REMARKABLY, for the third time in as many rounds the NBL has seen an all-time 40-minute era scoring record broken. Just two rounds ago Chris Goulding came up against Perth and entered the top three with his scorching 46-point performance, the second highest scoring game of his career behind the 50 points he scored for the Melbourne Tigers in 2024.

Last round it was James Batemon’s turn, dazzling 51 points on the Wildcats in Brisbane, the most ever in the 40-minute era, and now superstar Bryce Cotton has gone one step further. 

Cotton came out absolutely blistering, having put up 31 points by halftime. He helped the Wildcats to 69 first half points and a 21-point lead over the New Zealand Breaker. In the second half the coverage on Cotton became tighter, and it became more difficult for him to attack the basket.

This did not stop the absurd scoring outburst from the four-time NBL MVP. Cotton started knocking down mid-range jump-shots and ended the third quarter with another 17 points to give him 48 for the game.

The Breakers outscored Perth 37-24 in the third term to reduce the margin to eight points going into the final frame on the back of another outstanding game from MVP candidate Parker Jackson-Cartwright. The Breakers guard scored 34 points of his own to go with 10 assists and three steals.

The battle of the MVP contenders did not stop there though. Jackson-Cartwright scored eight points in the last quarter while Cotton would go on to add another 11 final term points to give him 59 for the evening. The Wildcats ended the night 11-point winners after the scintillating performance from their star. 

The other four starters for the Wildcats all managed to score in double figures on the back of Cotton’s seven assists as well, Ben Henshall continuing his run of form with a balanced line of 10 points, four rebounds, three steals and a block.

Next star Izan Almansa stepped into the starting line-up again to replace the ill Keanu Pinder, and performed admirably as he scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds. His draft stock keeps rising as he produces for the Wildcats. Dylan Windler scored 15 points and Kristian Doolittle contributed 13 points, five rebounds and four assists. 

New Zealand lost new import Tacko Fall to injury just five minutes into the ballgame and dropped to 7-5 having lost earlier in the round to Illawarra by a whopping 38 points. Sam Mennenga stepped up with 25 points and eight rebounds but the contributions were few and far between for the Breakers.

Perth were also victorious on Friday night against the Brisbane Bullets in a team effort that saw eight Wildcats score in double figures. All five starters plus David Okwera, Elijah Pepper and Almansa contributed with Doolittle leading all comers with 17 points to go with seven assists and five rebounds. Brisbane made the score a little more respectable towards the end of the final quarter but trailed by as many as 36 points in a complete demolition by the home side. 

Casey Prather led the Bullets with 31 points and seven rebounds while Rocco Zikarsky filled in for the injured Tyrell Harrison by contributing 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks as he seeks to build up is minutes and thus his draft stock in the wake of a successful Boomers stint during the FIBA break.

Pinder battled illness and was limited to just 15 minutes of court time, so Next Star Almansa showed up again with 11 points and four rebounds, while Okwera was able to get his first serious run of the season and took full advantage scoring 12 points in seven minutes off the bench.

Every Wildcat saw the court in the blowout victory, which gave head coach John Rillie the opportunity to rest his starters in preparation for the Breakers game (a decision which proved itself to be the correct one). 

The weekend was highlighted of course by Cotton’s all-time performance, which some are saying is the best individual game in NBL history. Cotton scored 59 points, shooting 18/28 from the floor and 7/15 from beyond the three-point arc. He nailed 16 of his 17 free throw attempts. Cotton also dished out seven assists, grabbed three rebounds and blocked a shot.

The Wildcats enter the latter half of the season in the best possible way and have now equalled the Sydney Kings’ record, remaining fifth only by percentage. With two games in Round 11 to the Kings one, they will move ahead of them on the table into fourth place with two wins this upcoming weekend. 

Perth now look forward to hosting the Illawarra Hawks on Friday night before jetting off to Adelaide to play the undermanned 36ers, who will regain Kendric Davis after serving a two-game suspension, but will still be without Montrezl Harrell who will miss a third game for the same offence. The Wildcats themselves will be hopeful that Tai WebsterTai Webster and Pinder can return to the court ahead of an important stretch.