Cotton smashes records as Wildcats down Breakers

The four-time League MVP produced the highest ever score in the current 40-minute NBL era and knocked off James Crawford’s near four-decade long Wildcats points record as the Wildcats prevailed 123-112 against a gutsy Breakers.

Cotton finished with a staggering 59 points, two more than Crawford’s 57 back in 1987 and and eight more than Bullet James Batemon’s 51 against the Wildcats a fortnight ago.

The 32-year-old equalled Crawford’s record with a minute remaining with a layup and broke it with a free throw with 20 seconds left.

Despite Cotton’s remarkable individual achievement, the Breakers hung in there to get within five points late in the third quarter after trailing by as much as 24.

The result was never really beyond doubt until the final few minutes with MVP candidate Parker Jackson-Cartwright (35 points) and big man Sam Mennenga (25 points) keeping the visitors in it.

Aside from Cotton, there were four other Wildcats in double digits with Next Star Izan Almansa having arguably his best game in the red and black.

Almansa, starting in place of Keanu Pinder was missed the game with illness, finished two points shy of a double-double, amassing 17 points and eight rebounds.

Dylan Windler (15 points) continued his impressive form, with fellow import Kristian Doolittle (13 points, five rebounds and four assists) and young gun Ben Henshall (10 points and seven assists) also influential in the win.

The Wildcats enjoyed their biggest first quarter of the season, scoring a whopping 42 points including a staggering seven of nine from outside the arc.

Cotton was the star of the show with a whopping 20 points, with three triples and four of four two-point attempts.

Almansa hit the first bucket of the night with a trademark hook shot and reached double figures in the second term alongside Windler, who carried on from Friday night’s brilliant all-round display against Brisbane.

Cotton was also turning provider in the second with a showtime-like pass to Almansa who stunned the crowd with a big slam.

New Zealand, who were down two players already with Tacko Fall and Dane Pineau going off injured in the second term, had their moments but Perth had all the answers.

Cotton was up to 31 points for the half, while Almansa was nearly his first double-double in the NBL as the Wildcats extended their margin to 21 by the main break.

Cotton beat his regular-season career-high of 41 with three minutes left in the third but New Zealand weren't giving up without a fight.

He then became the new NBL 40-minute era record-holder with a layup with six minutes left in the last before making more history before the final buzzer in an unforgettable afternoon for the Red Army.