Role players step up at critical times

Perth Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson has credited his role players' ability to step up at critical times in games.

He made the comments following the Wildcats 81-70 comeback win over the Illawarra Hawks at RAC Arena on Friday night.

With the Hawks causing difficulties for the home side on the offensive end, points need to come from a different source, and Clint Steindl stepped up with a season-high 17 points.

“We were out of rhythm, and I thought they were playing at a higher level than us in the first quarter, we were a little bit sloppy, there were turnovers,” he said.

“Clint’s role is to come all guns blazing off the bench and he was fantastic at it. He had some really good looks coming at speed, the guys got him open, and that’s what he can do. He can change the game with his shooting ability.”

Gleeson also praised his development players for their contribution at an important phase.

“It’s confidence, and trust-level,” he said.

“Luke Travers was really good when he came on, and Corey Shervill as excellent coming on at crucial stages. Even though they’re development players, our team finds them and passes the ball and critical times and they’re confident to shoot the ball.”

Travers had five rebounds and Shervill added eight points in the second quarter.

After finding themselves down 14 in the first half, Gleeson credited his teams defensive effort in the second half.

Perth held Illawarra to 29 points after the interval, and stopped them scoring for more than half of the final term.

After a relatively quiet first three quarters scoring the ball, Bryce Cotton helped secure the win three-straight final quarter triples – which helped see him end the game with a game-high 22.

Meanwhile John Mooney’s consistency continues to impress, with the American rookie posting another unbelievable double-double, with 17 points, 16 rebounds and four assists.

Perth now head to Sydney to take on the Kings on Sunday at Qudos Bank Arena.

Perth Wildcats 81 (Cotton 22, Mooney 17, Steindl 17)

Illawarra Hawks 70  (Jessup 15, Bairstow 13, Harvey 13)