IT was an excellent start to the National Basketball League (NBL) preseason ahead of the 2024/25 fixture for the Perth Wildcats, defeating the NBL1 West Select Team in the first of two clashes between the sides over the weekend.

The first match came on Friday night at the redeveloped Morley Recreation Centre, and would showcase the absolute best of basketball in Western Australia. The Wildcats are gearing up to hopefully return to the semi-finals, after bowing out in disappointing fashion last season. They certainly have the talent to get there, especially with four-time MVP Bryce Cotton still in ripping form, having claimed the league’s highest individual honour in his last campaign.

Perth faced off against the NBL1 West Select Team, which was compiled of the best players from that competition throughout the 2024 season. The NBL1 West is considered one of the strongest divisions in the country, so the team was always going to put up a fight, even against a motivated Wildcats team.

In a high-scoring encounter, it was the Wildcats who got the last laugh, taking out a 18-point win to showcase their intent heading into the upcoming season.

Perth Wildcats (118) def. NBL1 West Select (100)

After the Wildcats got off to a hot start as expected, NBL1 West did a good job to reduce the deficit to just four points at the main change. It was an impressive feat given the Wildcats had the margin at 10 points at the first change. However, the Select team was up for the fight and gave Perth a valuable challenge heading into the fixture.

The third quarter was the defining patch of the game, with the Wildcats outscoring the opposition 33-16 to storm out to a match-breaking lead. Although the NBL1 West team improved its output in the final term, it was too little, too late as Perth took home an impressive win that was a clear demonstrator that it can handle a push from the opposition.

The Wildcats would have been most impressed with the performance of their young sharpshooters, with Elijah Pepper and Ben Henshall combining for 40 points and nine triples off the bench. If the duo can carry this into the regular season and take some weight off the shoulders of Cotton, it elevates Perth in a big way on the offensive end. Many teams have put so much time and effort into slowing down the superstar guard, so if he can dish the ball to teammates on the perimeter, it is huge for the team’s scoring output.

Cotton was his usual impactful self with 19 points and looks set for another big season, while Michael Harris had 12 points on 3/5 shooting from the field.

CJ Turnage was the leading scorer for the Select Team, posting 17 points on 7/12 shooting, showcasing that his excellent offensive skills can translate against an opponent of a higher quality. Marshall Nelson stuffed the stat sheet to post 16 points, six rebounds, seven assists and three steals to demonstrate the impact he can have on a game.