Bullets fall at final hurdle

Following a dominant performance against the Kings on Thursday night, the Bullets returned to Nissan Arena. Although a close contest in the first 35 minutes of action, the visiting Perth Wildcats ran away with an 102-90 win.

Despite the loss, the entertainment and quality of tonight’s game, matched the occasion as the Bullets not only marked Andrej Lemanis’ 400th NBL game as a coach, but also celebrated the jersey retirement of Robert Sibley.

The Game 

Sobey once again proved himself as an offensive juggernaut leading the team with 24 points and 5 assists. 

While Jason Cadee found his form with 14 points at 78 FG% and Lamar Patterson stuffed the stats with 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

In an exciting start, Matt Hodgson (10 points, nine rebounds) opened up the scoring for the home side with a reverse dunk off a pin point alley-oop from Nathan Sobey.

However it was Perth who who were able to pull away early. A total of eleven offensive rebounds in the first quarter led to multiple extra possessions and therefore scoring opportunities as the visitors took a 10 point lead into the first break.

Cadee set the tone on defence to begin the second quarter, with a tough stand against league leading scorer, Bryce Cotton, in the open floor. He then capitalised on the offensive end, sparking the Bullets as he knocked down a three to finish the possession.

Sobey’s athleticism was on show, slicing though the Perth defence to finish at the rim amongst the Wildcats tall timber and contributed to the Bullets early comeback. Patterson also got in on the action, knocking down a couple of tough three’s to draw the scores level mid way through the second. 

The Bullets were able to weather the storm in the second, outscoring the visiting side 26-17. Emphasis on defence and rebounding paid dividends for the Bullets as they went into half time trailing by just 1. 

Sobey got the Bullets rolling with a three to start the second half, but a quick response from Todd Blanchefield and a quick two from Cotton saw the seesawing affair continue. 

Tamuri Wigness stepped up on defence with some great effort plays and Anthony Drmic (11 points) began to light it up from long range to give the Bullets a five point lead heading into the three quarter time. 

Despite an even contest mid way through the final quarter, the Wildcats made their push in the last five minutes, off the back of some extremely efficient shooting, to outscore the Bullets by 17 in the term. 

Todd Blanchfield set the pace for the visitors with 31 points and was backed up by Mitch Norton and Bryce Cotton who finished with 24 apiece.

400 Games for Andrej Lemanis

Head coach Andrej Lemanis coached his 400th NBL game tonight, an amazing feat achieved by only nine others. Lemanis is in his fifth year at the helm of Brisbane coaching the club from it’s return to the league in the NBL16/17 season. This  followed eight years as Head Coach of the New Zealand Breakers where he won three championships (2011, 2012, 2013). He has twice been named NBL Coach of the Year. 

Jersey Retirement #52 Robert Sibley

A veteran of 371 NBL games (305 for Brisbane), Sibley was honoured as his number 52 jersey was hung in the rafters of Nissan Arena. He became just the fourth player in Bullets history to receive such an honour, joining Larry Sengstock, Ron Radliff and Leroy Loggins.

A three-time NBL Champion with the Brisbane Bullets and Melbourne Tigers, was known as ‘the Baseline Bandit’ because that’s where he did his best work. He could score on the interior or in the midrange, was a willing and solid passer, relentless on the offensive boards and a very smart defender. 

His peak was in the late 80s and early 90s. His career year was in the 1990 NBL season, where he averaged 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and shot 63% from the field. 

Next Up

The Bullets will look to reverse the result as they take on the Wildcats again on Wednesday night at Nissan Arena 

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 18

Brisbane Bullets (Sobey 28, Cadee 14, Drmic 11)

Perth Wildcats (Blanchfield 31, Cotton 24, Norton 24)