Hungry Jack's NBL
Pepper, Okwera, Cotton star for Wildcats
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By Chris Pike for NBL.com.au
The Perth Wildcats have unleashed their firepower putting up 73 points in the first half on the way to a 131-108 NBL pre-season win over an NBL1 West Select team with Bryce Cotton, Elijah Pepper and David Okwera combining for 67 of them.
It was the second meeting around Perth for the weekend as the 'Cats begin their pre-season campaign ahead of NBL25 against a group of players from a variety of NBL1 West teams.
Perth scored the 118-100 win on Friday night at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre before the return encounter on Sunday evening south of Perth at the Lakeside Recreation Centre.
It was a blistering first half showing from the Wildcats with 34 points in the first quarter and 39 in the second on the back of shooting 59 per cent from the field.
They went on with it in the second half too to end up winning by 23 having led by as much as 36 with four-time MVP Bryce Cotton putting up 22 points and four assists in just 16 minutes.
Fresh off a season in the NBL1 West at the East Perth Eagles, David Okwera also showed he is ready for an increased role in NBL25 with 24 points and nine rebounds including a couple of statement flushes.
Elijah Pepper backed up his performance from Friday night with the rookie sharpshooter producing another 21 points with 3/6 shooting from behind the three-point line.
Newly signed development player Tom Gerovich is fresh off helping the Willetton Tigers to an NBL1 West Grand Final. He showed exciting signs in under 13 minutes with 16 points on a perfect 7/7 shooting.
Tai Webster also had 11 points for the 'Cats with Kristian Doolittle having 10 points in 13 minutes before leaving the game with an ankle complaint in the only concern of the evening.
Ben Henshall impressed again with nine points and seven assists with Michael Harris contributing seven points and six rebounds.
The Wildcats do still have Next Star Izan Almansa and newly signed import Dylan Windler to come into the line-up too but both were on hand to watch their team in action.
Former Illawarra Hawks and Cairns Taipans NBL guard Marshall Nelson top-scored for the NBL1 West Select with 18 points and six rebounds with Sebit Reath, Duop's younger brother, adding 16 points and five boards.
Joondalup Wolves import CJ Turnage provided 15 points, Geraldton Buccaneers excitement machine Johny Narkle 12 points, three rebounds and three steals, and former Taipans forward Tevin Jackson 16 points on 4/4 shooting from downtown.
The Wildcats will now embark on a tour of Japan with games against the Chiba Jets, Nagoya Diamond Dolphins and Yokohama B-Corsairs next week ahead of the NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast.
HUNGRY JACK'S NBL PRE-SEASON
PERTH WILDCATS 131 (Okwera 24, Cotton 22, Pepper 21)
NBL1 WEST SELECT 108 (Nelson 18, Reath 16, Jackson 16)
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