Cotton stars as Wildcats keep top-two hopes alive with win over 36ers

Superstar Bryce Cotton was the hero in the Wildcats’ 112-104 come-from-behind victory over Adelaide in front of a sold-out crowd at RAC Arena.

The four-time NBL MVP scored his sixth 40-plus point haul of the season in yet another remarkable performance.

Cotton finished with 49 points, including 21 in a scintillating final term, to treat the 13,559 fans to a box-office show.

Playing the entire 40 minutes, he hit seven of his last eight field-goal attempts and finished with nine triples as the Wildcats stormed back from 12 points down in the third quarter to prevail by eight.

Dylan Windler (15 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks) and Keanu Pinder (18 points and 11 rebounds) both posted double-doubles.

Kristian Doolittle (14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds) wasn’t far off another double-double of his own.

Like Cotton, all three were instrumental in the final-quarter comeback and helping see off a brave 36ers outfit.

The Wildcats now need South East Melbourne Phoenix to defeat cross-town rivals Melbourne United by roughly 22 points on Saturday night to secure second spot and direct entry into the semi-finals.

Otherwise they host the Phoenix in a three-versus-four play-off at Perth High-Performance Centre (former HBF Stadium) on Tuesday night.

Windler took just five seconds the open the Wildcats’ account, followed by a Pinder bucket.

The 36ers then went on a 10-0 run before Perth steadied thanks to a Doolittle triple.

Windler was busy at both ends of the floor, racking up the defensive boards and knocking back shot after shot on the way to seven points and five rebounds for the first term.

Next Star Izan Almansa got the sell-out crowd to their feet with a massive block on Kendric Davis.

But the visitors again got on a roll to take a 27-20 lead at quarter-time.

It was Cotton time in the second term and the superstar Wildcat turned it on for a dozen points to move to 18 for the half.

At the other end, Davis continued to be Adelaide’s main man on the way to a game-high 23 points, while big man Montrezl Harrell wasn’t far behind with 16 as the pair helped their team to a 56-49 buffer.

Pinder showed some nice aggression on the glass to start the second half, getting an offensive board followed by a put-back layup to get the Wildcats going.

Cotton followed that up with a triple, but Adelaide continued the answer every Perth challenge.

Windler hit a long-range three to cut the margin back to three points midway through the term.

After trailing for most of the game, the Wildcats finally snatched the lead back with 2:38 left in the third term as Cotton nailed his fifth three-pointer.

Tai Webster was also becoming a handful for the 36ers, scoring nine third-quarter points to Perth led 81-78 with one left to play.

Harrell silenced the Red Army with a three to level the scores at 81-apiece.

Cotton nailed another three before the Wildcats were dealt a blow with Webster fouled out after a successful coaches challenge.

It was a seesawing finish with Lat Mayen landing a couple of big three-pointers to go with some important work at the defensive end.

Harrell then got fouled out after fouling Ben Henshall as he tried to keep the ball in play.

The 36ers cut the margin back to two points with 2:30 left before the Cotton-led Wildcats held their nerve for a memorable victory.