Wildcats fall to Hawks in penultimate game

Details
Perth Wildcats 77 defeated by Illawarra Hawks 82
RAC Arena
Box Score
22 April 2022

Summary
A shootout in the first half and a defensive arm-wrestle in the second. Illawarra gained the ascendency through a hot-shooting first half, despite Bryce Cotton keeping the Wildcats in touch with 15 of his own. The Hawks pushed the lead out to 11 in the third before a 10-2 Perth run in the dying minutes kept it to a five-point game at the final break. Trailing throughout, the final quarter saw some big hustle plays keep the home team within reach. The Wildcats worked their way back into the contest and had a look to send it to overtime but it wasn’t to be. The result means the Wildcats will likely need to win its final game of the season to qualify for the post-season. 

Reaction
Scott Morrison’s initial reaction
“I was really proud of the guys effort, I thought that was the hardest we’d played in a long time. We left it all on the court, which is all I could ask of them.”

Scott Morrison on game quality
“It was a nerve-racking game for those of us on the sideline and part of the team, but I’m guessing it was probabaly a fun game to watch for the league. It’s all about South East now.

Player focus
Bryce Cotton led the way with 25 points, while Majok Majok had his first double-double since 2015 when he represented Melbourne United. Mitch Norton had seven assists.

Key stats and facts
There were 95 points scored in the first half, and 64 in the second.
The rebounding battle was all square at 45-apiece.
Both team’s shoot at 40.5 per cent from

Next game
The Perth Wildcats take on the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Sunday At RAC Arena.