Wildcats strangle Taipans on defensive end

A lockdown job from Mitch Norton has helped see the Perth Wildcat strangle the Cairns Taipans defensively and come away with the 20-point win at the NBL Cup.

Norton held Cairns superstar Scott Machado to eight points and forced him to make five turnovers.

It set the standard for the Wildcats who held the Taipans to a 28-point second half on the way to an 89-69 win.

“We were on point with our scout and how we wanted to defend them,” said Trevor Gleeson.

“We made some adjustments at halftime and I thought Norto (Mitch Norton) led the way.”

Norton said defence at the point guard position is crucial in this league.

“It doesn’t matter what team you come up against, but he (Macahdo) is one hell of a player and a tough cover being a pass-first point guard getting everyone involved. You do have to do a good job on him,” he said.

“But I think everyone across the board did their due diligence on the scout and I think that shows on the scoreboard.”

Bryce Cotton led the game with 23 points despite a tough shooting night, while Mooney had his sixth double-double of the season on 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Wildcats bench players Jesse Wagstaff (eight points, seven rebounds), Kevin White (eight points) and Corey Shervill (six points, five rebounds) played big roles in the win.

Perth have now won three-straight at the NBL Cup in Melbourne, and coach Gleeson said team chemistry is a big part of that.

“We’re really big on brotherhood and mateship at the Wildcats, it’s been good how the guys haven’t been complaining and we’ve been focused in.”

The Wildcats return to the court on Wednesday for their first of three games in five days. 

Perth Wildcats 89 (Cotton 23, Mooney 17, Blanchfield 15) 

Cairns Taipans 69 (Oliver 19, Krslovic 10, Machado 8)