Cats first into NBL grand final
Perth booked the first spot in the NBL grand final by ruthlessly disposing of Wollongong 113-84 in game two of their semi-final series at Challenge Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats' swarming defence choked the Hawks to sweep the visitors in emphatic fashion after Perth comfortably won game one in Wollongong.
Centre Brett Wheeler carried the load with Matthew Burston out with injury scoring 27 points and 14 rebounds and ruled the paint.
Perth will play for the championship against the winner of game three between Townsville and Sydney in the harbour city on Saturday night.
It will be Perth's seventh appearance in the NBL grand final.
Cats coach Alan Black will be well pleased with his team's clinical execution tonight with passes regularly finding the free player.
The visitors had no answer to the two-pronged attack of Wheeler and Ricky Grace (26 points) while only Glen Saville shone in attack for the Hawks.
Tony Ronaldson (15 points and 10 rebounds) also had one of his best matches since moving west.
Wheeler led the 'Cats opening quarter blitz with 11 points as Perth broke out to a 16-point lead before settling for a 33-23 advantage at the first break.
Perth shot a red-hot 62 per cent for the match while the Hawks were much cooler at 32 per cent.
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