Wildcats win fifth game in a row to celebrate home return in style

It was just one point the difference with a little over two minutes on the clock before the Wildcats came home strongly in front of a season-high 13,570 fans.

Kristian Doolittle and Bryce Cotton combined for the Wildcats’ last 15 points of the game to extinguish any hope of a 36ers comeback as Perth made it five wins on the trot.

In his third game back from a groin injury, Doolittle put in a dominant performance at both end of the floor to finish.

Doolittle finished with a career-high 27 points to go with 10 rebounds while also helping curtail the dangerous Kendric Davis in the second half after he had 21 points in the first.

His efforts were all the more important after fellow import Dylan Windler’s night ended late in the opening term after an eye issue.

Ben Henshall produced a strong second half, scoring all 14 of his points after half-time, while Cotton had 15 for the half to finish with 22 to go with seven assists and five rebounds.

Elijah Pepper (11 points) and Keanu Pinder (10) also reached double digits, with Pepper starring in the opening half.

The Wildcats dominated the rebound count 47-32, including 16-4 at the offensive end in a telling stat.

Young tall David Okwera, who is thriving in his starting role, had eight rebounds including three offensive, Doolittle (10), Next Star Izan Almansa (seven) and Pinder (six) also productive on the glass.

Cotton and Windler led the way for the Wildcats in the opening term, combining for the team’s first 13 points including one triple apiece.

Windler then went off injured and took no further part in the match in a massive blow.

It was a see-sawing start with five lead changes in the first quarter alone, with Davis helping the visitors to a narrow 24-22 buffer at the break.

Almansa started the second term with a massive dunk under the open roof before the threat of rain forced the roof to be closed.

Pepper was deadly from long-range, going three from four for the first half for a team-high 11 points.

Okwera, who was having an impact at both ends of the floor with his rebounding, brought the house down late in the half with a huge put-back dunk.

The Wildcats went on an 8-0 scoring run late in the half to take a handy 52-41 advantage into half-time.

Doolittle got better as the contest went on, making the most of his increased minutes.

Henshall enjoyed a purple patch late in the third, hitting a pair of triples, while Doolittle was up to was 17 points by three-quarter time with the score 76-73 in the Wildcats’ favour.

Cotton stepped up early in the final term with seven points in four minutes, with Henshall also hitting some important buckets in the tight contest.

Adelaide gave the Wildcats a scare late before the home side steadied for their 15^th win of the season.

The third-placed Wildcats are back at home on Wednesday night, hosting second-placed Melbourne United in a blockbuster contest.