Perth Wildcats outlast Tasmania in gutsy 88-82 win as Kristian Doolittle, Elijah Pepper come up big

Perth Wildcats have hit back from their huge loss to South East Melbourne last weekend to produce a crucial six-point victory over Tasmania and even their ledger at five wins and five losses.

The Wildcats overcame an early shooting barrage from the JackJumpers, the absence of injured star Bryce Cotton and the blow of Keanu Pinder fouling out late to win 88-82 in front of 10,793 fans at RAC Arena.

Kristian Doolittle was superb with 18 points and 12 rebounds, Tai Webster was influential with 14 points and six assists, Pinder produced 13 points and seven rebounds while Elijah Pepper and Todd Withers had huge moments.

Coach John Rillie was thrilled with how many players produced at key moments.

“When we win games we have multiple guys making winning plays,” Rillie said.

“They’re happy to be out there seeing success for each other. Take Dylan Windler as an example. He didn’t make a shot all night but he still had a huge impact on the game.

“This is where this team has a good opportunity to grow. We have guys that can contribute where it just chips away and at the end of the game you go they really helped you to win the game. In a way, that’s how Tassie got it done last year. Once you get into play-off basketball you need that grit about yourself. That’s what this period without Bryce is allowing us to do.”

Tasmania are clearly the lowest scoring team in the league this campaign and managed only 60 points last weekend against Sydney, but came out firing and their 27 points in the opening stanza was their best first term for the season.

But the Wildcats had the answers, including a long range three-point buzzer beater from Pepper to level the scores at the first break.

Tasmania was on fire from the perimeter, making 13 three-point shots in the first half at 59 per cent That was more three-pointers than they’d made in any game this season.

Milton Doyle nailed his first five shots from beyond the arc and was a six from nine at half-time while having 20 points.

His efforts gave the visitors a four-point lead at half-time but Doolittle was looming large for the Wildcats with 11 points and five rebounds.

Cotton remained sidelined with a rib injury but the JackJumpers were without star big man Will Magnay.

Perth halted Tasmania’s scoring to start the third quarter. Pinder lifted at both ends of the court in Indigenous Round and Pepper kept making shots as the home team roared to a nine-point lead. It took the JackJumpers six-and-a-half minutes to register a field goal.

But the Wildcats couldn’t pull clear any further, lost composure at the offensive end and Tasmania worked their way back to make it a three-point contest with one quarter remaining.

The JackJumpers then re-gained the lead early in the final period but Perth again had the answers as they moved to a seven-point advantage again. Withers hit a crucial three-pointer and then produced a monstrous block to inspire his team

The game was always going to have more twists though and Tassie hit the front with 2:56 remaining as Doyle notched up his 30th point for the night.

From there, the lead changed three times but it was the Wildcats who held firm when it mattered.

Doolittle said the team was growing in confidence.

“This will be very beneficial for us down the line when teams have scouted us and they’re scheming to take away things we like to do. It’s giving everyone confidence to step up and make a play,” he said.

“We know who Bryce is but with him being out it is highlighting that everybody else is a good player. We know everyone else can go out there and do their thing. It’s been somebody different every single game which makes us dangerous.

“Henny had the crazy game the other day, Keanu had the 30-point game, we had five people in double figures today. It’s kind of pick your poison with how we’re doing things. We’re running our offence with fluidity.”

Doyle finished with 30 points but didn’t add to his three-point tally in the second half.

The club celebrated captain Jesse Wagstaff breaking the Wildcats’ games record last week with owner Mark Arena making a presentation to him before the game. Wagstaff’s wife and children were on the court for that moment but he didn’t play at all during the night after struggling to train all week due to illness.

The Wildcats will now travel to Victoria for a game against Melbourne United on Saturday night.