THERE is simply no stopping Bryce Cotton, as he starred once again in Adelaide’s commanding 11-point win over Perth Wildcats at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre last night. For the third time this season the ex-Wildcat faced his former side, and in front of more than 10,000 people put on a clinic as the 36ers triumphed 95-84.

Adelaide 36ers (95) def. Perth Wildcats (84)

The ladder-leading 36ers were hot favourites against the mid-table Wildcats, especially at home, but it was the visitors who showed they meant business in the opening term with a 29-20 quarter to lead by nine points at quarter time. Despite that, Cotton and the in-form 36ers got back to business, trimming the deficit to just three points at the main break.

Given Adelaide has lost just once from its past 11 games, it was no surprise to see the class rise to the top, as Flynn Cameron and Dejan Vasiljevic rode shotgun to the Cotton show. In a third quarter blitz, the 36ers tightened the screws, only conceding nine points while piling on 20 to turn a three-point deficit into a 17-point lead.

Cotton shot 10 points alone in the third term and 22 points in the second half, to be the difference between the side. The five-time MVP finished the contest with 36 points – including six of 12 from long-range – seven assists and three rebounds in the victory.

Cameron (17 points, six rebounds and five assists) had his own dip with three of six from beyond the arc, while Vasiljevic (three of five from three-point range) produced 17 points and two rebounds on the night. In support of the scorers, Isaac Humphries and Nick Rakocevic combined for 10 rebounds from 13 points.

For the Wildcats, Kristian Doolittle (18 points, six rebounds and three assists) was prominent, while Dylan Windler (10 points, five rebounds) and Jo Lual-Acuil (11 points, three rebounds and two blocks) both chipped in. Elijah Pepper helped himself to 12 points, going at 100 per cent from inside the arc (4/4) but zero per cent from outside it (0/5).

Both teams play early in the new year with the Wildcats looking to bounce back on the road against Brisbane Bullets on New Year’s Day, while the 36ers step onto the court the following day at home against a rampaging Sydney Kings in what promises to be one of the matches of the season.