Wildcats fall to Bullets on the road

The Wildcats went down 105-84 to the Bullets as import Batemon dropped a record-breaking  51 points, the highest of the 40-minute NBL era.

Big man Keanu Pinder was the Wildcats’ best, scoring a team-high 27 points, including 14 in a dominant opening term, to go with three steals.

Import Dylan Windler (nine points, 11 rebounds and four assists) worked hard at both ends of the floor to finish one point away from a double-double.

Guards Ben Henshall (10 points and three rebounds) and Tai Webster (11 points, three rebounds and two blocks) also had their moments.

The Wildcats were a man down by half-time with consistent forward Kristian Doolittle playing just seven minutes before getting ruled out with knee soreness.

Captain Jesse Wagstaff also didn't finish the match, going down with a groin issue in the final term.

Pinder looked on early, driving to the basket with confidence and shooting nicely on the way to a game-high 14 first-quarter points.

It was a high-scoring, action-packed opening term with Brisbane’s outside shooting deadly and the Wildcats responding well before quarter-time to lead 26-25.

After a 33-point injury return on Friday night, Cotton reached another personal milestone in the first quarter when he clocked up his 1000th NBL assist.

Webster provided several impressive defensive acts after coming off the bench, including a stunning block on Bullets giant Rocco Zikarsky.

Brisbane came out firing in the second quarter on their home floor with Batemon leading the way with 22 points for the half.

The Bullets turned a one-point quarter-time deficit into an eight-point lead by the main break.

Pinder tried to spark his side to start the second half with a massive dunk on the fast break within the first couple of minutes.

Henshall was also doing his bit as the Wildcats cut the margin back to four midway through the third.

But that was about as good as it got for the visitors, who couldn’t stop the dominance of Batemon.

It means the Wildcats head into the FIBA break with a 6-7 record.

They have a chance for redemption straight after the break against the Bullets at RAC Arena on Friday 29 November.

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