Bullets Beat Wildcats in OT to End Losing Run

The Brisbane Bullets welcomed back Tyler Johnson and Tanner Krebs, and with Nathan Sobey leading the charge they snapped a losing run and got their first win under Greg Vanderjagt beating the Perth Wildcats 97-93 in overtime.

The Brisbane fans turned out in numbers for this post-Christmas clash with nearly 4000 fans inside Nissan Arena with the Queensland crowd getting a back-and-forth classic for four quarters followed by an overtime encore that rocked the arena. 

On the Wildcats’ last trip down the floor in regulation, it didn’t feel that way. As an on-fire Bryce Cotton had the ball in his hands with the clock expiring, but would concede he’s taken better game-deciding shots in his career. 

This attempt was blocked by Gorjok Gak and granted the Bullets a last-second shot of their own just past half court, which Sobey rimmed out. It was 87-87. 

Like fighters in a 13th round, overtime was a scrappy affair. The Wildcats’ TaShawn Thomas found his way to the free-throw line on two occasions, but was 1/4 on those attempts.

Meanwhile, the Bullets continued to get the ball in the hoop any way they could. Gak tipped in a missed Andrew White III three and Sobey converted on the next trip down the lane, and Brisbane had a five-point lead (95-90). 

An under pressure Corey Webster layup made it a two-point game, but an uncharacteristic miss from the free-throw line and a frenetic final Wildcats’ offensive play that ended in a Thomas foul ensured the home crowd got the four-point win they wanted. 

Fittingly, it was Sobey who iced the game. First with the last-minute driving lay-up and then a last-second pair of free throws. He had a game-high 30 points, a mark he shared with his direct opponent Cotton (30 points, six assists). 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">GAK WITH THE GAME-SAVING SWAT ON COTTON!!<br><br>We&#39;re going to OT. ?<br><br>Catch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> action live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel. <a href="https://t.co/I4J7b0JltV">pic.twitter.com/I4J7b0JltV</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1607685380601675776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

If there were small things that separated two magnificent performances, it was Sobey’s willingness to bring others in the offence with nine assists as well as more efficient shooting. Sobey was 8/17 shooting, which bettered Cotton’s 8/25.

Bullets coach Greg Vanderjagt enjoyed his first win in charge.

"I'm drenched. The emotion was.. I don't know if it was relief, jubilation or a combination of a lot of things," Vanderjagt said.

"I'm kind of just happy for the group to break out of a funk and get the win. I think I said it in the introductory press conference during the week: I'm privileged to be coaching professional basketball. 

"Sometimes they do go your way, sometimes they don't. Tonight it did go our way. We're happy with the win, but now it's about how do we put two or three wins together."

While the Wildcats won the rebound count for a second straight game, ultimately it was missed free-throws critical to the final result. Brisbane went 17/21 from the line but Perth struggled going 22/40. Those 18 points left at the line will lead to some sleepless nights.

Wildcats coach John Rillie did note the free-throw misses post-match but just felt they couldn’t ever really get into a flow all night.

"I do think it does (free-throws makes a difference)," Rillie said. 

"It kind of compounds as it happens. They are professional athletes, that is their craft - making free-throws in an environment like that. 

"Our offence wasn’t flowing like it has been. The second and third quarter we couldn’t get into the flow and rhythm of the game. We couldn’t create any momentum until the fourth quarter."

In the first quarter, Nathan Sobey was floored on a Corey Webster drive to the basket. Wiping blood from his nose, Sobey momentarily was subbed out of the action.

It was during this stretch that the Wildcats got hot and reeled off a 12-point run. Like Sobey, the Bullets recovered though. At quarter-time, it was a three-point game (19-16). 

Wildcats fans, and Australian basketball fans alike, would have been thrilled with the early energy and execution from Luke Travers, who has found another gear since being promoted into the starting line-up. 

Travers was 4/4 from the three-point line and notched up another double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) in a terrific display. 

The Wildcats had won four straight after moving Travers, Brady Manek (six rebounds) and Webster (16 points, four assists) into their starting five. The blend of energy and wiry know-how has perfectly complemented Bryce Cotton. 

In the second quarter, Jason Cadee (10 points, six assists) hit a pair of three-pointers, one apiece from each corner. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The ?????? from Thomas leading to some Cotton magic ? <br><br>Catch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> action live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel. <a href="https://t.co/Fydi2N8QiR">pic.twitter.com/Fydi2N8QiR</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1607682139474231296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sobey also found the returning Tanner Krebs on the buzzer, whose go-ahead three-pointer gave the Bullets a come-from-behind half-time lead (41-40).

Aron Baynes (12 points, 10 rebounds) also had his giant fingerprints all over this. He opened the third quarter with a triple that extended the Bullets’ lead to four points. 

It prompted a fiery timeout from John Rillie, who was animated in the Perth huddle. Webster came out and went straight to the basket on consecutive trips down the court. 

When Baynes began the fourth quarter as he did the third, with another three-pointer, Rillie’s frustrations grew again. 

A 12-0 run in the fourth quarter, led by none other than Cotton, put the Wildcats in a position that at times felt as if a steeled victory was an inevitability, especially with the ball in Cotton’s possession in critical moments. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Krebs beats the buzzer to give the Bullets the half-time lead!<br><br>Catch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> action live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel. <a href="https://t.co/W4lgV0sHOR">pic.twitter.com/W4lgV0sHOR</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1607669891062198272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Webster, too, wasn’t afraid of the spotlight and showed the kind of mettle that comes with being a multiple title winner. 

But the Bullets, with their backs against the wall, stood up for new coach Greg Vanderjagt in a win he, nor any of the Bullets fans in attendance, will soon forget to snap the five-game losing run. 

The Bullets hit the road and take on the Adelaide 36ers on Thursday. The Wildcats now play the Illawarra Hawks on New Year's Eve.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 12

BRISBANE BULLETS 97 (Sobey 30, Krebs 15, Baynes 12)

PERTH WILDCATS 93 (Cotton 30, Webster 16, Thomas 15, Travers 15) 

BOX SCORE