FOR THE second time in 12 months, superstar guard Bryce Cotton surpassed the 50-point mark in the National Basketball League (NBL), dropping 53 to lead his Adelaide 36ers to a gritty win over the Cairns Taipans.

Cotton has firmed as the clear favourite for a remarkable sixth Most Valuable Player award, putting him just one behind Andrew Gaze for most in competition history if he is to take out the NBL’s top gong once again.

Adelaide travelled north to take on the Taipans at Cairns Convention Centre on Saturday evening, fresh off a strong win over the SEM Phoenix to sit nicely in the standings at 5-1, trailing only the unbeaten Melbourne United. On the other hand, Cairns had won just two of its six outings, and lost star signing Jack McVeigh to a wrist injury, making the home side heavy underdogs.

Although Cotton was immense, the Taipans stuck around for most of the match, drawing within three points in the final stages of the match. However, the Sixers were able to hold on to claim a five-point win and increase the gap between themselves and the third placed Phoenix by the end of the round.

The superstar guard was the difference in the match, becoming the first Sixers player to surpass the half-century mark and record the second 50-point outing of his storied career, continuing to be in a league of his own on the offensive end.

Cairns Taipans (86) def. by Adelaide 36ers (91)

Bryce Cotton – 53 points, two rebounds, five assists

Cotton delivered another greatest-hits performance and his best as a Sixer in the win over the Taipans, showing exactly why he elevates this team into a championship-calibre team with his masterful scoring ability.

He got off to a red-hot start in the opening frame, catching fire in the opening minutes of the contest to give the Sixers the upper hand. 11 points from Cotton in the first 10 minutes was enough to see the visitors lead by two points, with the point guard accounting for all but eight of his team’s points in a tremendous individual effort.

The five-time MVP kept that form rolling into the second frame, and despite almost every Taipan putting some sort of effort into slowing him down, Cotton could not be contained. He went for another 12 points in the second quarter and closed out the half with 23 points to his name as Adelaide took an eight-point buffer into the main change.

A nice finish at the cup early in the third quarter put his side up by 14 points, but from there, it was the Taipans who snatched the momentum. Despite another eight points from Cotton, the lead was cut to seven points at the final charge and it was evident that Cairns was on the charge and the pressure was back on the Sixers to respond.

Cotton started the final frame with a three-point bomb to give his side some breathing space, punishing the Taipans for giving him a look at the basket. From there, the NBL’s best player showed why he has earned that title, dropping 20 points in the final nine minutes in a spurt that included three-pointers off the dribble, mid-range jumpers and plenty of free throws as he helped the Sixers close out the contest and hold on with some big plays down the stretch.

He finished the match with an astounding 53 points on 16/29 shooting from the field, 5/13 shooting from behind the arc and a perfect 16/16 shooting from the free throw line. His 22-point final quarter cemented it as a historic performance and he was undoubtedly the difference between winning and losing for the Sixers.