BOXSCORE

By Asa Schuster, Pagemasters

The Perth Wildcats have reached the Grand Final series for the third time in four years after escaping with an epic 85-81 overtime road victory over the Wollongong Hawks on Sunday.

Kevin Lisch's early three proved to be the difference during the 11-7 bonus period, as the feisty guard battled all afternoon to carry the wounded Wildcats with 20 points and six assists.

Shawn Redhage was also superb with 27 points and three steals while Greg Hire continued his outstanding post-season with 12 rebounds and four assists.

Perth lost Damian Martin in the second quarter with a calf injury, while Adris Deleon was limited by an ankle injury sustained in the opening period and was shut down during the third term.

''From my six years in the NBL, that was as tough as it ever comes,'' Wildcats coach Rob Beveridge said.

''It just showed the character and heart of both teams, nobody was going to give an inch out there. They just played so well and we did our normal defensive stuff and I thought we did a pretty good job of that, but they're such a fighting team.''

Tim Coenraad kept the Hawks alive during the fourth with a pair of clutch three-pointers on his way to 16 points, but a three-minute scoring drought by the Hawks to start overtime left home team little time to recover.

''The guys rolled their sleeves up and had a crack, that's what we're extremely proud of,'' Hawks coach Gordie McLeod said.

''To find another way of hanging in there, when we lose someone else who's an important part of the group, we found a way to battle, compete and made them earn everything.

''We had our opportunities, but in the end we couldn't get over the line.''

The Hawks jumped out to an ideal 9-2 start, but paced by Martin the Wildcats quickly racked up eight unanswered points to claim the lead, while Deleon hobbled off the court with a tweaked ankle.

Wollongong continued to control the glass at the defensive end and Malcolm Grant helped re-ignite their offence, as the Hawks closed the quarter 12-4 capped by Dan Jackson's breakaway three-point-play to lead 21-14.

Perth responded with a 7-0 spurt to open the second term to lock the scores, but just as Wollongong were steadying, Martin fell to the floor in transition when his calf gave way, while downcourt Dave Gruber soared to the rim for a slam at 25-21.

With the Wildcats momentarily dazed by the loss of their floor-leader, Wollongong easily found three consecutive transition baskets to build an eight-point buffer, but a late flurry led by Lisch saw the Hawks holding on at 38-36 at the half.

Both teams duelled for five lead-changes in the third, until Lisch exploded with a pair of long-range daggers to put Perth up 55-51 at three-quarter-time, with tempers flaring between him and Tyson Demos.

Perth went to Matthew Knight inside early in the fourth and were able to keep their noses in front until Wollongong crept within two on the back of a Coenraad triple and long two by Grant with five minutes to play in regulation.

Big shots rained at The Sandpit until last-minute threes by Demos and Everard Bartlett locked the scores at 74-74, but the Hawks were unable to sink last their last two attempts by Coenraad and Larry Davidson and an extra period was needed.

Perth Wildcats 85 (Redhage 27, Lisch 20)

Wollongong Hawks 81 (Coenraad 16, Forman 14, Grant 11)

Crowd: 3026 at WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong