Heartland Hustle: Phoenix Looking to Shoot out the Lights for Starlight

South East Melbourne Phoenix are ready to do it for the kids.

In their third annual Starlight Game, which has raised over $20,000 for the children’s charity over the past two years, the Phoenix will square off against the Perth Wildcats on Saturday night.

They owe the Wildcats one after they had a big win in their last visit.

Here’s a look at how the teams are shaping up ahead of the big clash.

(Broekhoff along with Cam Gliddon are the Starlight Ambassadors.)

Key Details
SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 9-5 (2nd) v PERTH WILDCATS 8-5 (3rd)
Where: John Cain Arena
When: Saturday, February 26, 8pm AEDT
Watch: ESPN, Kayo

The Teams

Phoenix
Finally with a full squad fit, healthy and with a week between games, the Phoenix won’t have any excuses against the Wildcats. Coach Simon Mitchell gets the chance to begin to build toward the playoffs with a look at how his rotations might work. Mitch Creek has been leant on heavily and, while he never really wants to come off the court, some mid-season rest could benefit him in the run home.

(Creek has spent the most time on court compared to the rest of the roster.)

Wildcats
It will be interesting to see how the Wildcats tackle this one after they had so much success with a small-ball line-up the last time the two teams played. With Matt Hodgson back, it gives coach Scott Morrison another long weapon to throw at Phoenix’s two-headed monster Zhou Qi and Brandon Ashley. Luke Travers had a huge game against the Phoenix and they will again try to beat us from the three-point line.

Players to Watch

Phoenix
Zhou Qi
Stay out of foul trouble, big Zhou! If the big fella can stay on the floor, he can make hay with the Wildcats’ frontline. He’s a unique player in the NBL, combining size with athleticism. A big game is not far away.

(Zhou going for a dunk the last time they met Wildcats.)

Wildcats
Bryce Cotton
It has to be Bryce. He’s at the top of every team’s scout, is the Wildcats’ best player and in the conversation with our man Mitch Creek as this season’s MVP. Find a way to stop Bryce and it will go a long way toward a Phoenix win. Easier said than done.

Last 5
Phoenix: WLWLW
Wildcats: WLWLL

The Stats

Phoenix
Points: Creek, 21ppg
Rebounds: Qi, 6.83rpg
Assists: Munford 4.25apg
Steals: Broekhoff, 1.64spg
Blocks: Qi, 2.33bpg

Wildcats
Points: Cotton, 24.31ppg
Rebounds: Law, 7.38rpg
Assists: Cotton, 4.23apg
Steals: Cotton, 1.77spg
Blocks: Law, 1.23bpg

The History

Regular season Head-to-Head: 2 - 7 

South East Melbourne Phoenix - Perth Wildcats

Last time out: Round 10, NBL22

Phoenix 79-101 Wildcats

Phoenix
X Munford: 18 points, 3 assists
M Creek: 17 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
B Ashley: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists
R Broekhoff: 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals
L Barker: 11 points

Wildcats
L Travers: 24 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 3PM
B Cotton: 21 points, 6 assists, 4 3PM
J Wagstaff: 14 points,
M Frazier II: 14 points, 9 rebounds
M Norton: 14 points

(Munford had 18 points the last time he versed the Wildcats.)

Recap

Ravaged by Covid, the Phoenix last-faced the Wildcats without four of their players - and coach Simon Mitchell - on their Chinese Lunar New Year celebration.

Without captain Kyle Adnam, Cam Gliddon, Dane Pineau and Reuben Te Rangi, it always loomed as a struggle, but the Phoenix started like bulls who had just been released from the gate, racing out to a 12-point lead at the end of the first quarter.

From there, it got ugly, superstar Bryce Cotton keying a dominant 21-0 run that gave them the lead at halftime as Phoenix could not buy a bucket.
The Wildcats launched a three-point barrage making 16 of their tries from deep as the Phoenix went 4-22 at the other end.

Big men Brandon Ashley and Zhou Qi battled foul trouble in the second half and, despite their best efforts, the Phoenix could not will themselves back into it. Xavier Munford was a bright spot, with 18 points, while Mitch Creek put together another versatile stat line.

The Wildcats were without their own man in suspended tall Matthew Hodgson. But they beat the tired Phoenix by running them ragged with small ball, Luke Travers dominating with 24 points.

(Phoenix will be hoping to get the W over the Wildcats.)

The Quotes

“The preparation’s going to be better. For us, it’s just about not repeating the same mistakes. When we come down the floor and turn the ball over three possessions in a row, that’s inexcusable. We had guys in foul trouble. We can’t do that. These are the things we can control to a certain extent and we have to do better, they’re our focuses. And then you’ve just got to somehow try to curb the enthusiasm of Bryce Cotton.”
-Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell on how his side can turn thing’s around.

“With any team we play in this league, you can never take a night off. The talent is so close. They’ve (Phoenix) been playing well all year and, now they’ve got a couple of their guys back, we expect nothing less. It’s going to be a dogfight. It was a dogfight even when we played them last time, they got out to a pretty big lead so we can never sleep on a team like the Phoenix.”
-Perth Wildcat Bryce Cotton on the challenge his side faces in the Phoenix

Fans can pledge a donation for every 3 pointer a Phoenix player shoots on Saturday night - CLICK HERE to make your pledge.

CLICK HERE to secure your ticket to the game 

Phoenix Media (25/2/22)