The Perth Wildcats have ended 2011 on the best possible note tonight with a thumping 97-76 victory over the Townsville Crocodiles at the Townsville Entertainment Centre to move back to the top of the NBL ladder.
The victory improves the 'Cats overall record to 10-5 on the season as well and even more impressively 6-3 on the road following a second win in Townsville for the 2011/12 iiNet NBL Championship season.
The 21-point victory comes on the heels of last Friday's 86-62 win over the New Zealand Breakers at Challenge Stadium as well, and the 'Cats now sit atop of the NBL table heading into 2012 with 13 games of the season remaining.
Wildcats co-captain Shawn Redhage took his place in the game despite the eye injury he copped in that win over New Zealand. He had a big second half as well finishing with 13 points after half-time alone and that saw him bring up 4000 career points in the NBL.
Luke Nevill started the game in the centre spot and had a big night with 21 points and seven rebounds while Jesse Wagstaff had another strong game with 18 points.
Kevin Lisch added 16 points and had eight assists, Matt Knight scored 12 points and pulled in nine boards and Damian Martin had nine points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.
'Cats co-captain Brad Robbins scored four points, Drew Williamson two and Cam Tovey two while racking up 12 rebounds and dishing out six assists.
Wildcats coach Rob Beverage was delighted with the four quarter performance from his team and especially the defensive pressure they applied on Townsville. They also dominated on the glass pulling in 44 rebounds to the Crocs' 25.
"We've fallen in some holes in previous weeks where we do a lot of great work in the first half and we knew that the opposition was going to come back at us, and they did," Beveridge said.
"We kept talking about that when we do get in a rut we have to play great defence and that's what actually wins championships, not offence. Tonight was just sensational in that final quarter, in particular, because we were just outstanding defensively. We took them out of everything and from that perspective we are very happy."
Wagstaff started in the place of Redhage and scored the first basket of the game and then when Nevill and Martin combined for eight straight points, the visitors were up 10-4.
Soon after Wagstaff knocked down his first of three triples for the game and before long the 'Cats were out by double-figures, and still up 25-16 at quarter-time.
The Crocs started the second period strongly with the first 10 points to take the lead on the back of a three-point play from Todd Blanchfield, but Nevill and Wagstaff soon put the 'Cats back on top.
Wagstaff, Martin and Lisch all hit big three-pointers late in the first half to ensure the Wildcats were up 50-44 after the main break and then it was all Perth in the second half.
Nevill continued his strong outing by giving the Wildcats the perfect start to the half and then the lead was back out to eight again soon after when Lisch nailed another triple.
Then Redhage got going after discarding his goggles to protect his eye at half-time. He nailed seven quick points late in the third-quarter. When he hit a three the 'Cats led by 19 and then still 78-64 at three quarter-time.
Redhage then scored the first four points of the final quarter and his first basket brought up his 4000th career point in the NBL in just his 214th game in the league. Nevill then nailed six quick points and Wagstaff five himself late in the game as the 'Cats cruised to the 21-point win.
The Wildcats now return home for the next two weeks to firstly host the Melbourne Tigers at Challenge Stadium this Friday night and then take on the Gold Coast Blaze at The Jungle the following Friday.
Perth Wildcats 97 (Luke Nevill 21, Jesse Wagstaff 18, Kevin Lisch 16)
defeated
Townsville Crocodiles 76 (Peter Crawford 14, Jacob Holmes 11, Eddie Gill 11)
Box scores
