Adelaide 36ers superstar Bryce Cotton has labelled his team's miraculous comeback victory over the Perth Wildcats on Sunday as the greatest win he has ever experienced in his decorated basketball career.
A Comeback for the Ages
In a game that defied belief at Perth's RAC Arena, the Adelaide 36ers stormed home from a 21-point deficit in the third quarter to snatch a 95-94 victory. The Wildcats still held a commanding 16-point lead with just over four minutes left on the clock before the visitors launched an unforgettable late-game assault.
Cotton, playing his first game back at his former home court since leaving the Wildcats, was instrumental in the historic turnaround. The guard delivered a superb all-round performance, finishing with 21 points and 12 assists to break the hearts of the local 'Red Army' fans.
"The Wildest Game I've Ever Been Part Of"
When asked where the victory ranked in his epic career, Cotton was unequivocal. "This is top of the list," he declared post-game. "To be honest with you, I have no memory of the fourth quarter. It was such a blur. I'm going to go home and probably just watch the fourth quarter over again."
"I won't watch the whole game. This was crazy. It was absolutely crazy. It's the wildest game I think I've ever been a part of in my life," Cotton added, still processing the remarkable events.
Known for his clutch scoring, Cotton's pivotal contributions came in the dying moments. He drained a three-pointer with about a minute remaining to cut the margin to four points. He then calmly sank three free throws to bring Adelaide within a single point with just 38 seconds left. While all eyes were on Cotton for a potential match-winner, it was teammate Flynn Cameron who ultimately stepped up to secure the famous win for the 36ers.
A New Role and Unselfish Leadership
Cotton expressed his enjoyment at showcasing a different aspect of his game with Adelaide, emphasising his playmaking abilities. "The cool thing for me being with Adelaide is it allows me to utilise a skillset I've always had – my passing ability," Cotton explained. "I feel like for a long time it has been overlooked. Being able to play the point guard with this team, it has been fun to use my team mates. You've got to do it by committee."
Adelaide coach Mike Wells was full of praise for his new star's leadership and unselfish play. "It's just been special to be able to give Bryce the ball and allow him to lead us. That's what he did tonight and that's why we won," Wells said.
"I didn't know he could pass. All he did was score against us last year. He's one of the most unselfish superstars I've ever seen," Wells continued, drawing a lofty comparison. "I've been fortunate to coach some of the greats. He's like Tim Duncan. It's unbelievable. Twelve assists, one turnover and 21 points."
Wildets Left to Rue Missed Opportunities
For the Perth Wildcats, the loss was a devastating collapse after being on the verge of a significant weekend sweep. Coach John Rillie acknowledged his team's failure to close out the game. "We had some opportunities to put the game away and we didn't do that," Rillie stated.
"Then in the fourth quarter they made timely threes to keep themselves in the game and give themselves an opportunity. They made the threes that kept them in it. We missed some really good looks," he added, pinpointing the key difference in the frantic finale.
The stunning result sends shockwaves through the NBL and etches another memorable chapter in Bryce Cotton's legendary career, this time in the colours of the Adelaide 36ers.
