Tigers/Wildcats Review From Top End

The Melbourne Tigers sent the Perth Wildcats home winless from the Top End Challenge, beating them 84-79.

The Tigers saw Chris Anstey and Sam MacKinnon back in there lineup after have a rest yesterday. Anstey looked refreshed and good the Tigers off to a fast start with nine points in the first quarter.

On the otherhand, 7'0 red head Luke Schenscher saw his first action in a Wildcats' uniform tonight. He was ice cold in the first quarter, shooting six blanks.

At half time the Tigers went into the change rooms up 41-36. Luke Kendall came to life and finished with thirteen at the half, courtesy of three long bombers. Anstey continued to have an impact as he took his tally to 15.

For the Wildcats, Kevin Lisch was having a solid all round game with 4 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Schenscher scored his first point as a Cat but managed just 1-of-8 shooting.

The score remained rather close during the bulk of the second half, with the Wildcats hitting the front by three for a brief stint.

Fast forward to the last three minutes of the game where the Tigers held a three point lead.

Martin Cattilini had a tip in to get the Cats to back within one, but it was a Kendall three pointer that gave the Tigers a seven point margin with 80 seconds remaining.

Although the 'Cats got it back to three in the dying seconds, Kendall calmly knocked down four free throws to ice the game for the Tigers.

Kendall led all scorers with 25 while Anstey contributed 21 to the Tigers tally while veteran Cattilini was the top scorer with 19 for the Wildcats.

Random Thoughts From The Game

- Biggest play of the game, Darryl Corletto deflects a ball that smashes my laptop screen. End of weekend for JR, but I cannot wait for the mail on Monday when Basketball Australia has sent me a new one.

- The Wildcats played the twin towers of Paul Rogers and Luke Schenscher in a couple short spells together. I think that will be the end of that experiment.

- Melbourne Tigers back up centre Daniel Johnson will be a player of the future.

- Wildcat Stephen Weigh seems to have benefited from an off season with the Boomers. He was aggressive all weekend.

- Chris Anstey is still the best player (or toughest cover) in the league.