Wildcats survive monster Mennenga night

The New Zealand Breakers were right up against it without Parker Jackson-Cartwright while the Perth Wildcats added Brandon Knight, but Sam Mennenga had a monster performance for the visitors before the home team pulled away to win 100-84.

The Breakers were playing with just the one import, big man Charles Bediako, with Jackson-Cartwright sidelined with a lower-leg injury while Josiah-Jordan James is still out with a torn hamstring, and his replacement Nelson Weidemann yet to arrive.

Not only were the Breakers back at RAC Arena for a second time already to start NBL27, but the 'Cats unveiled 451-game NBA veteran guard Knight to make his NBL debut.

But New Zealand arrived with confidence having won their past two games and it was a surprise move from master coach Gordon Herbert to have Carlin Davison play point guard for much of the night.

It worked with him finishing with 11 assists and then there was Mennenga at his powerful best with Perth having no answer for him without Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.

Mennenga set the tone for his night with 17 points and seven rebounds in the first quarter and ended up with 40 and 18 for the game with five assists. He shot 15/26 from the field and 5/8 from the outside.

But even that remarkable individual performance wasn’t enough for a valiant Breakers outfit, with the Wildcats doing enough to make it four straight wins to improve to a 4-1 record after playing all five matches at home to start NBL27.

Dylan Windler enjoyed his time against the Breakers for the second time in three weeks hitting 7/12 from deep for 32 points with eight rebounds.

Elijah Pepper added 25 points, three rebounds and three assists with Jesse Wagstaff chiming in with 13 points, six assists and four boards, and Anthony Dell'Orso 10 points, four boards, three assists and two steals.

Kristian Doolittle had five points, seven rebounds and nine assists with Knight playing 19:31 first up for six points on 2/6 shooting but did have five turnovers.

The Breakers had to figure things out without Parker Jackson-Cartwright and with Nelson Weidemann not yet with the team. The answer was simple – give the ball to Sam Mennenga.

He had 17 points already in the first quarter alone on 7/11 shooting while pulling down seven rebounds. The Breakers were leading 22-21 as a result with Elijah Pepper having five points and Brandon Knight playing his first six minutes in the NBL and scoring his first points.

Knight found the going tough in the second quarter unable to score in another five minutes and having three turnovers. Even with Mennenga having another eight points for New Zealand, Perth went into half-time leading 41-38.

Pepper was up to 13 points and Dylan Windler eight while Mennenga was a man possessed for the Breakers with 25 points and 11 rebounds already on 10/18 shooting.

It remained a tight battle through the third quarter with another 29 points to the Wildcats including seven more to Pepper and six to Windler as they shot 9/18 as a team and 6/10 from the outside.

The Breakers got another eight points and five rebounds to Mennenga who was up to 33 and 16 while Carlin Davison was enjoying the ball in his hands with nine assists, but the 'Cats were clinging to the 70-66 advantage.

Jesse Wagstaff had five quick points to open the fourth quarter to keep Perth on top. While the Breakers had done well to stay competitive, the Wildcats had all the answers late to end up winning by 16 to make it four in-a-row.

The Wildcats will now play on the road for the first time this season next Saturday night taking on the defending champion Sydney Kings while the Breakers remain away from home to the Tasmania JackJumpers next Sunday.

PERTH WILDCATS 100 – NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 84

Perth Wildcats
Dylan Windler – 32 points, 8 rebounds, 7/12 3PT
Elijah Pepper – 25 points, 3 rebounds, 3/6 3PT
Jesse Wagstaff – 13 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds
Anthony Dell'Orso – 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Brandon Knight – 6 rebounds, 2 rebounds, 2 steals

NZ Breakers
Sam Mennenga – 40 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, 5/8 3PT
Mojave King – 17 points, 2 rebounds
DJ Vasiljevic – 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Reuben Te Rangi – 9 points, 7 rebounds
Carlin Davison – 1 point, 11 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks