Wildcats open pre-season with win in Karratha

Anthony Dell’Orso made an immediate impression in his first appearance for the Perth Wildcats with 23 points in a 102–87 NBL pre-season win over the Cairns Taipans in Karratha on Saturday.

It was Perth’s first hit-out against NBL opposition ahead of the NBL27 season and there was plenty to like, beginning with the performances of Dell’Orso, Kristian Doolittle and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.

Dell’Orso finished with 23 points on 8/11 shooting from the field, including 5/7 from outside, while Doolittle delivered 22 points, nine rebounds and three assists on 7/10 shooting.

Lual-Acuil Jr also had 22 points and six rebounds on 9/13 from the field, with Tana Kopa adding 14 points in 20 minutes and connecting on 4/6 from three.

The Wildcats started strongly with 37 points in the opening quarter after Cairns scored first through Keanu Pinder.

Dell’Orso and Doolittle combined for 25 points in the first term as Perth turned a 14–10 lead into a 29–12 advantage with a 15–2 run.

Kopa also hit two threes in the quarter before Dell’Orso connected from outside on the buzzer to give the Wildcats a 37–21 lead at the first break.

Cairns worked their way into the contest during a more evenly fought second period, but Perth continued to find scoring options across the floor.

Kopa’s third three of the half stretched the margin to 22 at 56–34 before the Taipans responded with an 11–2 run.

Lual-Acuil Jr then scored five straight points for the Wildcats, including a three-point play, to help send Perth into half-time leading 63–48.

The Taipans continued to fight in the third quarter and cut the deficit to seven after consecutive threes from Lloyd McVeigh and Jonah Antonio.

Kopa responded with his fourth three before Joe Cook-Green and Doolittle helped Perth steady, with the Wildcats taking an 86–73 advantage into the final period.

Cairns made another charge in the fourth and closed to within six at 92–86 with just under seven minutes remaining, but the Wildcats finished strongly.

Perth held the Taipans scoreless for more than four minutes and went on a decisive 10–0 run, with Jimmy Whitt, Doolittle, Cook-Green, Lual-Acuil Jr and Elijah Pepper all scoring.

The Wildcats shot 48% from the field and 12/29 from outside while finishing 16/21 from the foul line.

Reyne Smith led Cairns with 20 points, Kyrin Galloway finished with 19 and Pinder added 17.

The Wildcats led from the opening quarter and held off a second-half challenge from the Taipans to secure a 102–87 pre-season victory.

Wildcats box score leaders:

Points: Anthony Dell’Orso 23, Kristian Doolittle 22, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr 22
Rebounds: Kristian Doolittle 9, Elijah Pepper 8, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr 6
Assists: Jimmy Whitt 4, Kristian Doolittle 3, Elijah Pepper 2
Steals: Jimmy Whitt 3, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr 2
Blocks: Alex Higgins-Titsha 2, Jimmy Whitt 1, Elijah Pepper 1