NBL27 R9 Indigenous Game Match Report | Wildcats vs Hawks

Kristian Doolittle’s clutch three forced overtime as the Wildcats powered past the Hawks 111-100 to claim a second win of their home double-header.

Trailing by five with 47 seconds remaining, Perth rallied through Brandon Knight’s driving layup, with Doolittle’s triple levelling the scores with nine seconds left.

The Wildcats took control of the extra period 19-8, turning defensive pressure and relentless work on the offensive glass into their seventh win of the season.

Perth and Illawarra traded baskets early, with Cameron Huefner scoring five quick points and Dylan Windler finding his range as the Wildcats settled into the contest.

Knight provided an immediate spark as he checked into the game, setting up an Angus Brandt dunk and completing a three-point play.

Windler knocked down two triples, with Knight adding another to give Perth a 26-21 lead.

Illawarra answered with nine straight points, with Makur Maker’s shooting and consecutive Sam Froling baskets helping the visitors take a 30-26 advantage into quarter-time.

Jaron Rillie opened Perth’s second-quarter scoring with two driving layups, keeping the Wildcats close as the Hawks pushed their lead to six.

Knight’s pull-up triple sparked an 8-0 response. Jesse Wagstaff set up consecutive Doolittle baskets, with the forward finishing a dunk and connecting from deep to put Perth ahead 40-36.

The Wildcats lifted their defensive pressure, with Knight and Elijah Pepper turning steals into layups to extend the margin to six.

Illawarra responded through Tyler Harvey and William Hickey, drawing level late in the half. Wagstaff answered with a driving layup and converted two free throws with two seconds remaining to send Perth into halftime leading 50-48.

The contest tightened after the break, with both teams working for their scoring opportunities.

Brandt’s dunk off an offensive rebound opened Perth’s third-quarter scoring, while Doolittle connected on two triples as the Wildcats built their advantage.

Pepper’s jumper put Perth ahead 64-57 with under three minutes remaining in the term, with Illawarra responding through a 9-2 run to draw level.

Windler delivered the final answer, taking a Pepper pass and knocking down a three-pointer with four seconds left to give the Wildcats a 69-66 lead at the final break.

Windler continued to make his presence felt early in the fourth, completing a three-point play and adding two more baskets as the teams exchanged the lead.

Maker’s triple tied the game at 79-79, with Illawarra moving ahead at the free-throw line.

Doolittle responded with a turnaround jumper and the foul, beginning a seven-point personal run that put Perth ahead 84-81.

The Hawks kept finding answers from outside. Harvey tied the scores with a triple, while Kelan Martin followed a driving layup with a three-pointer to give Illawarra an 89-86 lead.

Harvey struck again from deep, leaving Perth trailing 92-87 with 47 seconds remaining.

Knight attacked the basket to bring the Wildcats within three. Doolittle then secured the rebound from a Harvey miss and buried a pull-up triple with nine seconds left, sending the Red Army into a frenzy.

Maker’s final attempt missed, taking the contest into overtime at 92-92.

Perth seized their opportunity. Pepper’s steal helped create the opening basket, with Rillie tipping in a missed layup. Doolittle followed with a driving finish and the foul as the Wildcats scored the first five points.

Pepper converted two free throws and kept another possession alive with an offensive rebound, with Rillie finding Windler for a layup to make it 101-93.

The Wildcats continued to win extra possessions through Knight and Windler, while Pepper stayed composed at the line, making all six of his overtime free throws.

Windler’s dunk from another Rillie assist brought the crowd to its feet inside the final minute.

Doolittle added a steal and pull-up jumper, with Knight’s late free throws completing a dominant finish as the Wildcats secured their second home win in three days.

BOX SCORES

PERTH WILDCATS

Kristian Doolittle | 29 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists
Dylan Windler | 22 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals
Brandon Knight | 19 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

ILLAWARRA HAWKS

Makur Maker | 21 points, 9 rebounds
Kelan Martin | 19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Milton Doyle | 16 points, 3 assists