Rillie Backing Full Bandwagon Following Finals Berth

The streak may be over, but the Perth Wildcats are back in the NBL Finals – and it has happened in the most extraordinary of circumstances.

Following Melbourne United’s nine-point win over the Adelaide 36ers, the Wildcats needed to register a win of at least 11 points over the ladder-leading Sydney Kings. A team who, up until this point, had not lost by double-figures all season.

Perth rose as one against all odds and put the Kings to the sword. A missed buzzer-beating three from Sydney sharpshooter DJ Vasiljevic meant Perth snuck into the playoffs courtesy of a 12-point win. They head to the post-season at the expense of United - who finished the regular season with a points percentage just 0.06 per cent lower than the Wildcats.

First-year head coach John Rillie says his side never gave up belief in itself.

“I’m going to say our bandwagon is pretty full right now,” Rillie said post-game.

“When we were five and seven and had lost five in a row there was only a room full of guys that believed.

“That’s what I’m most proud of about this team. It came down to the wire, but we made it so lets go and win it.”

Following the heart-stopping victory both Rillie and match-winner Luke Travers revealed nobody within the four walls of the playing group knew the required margin of victory to make finals.

On what was a rare off-night for MVP candidate Bryce Cotton Travers stepped up to produce the second double-double of his career with 22 points and six rebounds. He also added six assists and a block in what could be an early career-defining performance.

“We did not talk about the points spread at all,” Rillie said. “We never talked about that. We played the game to win and if we play the game the right way good things will happen for us. It did not ever come out of my mouth.

“It’s my job to control the game so I can get the best out of those guys. They don’t need to know the scenario, but I can help them through it with the use of timeouts, the type of defence we play, and hopefully I make a few correct play calls for the offence.

“There was no need for them to worry about that. I tell them all the time that if you play the right way you get rewarded, and that’s what happened tonight.”

“We did a great job. We did what we needed to do tonight.”

The hearts of the Red Army would have been in their collective mouths when import centre TaShawn Thomas hit the floor clutching his knee late in the first quarter.

Thomas returned to the floor soon after though, and he helped play a key role in quietening Xavier Cooks and Tim Soares.

“TaShawn has really good recuperating powers unless we’re playing in Joondalup and he runs out the door,” Rillie said – alluding to Perth’s pre-season clash where Thomas was locked outside the stadium.

“Players rise to the occasion. He wanted to be a part of the, and the way he started the game he had a very good presence about him defensively.

“That’s when I can tell TaShawn is ready to go.”

The Wildcats will travel to Melbourne to take on the Phoenix in the NBL’s first ever Play-In game on Thursday night.