Too hot to handle: How Pepper shook off salty shooting

It felt like the performance that had been brewing for Elijah Pepper.

After seven straight double-figure scoring games, a rare off night against Illawarra saw him go one-of-eight from deep.

Pepper admitted he was “pissed” with the result, and responded the only way he knows how: getting straight back to work.

“It might have been the day after the Illawarra game. I went in with Keegan (Crawford) and Ben (Peterson) and just went and got shots up and repped it out,” he said after knocking down 25 points against Perth.

“I was pissed after the game, because it’s always frustrating as a shooter when you’re not making those shots.

“I just went in and repped it out and didn’t really stop until it felt good.”

What came next was a night the 24-year-old won’t forget, headlined by a third quarter where he caught fire.

Pepper exploded for 20 points in the term and closed the night seven-from-nine from deep.

“It felt great … especially after last game where it felt like I couldn’t buy one,” he said.

“This game it felt like the rim … it’s huge, you can’t miss.

“The guys found me in great spots and good rhythm and it just feels good to get some of those go in.”

John Rillie said he was rapt with the way his team executed to capitalise on Pepper’s hot streak.

“We have the confidence in him to have moments like he did tonight,” Rillie said.

“The toughest job is to make the shot, but the way his teammates were finding him in those moments was really good to see.

“You saw the bench with how they responded when he got on that heater.

“Terrific shooting, but just the way the team handled that moment and kept going to it was terrific to see.”

The Wildcats coach pointed to Pepper’s work off the court in helping him become a vital part of the team’s rotation.

“His work ethic … he’s always been like that and that’s why I have the confidence to be pursue and continue in these moments with him. He’s got a great body of work,” Rillie added.

Pepper has averaged 9.6 points a game in NBL26, but has upped his production significantly with recent injuries to David Duke Jr and Jaron Rillie.