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Perth Wildcats forward Shawn Redhage - Source: Getty -
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The Perth Wildcats became the NBL's most successful team on Friday night, securing their fifth championship with a 96-72 victory over the Wollongong Hawks in the deciding game three of the grand final series in Perth.
In a fiery encounter, Perth trailed by 11 points early in the second term but clawed their way out of trouble courtesy of an inspirational performance from US import Kevin Lisch, who drained a game-high 29 points, including five of nine from long range.
Wildcats guard Damian Martin (17 points, four steals) was also influential and combined with fellow antagonist Brad Robbins to eventually wear down the Hawks.
Wollongong forward Cameron Tragardh, who nailed 28 points in game two, had 12 first-half points but failed to add to his tally after that, while Glen Saville (13) and Rhys Martin (12) were the other notable scorers for the visitors.
Young guns Jesse Wagstaff and Luke Martin almost came to blows in an off-the-ball incident late in the opening quarter and tempers threatened to boil over as players from both sides rushed in to join the grappling pair.
Calm was restored and it was the Hawks who finished the term the stronger, going on a 12-2 run to take a handy 31-25 lead into the first break.
The Wildcats looked to be in big trouble when Mat Campbell's three-pointer extended the margin to 11 points three minutes into the second term.
But amazingly just four minutes later the Wildcats were back on level terms, with two long bombs from Damian Martin and another to Lisch inspiring the quick comeback.
The Hawks took a one-point lead into half-time but from there it was the Lisch show.
Perth led 75-63 as the three-quarter time siren sounded and the musical entertainment began.
But Perth skipper Shawn Redhage approached the referees complaining the Cats were denied the final play of the quarter, with the Cats failing to get possession despite an offensive foul being called against Wollongong with 1.7 seconds left in the term.
Perth were eventually granted the 1.7 seconds to launch a final play and Lisch made the most of it, draining a three-pointer from close to half-court to extend the margin to 15 at the final break.
The Hawks had to do everything right in the final term but turned the ball over time and again as Perth cruised to the win.
Lisch's host hand ended the hopes of Wollongong completing a fairytale season.
The Hawks were on the verge of folding before the season started but were bailed out by the Wollongong community.
And the foundation club defied all expectations by reaching the grand final, winning game two to send the series to a deciding third game.
But the Cats, urged on by a parochial crowd at 'The Jungle', were simply too good, showing character to come back from their second-quarter deficit before showing their class in a dominant third term.
PERTH WILDCATS 96 (K Lisch 29 D Martin 17 S Weigh 13)
WOLLONGONG HAWKS 72 (G Saville 13 C Tragardh 12 R Martin 12)
Perth Wildcats win series 2-1
