PERTH Wildcats were able to bounce back from a heart-breaking defeat to Melbourne United on Christmas Day to win an equally nail-biting contest against Cairns Taipans last night to continue Round 12 of the NBL.

The three-point victory – which saw the Wildcats start strongly to lead by nine points at the first change, then hold on as the Taipans hit hte line hard at the end – prompted Wildcats coach John Rillie to tell journalists to “watch a little closer” at Kristian Doolittle who was enormous defensively in the win. Doolittle pulled in 16 rebounds – 13 defensive – and shot at 50 per cent from the field for 17 points to win Player of the Match.

“I guess that bamboozles me to some degree where we talk about all these other players in the league about Defensive Player of the Week candidates and this guy quietly goes about his business every night,” Rillie said.

“I’m not an analytics guy but we’re moving in the right direction defensively and he is a huge part of it, so it would be nice if people watched a little closer so they realise how much impact he has at that end of the floor.”

Doolittle supported star guard Bryce Cotton who again led from the front on the offensive end, putting up 33 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals to be next best for the winners. Keanu Pinder (14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals) also stepped up against his former team.

“Coming on the road, getting a win that shows a lot of characte in our team and for me on the sideline watching than betting that cracker at Christmas so I’m happy to move on,” Rillie said.

“That was a tremendous game the other night, disappointing for the way it ended for us, but for us to bounce back tonight and get a road win. Any time you get one of those in this league that’s a good thing.”

Much of the talk heading into the game was the battle of Next-Stars Alexandre Sarr and Bobi Klintman, with the former coming off the bench to put up 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists without a turnover in just 15 minutes.

“Sarr’s been tremendous for us,” Rillie said. “Tonight he came in that first half, brought good energy like some of the other young energy like some of the younger players who haven’t played for some time, they gave us a great spark in that first half. I can’t speak highly enough of Alex let alone his basketball you guys get to see that, but the way he conducts himself often the type of person he is.”

Klintman took home the chocolates in the overall battle however, picking up 24 points in as many minutes, shooting three from four beyond the arc. The talented young gun also pulled in seven rebounds – six defensive – and had three steals. He shot at 75 per cent, however the starting five for the Taipans all misfired with a field accuracy of no more than 42 per cent.

Cairns coach Adam Forde admitted missed early baskets hurt the home team, but he was proud of the way the Taipans fought to the end against a quality side.

“I can’t fault the guys,” Forder said. “We missed some real easy ones at the start and when you want to say it was execution there, 100 per cent there was a half dozen that didn’t drop in our favour to start the first quarter, and then obviously once they get the rebound and they can get out of the break it speeds them up and they capitalised on that.

“It was tough not getting that scoreboard pressure in the first quarter, but I thought we did a good job fighting back right up until the end.”

Round 12 concludes tonight with Brisbane Bullets hosting New Zealand Breakers at Nissan Arena. Perth will continue its away run with a visit to Adelaide 36ers on Thursday, while Cairns prepares for a road trip itself against Sydney Kings on Friday, before returning back to Far North Queensland for a massive contest against ladder leaders Melbourne United on Sunday.