United stuns Wildcats in overtime

MELBOURNE United will host Sydney in the NBL semifinals after a crucial 81-70 overtime win at home over Perth.

A low-scoring affair turned into high drama yesterday at Melbourne Arena after the home side, trailing for most of the game, scored the final seven points to send the game into overtime.

With home-court advantage for their playoff series against the Kings on the line, United’s Chris Goulding connected from long range with 14 seconds to play to level the scores at 68-68.

Melbourne dominated the extra period, outscoring the Wildcats 13-2 with Goulding adding a pair of three-pointers to finish with 13 points. DJ Kennedy led United with 21 points, 15 rebounds and six assists, while Mitch McCarron’s 15 points all came after halftime.

United shot the ball at a lowly 28 per cent in an ugly first half, although Perth could muster only a 34-29 lead.

A superb second-half performance from Nick Kay (22 points, eight rebounds) appeared to have the visitors set for victory but United’s late assault swung the contest.

Bryce Cotton finished with 11 points to claim the league’s scoring title ahead of Cairns import Melo Trimble.

The Wildcats played with- out injured import Terrico White, who is expected to be fit for the semi-final series against Brisbane.

Points were hard to come by early in the contest but, once Cotton started to find the basket, Perth reeled off nine points in a row to build the team’s lead to 16-12 after one quarter.

Kennedy and Craig Moller tried their best to lift the home side in the second quarter, but United closed the half with only 10 successful shots, but the Wildcats only increased their lead to five.

Kay took over the game after the main break, hitting twice from long range for 14 third-quarter points as Perth built a 52-45 advantage heading into the final term.