Wildcats fightback to continue dominance against Hawks

The Illawarra Hawks have dropped their second-straight NBL game, going down to Perth 94-78 at the WIN Entertainment Centre.

Leading the way for the Wildcats, who have now won 94 out of 133 meetings between the two clubs, was three-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton.

The American guard scored a game-high 24 points, in his 150th career NBL game - while also handing out four dimes.

Backing up Cotton was Vic Law and former Hawk Todd Blanchfield, who scored 22 and 20 respectively.

In the loss, bench sparkplug Xavier-Rathan Mayes and NBA Next Star Justinian Jessup both recorded 17 points for the hosts.

The former also chalked up seven rebounds and four assists, while the Golden State Warriors draft pick added three three-pointers and two rebounds.

Import Tyler Harvey was the only other Illawarra player to reach double figures, finishing with 11 points, four assists and two steals.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/YoungTRaaw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YoungTRaaw</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/ac_uno1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ac_uno1</a> bring down the house with an emphatic half-court alley-oop ?<br><br>Watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/Peoplecare?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Peoplecare</a> clash on <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Foxtel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Foxtel</a> ?<br> <br>? for your <a href="https://twitter.com/peppermoney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@peppermoney</a> &#39;Player of the Game&#39; here: <a href="https://t.co/8Z15u2IjrK">https://t.co/8Z15u2IjrK</a><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreIllawarra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreIllawarra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://t.co/qgGBHDDHuF">pic.twitter.com/qgGBHDDHuF</a></p>&mdash; Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1484817471437930503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Hawks jumped out of the blocks to lead 9-2 early on, punctuated by a half-court alley-oop from Harvey to Antonius Cleveland.

The hosts run continued, as their lead stretched to eight (17-9) before Perth coach Scott Morrison was hit with a technical foul.

Sparked by Rathan-Mayes and Akoldah Gak, who produced two vicious slams, the Hawks led 23-13 at the end of the first period.

Law scored the Wildcats’ first eight points of the second term, to try and drag his side back into the encounter.

Calm play by Canadian point guard Rathan-Mayes kept the Hawks’ lead intact - seeing it blow out to 13.

Six straight points from the Wildcats’ dynamic import duo of Cotton and Law brought the visitors back within seven midway through the quarter.

Despite Brian Goorjian calling a time-out, the Wildcats continued their fightback, led by Law (15 first-half points) - to only trail by one heading into the final minute.

A clutch three-pointer by Harvey and free-throw by Cleveland ensured the host went into the main break up 41-36 - thanks largely to 10 first-half points from Rathan-Mayes.

The third quarter belonged to the Wildcats, outscoring their rivals 30-15, thanks largely to eight points from Blanchfield and six from Cotton - as the visitors led 66-57 at three-quarter-time.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Justinian Jessup puts Bryce Cotton on skates before nailing the deep two-pointer ??<br><br>Watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/Peoplecare?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Peoplecare</a> clash on <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Foxtel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Foxtel</a> ?<br> <br>? for your <a href="https://twitter.com/peppermoney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@peppermoney</a> &#39;Player of the Game&#39; here: <a href="https://t.co/8Z15u2IjrK">https://t.co/8Z15u2IjrK</a><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreIllawarra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreIllawarra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://t.co/44STItevJ9">pic.twitter.com/44STItevJ9</a></p>&mdash; Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1484836717324824585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Goorjian’s troops came out more determined in the fourth, scoring nine of the first 13 points, to close the gap to four with 6.38 to play.

A clutch shot from downtown by Tim Coenraad got the hosts back within one but that was short-lived, as seven straight points by Perth, including a four-point play by Blanchfield, extended their advantage to eight with just under five minutes on the clock.

Compounding the Hawks’ woes were costly turnovers and further scores to Blanchfield and Jesse Wagstaff - as the Cats’ lead blew out to 13 with 3.28 left to play.

In true Hawks’ fighting spirit, quick baskets from Rathan-Mayes and Sam Froling got Goorjian’s side back to within 10, as the round eight fixture entered the final two minutes.

That was as close as the Hawks got, as they went down 94-78 - dropping them to 4-3 on the season.

Next up for the Hawks are the Adelaide 36ers at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Monday - tipping off at 7.30pm.

Tickets for the fixture are available via Ticketmaster.

HawkHeads, don't forget to vote for your Pepper Money 'Player of the Game' here.