One win to go for Wildcats

PERTH stars Bryce Cotton and Nick Kay have shone bright for the Wildcats, who have moved to within one win of a 10th NBL title with a 111-96 away win over Sydney yesterday.

Guard and league MVP Cotton scored 31 points and Boomers forward Kay 30 as the Wildcats took a 2-1 lead in the best-of five series, with the home team yet to win a game.

Cotton continued his scoring stranglehold this season over the Kings, but Kay proved the longdistance assassin, making seven of nine three-point attempts.

A small but vociferous contingent of Perth supporters made their presence felt as, for the second straight game, the match was closed to the public.

A win in Game 4 on Friday in Perth will secure the Wildcats a fifth title in the past seven seasons, while the Kings must win at RAC Arena to force a decider two days later in Sydney.

Perth did not trail at any stage of Game 3 and looked to be coasting to victory, when it led 39-20 in the second quarter.

Brad Newley single-handedly dragged Sydney back into the game in the second quarter, scoring 16 out of their first 19 points in that term, including 12 straight, as they pulled to within 10 at halftime.

Successive three-pointers to captain Kevin Lisch drew Sydney level at 63-63 in the third, but the Kings were outscored 21-7 in the remainder of the term to trail by 14 going into the last period.

Sydney made one final run in the final quarter, cutting a 16point deficit to five with just under six minutes to go, but Perth closed the game out comfortably down the stretch.

Cotton and Kay had good offensive support from centre Miles Plumlee and guard Clint Steindl, who each scored 13.