cm giant was part of last season’s history-making Tasmania JackJumpers’ squad that shocked United in a five-game grand final epic.
But the 30-year-old had to watch from the sidelines as the JackJumpers took down United after he tore his medial cruciate ligament in game three of the series.
“I want to win one without the asterisk on it,” he told Code Sports.
“I want to win a championship in my own respective.”
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