Wildcats vs SEM Phoenix: Perth rallies late to beat South East Melbourne and tighten the top-four race
Wildcats vs SEM Phoenix delivered the kind of high-stakes, late-season swing that can reshape an NBL ladder in a hurry, with the Perth Wildcats closing hard to beat the South East Melbourne Phoenix 101-93 at RAC Arena. The result gives Perth a badly needed statement win at home and keeps the Wildcats within striking distance of the top four as the regular season run-in accelerates.
South East Melbourne, chasing a premier-ladder push of its own, led at every break before Perth’s fourth-quarter burst flipped the game on its head. The Phoenix left Perth with the loss but also with reminders of how thin the margin can be in a league where one late stop and one clean rebound can decide a week’s worth of momentum.
A fourth-quarter surge turns deficits into a Wildcats win
Perth trailed 32-24 after the first quarter, 51-49 at halftime, and 77-75 after three, spending most of the night trying to absorb South East Melbourne’s early shot-making and physicality. The Wildcats finally grabbed control in the final period, outscoring the Phoenix 26-16 as their defense tightened and their best options got cleaner looks at the rim.
Sunday Dech’s early three in the fourth helped tilt the energy, and Perth’s closing sequence was defined by timely threes and steady free throws. Captain Jesse Wagstaff’s late make from deep created real separation, and Ben Henshall’s late drive finished a possession that mattered when South East Melbourne was still close enough to pounce.
A full injury list for Perth was not immediately available, even though the Wildcats were described as short-handed entering the matchup.
Big nights from Windler and Pepper, but Sobey nearly drags Phoenix back
Dylan Windler anchored Perth’s offense with 23 points and 11 rebounds, providing second-chance value and late composure when the game tightened. Elijah Pepper added 22 points and four threes, repeatedly punishing the moments where South East Melbourne’s defense softened just enough to give him daylight. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr contributed 18 points, six rebounds, and three blocks, with his rim protection shaping Perth’s best defensive stretches, even as he fouled out late.
For the Phoenix, Nathan Sobey was the engine again, finishing with 28 points, eight rebounds, and three assists while hitting six threes. John Brown III delivered another bruising workload with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and four steals, generating pressure at the foul line and on the glass even when his shooting rhythm wasn’t perfect. Wes Iwundu, Ian Clark, and Owen Foxwell all chipped in around the edges, but South East Melbourne couldn’t find the one extra scoring run needed to counter Perth’s fourth-quarter composure.
Some specifics have not been publicly clarified about whether any Phoenix players were dealing with limitations that affected late-game rotations.
How the ladder and the Ignite Cup math raise the stakes in games like this
This matchup carried two layers of urgency. First is the standard NBL ladder chase, where every win and loss matters with a top-six postseason that rewards higher seeds and forces lower seeds into a play-in path. The goal for teams in Perth’s position is simple: finish as high as possible to avoid extra elimination games and to gain matchup leverage.
The second layer is the Ignite Cup, an in-season competition layered onto the regular-season schedule. Its format turns every quarter into its own points race: teams earn points for quarter wins, and additional points for the overall game result, with the top two Ignite Cup teams advancing to a standalone final and a significant prize pool. That design makes early and mid-game stretches matter even more than usual, because a team can win quarters and strengthen its Ignite Cup position even if the final score swings late.
What it means for fans, players, and the final stretch
Two groups feel the immediate impact: Perth supporters tracking a top-four push and Phoenix fans watching a tight battle near the top of the standings. For players, there’s more than pride at stake. Late-season seeding can dictate travel, rest, and matchups, and Ignite Cup positioning can carry direct financial upside, with prize money flowing to players and clubs.
For coaches and front offices, the game also highlights where pressure points will show up in February: fourth-quarter shot selection, defensive rebounding, and the ability to keep structure when fatigue hits. Perth proved it can win a tight one even after trailing most of the night. South East Melbourne proved it can control long stretches against a direct rival, but also that closing possessions still decide outcomes.
Next up, Perth turns to its upcoming regular-season road test against Illawarra, while South East Melbourne continues its road trip with a looming clash against ladder leaders Adelaide, a game that will shape both the standings and the broader postseason picture.
