Wildcats purr late as Bullets blow it
THE misfiring Brisbane Bullets could change their name to the “Brisbane Blewits” after surrendering a 21point lead in the heartstopping 81- 80 loss to reigning NBL champion Perth yesterday.
Wildcats star Bryce Cotton hit a jumpshot with less than a second left on the clock to hand Perth an unlikely victory and condemn a floundering Brisbane to a sixth- straight loss.
The comeback from 21 points is the biggest by any team in the NBL this season.
The Bullets ( 7- 14) have been guilty of throwing away double- digit leads on numerous occasions this campaign.
And it was ‘‘ Groundhog Day’’ for the home side at the Brisbane Convention Centre, butchering another win with lacklustre defensive intensity and poor offensive execution when it mattered most.
Brisbane had six turnovers in the last quarter and 15 overall, while Perth grabbed 14 offensive rebounds for the game in two telling stats.
Quite simply, the Bullets shot themselves in the foot with some dumb basketball. Yet again.
Any hope of Brisbane challenging for a playoff berth is just ever- so- faintly mathematical.
The Wildcats outscored Brisbane 49- 33 across the last two quarters despite playing an intense top- ofthe- table clash against Melbourne in Perth on Friday night.
Brisbane led by 21 points with seven minutes remaining in the second quarter but Perth kept grinding away and hit the lead for the first time in the match in the dying minutes as Brisbane imploded. Yet again.
Brisbane coach Andrej Lemanis could not hide his displeasure with another gut- wrenching loss.
“It’s frustrating, obviously. In a six- game losing streak, two of them have been by a point, one in overtime, one by three points ... the other one we had opportunities as well,’’ he said.
“It’s frustrating for us, I’m sure it’s frustrating for the fans … it’s the same story week- in, week- out.
“At some stage we have to make the learning adjustment … at some point we’ve got to will ourselves to make that play that is going to make a difference.
“It’s always an accumulation of things … if we knew the answer we would be using it. The frustration comes because we are good enough.’’
The slow- starting Cotton had 13 points, while fellow import Jean- Pierre Tokoto had 16 points and seven rebounds for the Wildcats.
Trice top- scored for Brisbane with 18 points and had five assists, while Perrin Buford had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Reuben Te Rangi had 12 points but three turnovers, while Stephen Holt had 11 points for Brisbane.
Perth coach Trevor Gleeson said the win spoke volumes for the spirit within the defending champions.
“The third quarter really set it up,’’ Gleeson said.
“We got it just where we needed and Bryce took over the last couple of minutes.
“The guys did a really good job of staying together and believing.”