Wildcats land first blow
STAR import Bryce Cotton overcame a slow start to help power the Perth Wildcats to a 89-77 victory over the Illawarra Hawks in game one of the best-of-five NBL grand final series at Perth Arena.
Cotton was scoreless and looking off his game midway through the second term as the Hawks opened up an eightpoint lead. But the former NBA guard shot to life before half-time, nailing 11 points in a six-minute flurry to reverse the momentum.
Cotton finished with 18 points, while Casey Prather (22) and Matt Knight (18) were also key in the hard-fought win. Wildcats captain Damian Martin starred in defence, even producing a spectacular block in the first term when the Wildcats were struggling for momentum.