Windler, Pepper lift Wildcats over Breakers

Dylan Windler and Thursday night's hero Elijah Pepper combined for 51 points as the Perth Wildcats overcame the loss of Jo Lual-Acuil Jr to win a hard fought battle with the New Zealand Breakers 97-93 at RAC Arena.

The Wildcats started well fresh off Thursday's stunning win at the death against the Adelaide 36ers and drawing two early fouls on Sam Mennenga helped their cause.

But the Breakers responded with a 15-0 run in the first quarter and the Wildcats soon lost big man Lual-Acuil Jr for the game with an apparent calf injury.

New Zealand did end up leading by as much as 11 themselves but it was games record holding captain Jesse Wagstaff who sparked the Wildcats in the third quarter.

They were then able to get the job done on the four-point victory to improve to 2-1 to start the season with all three games so far at RAC Arena.

Perth finished with 19 offensive rebounds to 10, giving them seven extra shot attempts, and that proved to be the major difference.

Windler produced his best game of the new season with 26 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks, with Pepper maintaining his form with another 25 points, five assists, four boards and three steals.

Anthony Dell'Orso also had 15 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, Kristian Doolittle 12 points, five boards and four assists, and Wagstaff 10 points with three rebounds before fouling out.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright put in another tireless performance for the Breakers with 30 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and three steals, shooting 12/19 from the field and 4/9 from the outside.

Mojave King stepped up in his second game with 18 points, four rebounds and three assists while Mennenga still had 12 points and five boards despite the foul trouble that limited him to 23 minutes.

Carlin Davison also provided a spark with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks, and DJ Vasiljevic had a night to forget with two points on 0/8 shooting.

The Breakers changed up the starting line-up with both Mojave King and Reuben Te Rangi in but the plan to go small and back in Sam Mennenga on Jo Lual-Acuil Jr didn’t pay off early with the New Zealand powerhouse picking up two early fouls.

Dylan Windler then scored five quick points and the 'Cats had the early momentum leading 9-2 before teen sensation Marley Sam checked in for the first time to a rousing ovation for the first time.

His first involvement was a pass to Kristian Doolittle for an open three to put Perth up 17-8 and Gordon Herbert had to talk it over and whatever he said worked a treat because the Breakers came out to score the next 15 points.

New Zealand went into quarter-time up 26-22 before building a lead as big as 11 during the second term, and the Breakers were still ahead 51-47 heading into half-time.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright had 13 points and five assists for the visitors, but Carlin Davison was their real spark with 13 points, while Charles Bediako and Mojave King added eight each.

Elijah Pepper was the main offensive threat for the Wildcats with 16 points to the half with 3/5 from deep before the home team came out to score the first eight points of the second half.

The swings continued, with the Breakers taking the lead again before Jesse Wagstaff lifted the Wildcats with 10 points for the quarter, and they led 76-73 thanks to a buzzer-beater from Dylan Windler.

The 'Cats maintained a slender lead through the fourth quarter but could never quite put the Breakers away before a huge three from Kristian Doolittle with three minutes to go.

That made it a seven-point ball game with the Wildcats going on to secure the four-point win from there.

The Breakers return home to host the Cairns Taipans on Wednesday as they begin their Ignite Cup defence, while the Wildcats remain at RAC Arena to host the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Friday.

PERTH WILDCATS 97 – NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 93

Perth Wildcats
Dylan Windler – 26 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks
Elijah Pepper – 25 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
Anthony Dell'Orso – 15 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists
Kristian Doolittle – 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Jesse Wagstaff – 10 points, 3 rebounds

NZ Breakers
Parker Jackson-Cartwright – 30 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
Mojave King – 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Carlin Davison – 15 points, 5 rebounds
Sam Mennenga – 12 points, 5 rebounds
Charles Bediako – 8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks