Wildcats go down to United in game one of playoff series

Just one point separate the two rivals with four minutes left before United took control late to prevail 105-93.

Keanu Pinder top-scored with a 24-point, 11-rebound double-double, while fellow big man Kristian Doolittle (22 points, nine rebounds and three assists) wasn’t far behind.

Five-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton made the most of his opportunities, finishing with 22 points including four of five from long-range, while skipper Jesse Wagstaff (six points, four rebounds and four fouls drawn) was in everything whenever he was on the court.

Pinder looked a man on a mission early, continuing his hot form with the Wildcats’ opening two buckets and making his presence felt in the paint.

Doolittle got going midway through the first term with consecutive baskets of his own.

Fresh off an impressive stint with the Boomers, David Okwera provided a spark at both ends of the floor before quarter-time.

Against his former team, Okwera swatted away Kyle Bowen’s shot before hitting a clutch triple within a minute.

From 10 points down, the visitors had a bit of momentum late to got into the first break trailing 23-17.

Cotton silenced the Melbourne crowd with a big three to start the second term.

The energetic Tai Webster then had a purple patch before a Ben Henshall and-one and another Cotton three in between some nice moments at the other end.

Jesse Wagstaff used his playoffs experience to draw a foul on the dangerous Chris Goulding which was his third personal.

He then levelled the scores at 44-apiece with some excellent work in the paint.

It was a see-sawing last few minutes of the half as the Wildcats took the lead for the first time in the contest, going into half-time up 50-49.

Doolittle led the way in the opening half with a team-high 13 points and four rebounds, while Cotton (11) and Pinder (10) were also in double digits.

The third quarter belonged to United as the hosts took control of the momentum thanks to Goulding and Ian Clark.

Webster copped a knock to his shoulder and didn't come back on in a tough blow to the Wildcats.

Cotton sunk a couple of long-range threes and followed it up with a layup to move to a team-high 22 points by three-quarter time.

But it was Melbourne leading 81-71 with a quarter to play.

Wagstaff came on and once again made things happen on the way to a plus-minus of 10 for the match.

Within a few minutes, the deficit was down to three points.

The two teams then traded blows for several minutes, with young gun Ben Henshall’s three making the margin just one point with four on the clock.

That was as close as it got in the last with Goulding the late hero with 41 points.

The Wildcats are back on home soil for game two at RAC Arena on Saturday, kicking off at 5pm.

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