Perth Wildcats season is over and so they have ended the NBL season in fifth place after dropping their play-in ultimate 91-78 to the Cairns Taipans.
The Wildcats had been making an attempt to win by way of to the semi-final sequence in opposition to Sydney however weren’t in a position to repeat their heroics from latest video games.
Both groups had been lacking key gamers. The Wildcats misplaced Tai Webster as a result of sickness whereas Cairns had been already with out Tahjere McCall and Keanu Pinder.
The Taipans began strongly, opening up a six-point lead at quarter-time because the early nerves that price them throughout Thursday’s loss to Tasmania disappeared.
Perth missed all six of their three-point makes an attempt and with Cairns main the rebounding 14-8, there have been worrying indicators for the Red Army.
Luke Travers moved to the bench after two early fouls and DJ Hogg was on hearth for Cairns.
Hogg’s blitz rose to a different stage through the second interval and when he hit a three-pointer from the subsequent suburb, the star had 18 factors and the Taipans led by 13 factors.
Perth bought the deficit again to 6 factors earlier than Hogg once more added extra factors to his tally and the Taipans led by 9 factors on the lengthy break.
Corey Webster (12 factors), Bryce Cotton (10) and TaShawn Thomas (10) had been all having an impression however the lack of ability to cease Cairns led to the house group scoring 52 factors within the first half.
The sport bought away from Perth through the third quarter. The Taipans surged to a 16-point lead and whereas the Wildcats rallied, their lack of ability to cease Hogg was a transparent challenge.
Not solely did he have 28 factors and 5 three-pointers on the ultimate change, he additionally blocked a Cotton shot on the buzzer to disclaim the Wildcats any momentum. They maintained a 12-point benefit with one quarter remaining.
The Wildcats had been in the identical place when trailing by double figures throughout Thursday night time’s win over South East Melbourne, however there was to be no Cotton domination and 41-point quarter this time.
The Taipans put them to mattress shortly, to increase the margin to 17 factors.
Hogg was the distinction between the 2 groups, setting a brand new file for factors by a Taipan in a ultimate with 32. Sam Waardenburg had a double-double with 15 factors and 10 rebounds, whereas Bul Kuol had 23 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists
Cotton completed with 19 and 10 assists. Brady Manek produced 13 factors and 10 rebounds whereas Corey Webster and TaShawn Thomas each had 14 factors.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
