Wildcats Weekly Wrap: Pepper Joins Boomers, Doolittle Nears Triple-Double, and More

Elijah Pepper took his red-hot form to the Australian Boomers squad for the trans-Tasman series against New Zealand.

The three game tournament took place from the 7th to 11th of May, played in Adelaide, Brisbane and then across the ditch in Hamilton, New Zealand.

There was plenty of Wildcats representation throughout the tournament alongside guard Elijah Pepper with Assistant Coach Gerard Martin representing Australia, and Assistant Coach Aaron Young with the New Zealand Tall Blacks.

Pepper proved a main piece for the Boomers, finishing as the top scorer for the team across all three games.

The Boomers claimed the first two wins of the three game tournament, before New Zealand snapped a five-year drought with victory in the final game.

With the Trans-Tasman Throwdown underway, the NZNBL paused competition, giving David Okwera, Dontae Russo-Nance, and Hyrum Harris a well-earned break.

Over in Puerto Rico, Kristian Doolittle and the Carolina Gigantes took on Bryce Cotton and the Guaynabo Mets for the second time this BSNPR season. 

Doolittle creeped close to a triple double with 14 points, nine rebounds, eight assists as his side got over the Mets by 18 points.

Back home in the NBL1 West, Todd Withers took the Pepper-less Warwick Senators to a win over the Perry Lakes Hawks.

Withers finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds, a steal and a block, capped off by an and one bucket to seal the game for his side.

Tom Gerovich and the Willetton Tigers managed two wins from a double-header over the Joondalup Wolves and the Lakeside Lightning. 

Gerovich recorded a career-high 12 assists in Friday night’s win, adding eight points, six rebounds, and a block to his standout performance. He followed it up the next day with a solid showing of nine points, five rebounds, and four assists.

Over in Melbourne, Sunday Dech and the Knox Raiders secured their seventh win of the season, strengthening their position at the top of the NBL1 South standings.

Dech, who is captaining the side, finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal in the win. 

Lat Mayen made his return to the court with the West Adelaide Bearcats in the NBL1 Central tournament.

He recorded 17 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a block.