Cotton shuts door on Hawks challenge out west

The Illawarra Hawks threw everything into trying to avoid another one of those nights out west and they started strongly with Justin Simon clamping down Bryce Cotton, but it couldn’t last and Perth Wildcats ran right over them to win 81-70.

It's quite an ugly history in Perth from a Hawks perspective and coming into the game they had lost 32 of their last 33 visits, but there were plenty of this #NBL21 team that hasn’t been part of that include new scoring weapons Justinian Jessup and Tyler Harvey.

On the back of that, they scored their team's first 14 points in what was an impressive 14-6 start. That gave the Hawks that belief that maybe those horrors of trips west was a thing of the past, and by quarter-time they were still up nine.

But that old Perth trademark of offensive rebounds began to come to the fore to make it a two-point game at half-time and then the 'Cats managed to move two points up.

Still, Cotton had been well limited by Simon to just nine points by three quarter-time and he hadn’t hit from deep. That sure changed in the fourth quarter. The dual MVP took over with 13 points in the quarter including three triples and some spectacular drives to the hoop.

Simon could still hold his head high, but Cotton put his team on the back and the Wildcats dominated after half-time with 42 points to 29. While Cotton shut the door on the Hawks, it was Perth's second half defence that was the difference.

At one stage, the Hawks missed 15 three-point attempts in-a-row and they went scoreless for almost six minutes of the fourth quarter with Perth extending its lead to 11, and winning by that in the end.

Cotton still produced 22 points and five assists for Perth with John Mooney brilliant again with 17 points, 16 rebounds and four assists.

Clint Steindl had a season-best 17 points on 3/6 shooting from deep as he made up for a quiet six-point night from Todd Blanchfield in his first home game for Perth against Illawarra.

The win continued Perth's home dominance over Illawarra and was also a sixth straight win this NBL season to maintain top spot, and coach Trevor Gleeson was happy with the response from his group.

"Probably the first quarter was not where we wanted it to be, but after that we played pretty well," Gleeson said. 

"To hold a team like that in the second half to 29 points and in the first five or six minutes scoreless in the fourth, I thought we did an outstanding job defensively. It was a good win."

Justinian Jessup was on fire early for Illawarra with nine opening quarter points but he had just 15 for the night with Tyler Harvey finishing with 13 points and eight rebounds.

Cam Bairstow was a strong presence for the Hawks with 13 points and six rebounds with Sam Froling adding 10 points.

Hawks coach Brian Goorjian was coaching back in Perth for the first time since 2008 and while it was his first time being part it, the club's struggles out west continued.

Illawarra has now lost eight straight at RAC Arena, 33 of the last 34 in Perth and 51 of 58 overall, but he was proud of their fight especially early.

"The guys dug deep and I just thought they wore us down and wore us out," Goorjian said. 

"Little chip shots, free-throws, the process we keep talking about to get a shot just has been wearing.

"I've talked about it and it's been brutal, and you're playing the best team in the competition right now that's deep and physical on their home court, and the guys dug really deep. 

"We gave ourselves a chance but the finish of the game had everything to do with being worn." 

Justinian Jessup was playing at RAC Arena for the first time and started on fire. He hit three mid-range jumpers and a three ball in the first three minutes and then Tyler Harvey joined and the Hawks were up 14-6.

Clint Steindl came on to give Perth a spark but then Sam Froling hit six quick points and Illawarra was up 26-17 after one.

The Hawks continued to stand tall in the second quarter opening up a double-figure lead with Cam Bairstow proving a handful down low. They were still up nine with two minutes to go in the first half before Steindl, Bryce Cotton and John Mooney helped Perth to the last seven points.

Mooney then made two huge three-point plays to open the second half and then Steindl knocked down a couple of three balls to put the Wildcats in front. Bairstow and Harvey kept the Hawks close, but Luke Travers gave the 'Cats a 60-50 lead heading into the fourth.

It was then Cotton time. He warmed up with a couple of tough buckets, then knocked down three three-pointers in two and-a-half minutes to put the game to bed and then he dished off to Mooney on the final play for a thunderous dunk and the 11-point win.

Perth now heads to Sydney to face the Kings in a Grand Final rematch on Sunday while the Hawks play their second home game from 18 matches this season on Monday against the Brisbane Bullets.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 11

PERTH WILDCATS 81 (Cotton 22, Steindl 17, Mooney 17)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 70 (Jessup 15, Bairstow 13, Harvey 13) 

BOX SCORE