Perth secure minor premiership

Damian Martin finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five steals. Source: Getty Images

THE Perth Wildcats secured the NBL minor premiership – and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs – following an 81-69 win over Townsville.

Damian Martin produced a magnificent all-round performance to again lead his side, while James Ennis provided the dazzle and the knockout blows late to help settle the contest.

Martin flirted with a triple-double before finishing with 18 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five steals in his best game of the season.

Ennis (20 points) and the evergreen Shawn Redhage (18) were also important as the Cats registered their fourth straight victory.

Martin gets off the ground to lay up with his left hand despite being up against Jacob Holmes. Source: Getty Images

Perth had a late scare when Matt Knight hit his head on a baseline advertising board after jostling for a rebound.

The big man – who missed six weeks after he suffered successive concussions earlier in the season – left the court but appeared to be all right.

Townsville was led by Russell Hinder and Josh Pace, who scored 13 apiece, but simply couldn't find enough offensive grunt to trouble the Cats.

The clash between the NBL's top and bottom sides looked exactly that early, with Perth racing to a 10-2 start in the opening minutes.

The visitors channelled the experience of Hinder and Steve Markovic to claw back the deficit and hang tough for most of the opening half, with the two sides level just three minutes from the main break.

The woolly visage of Matt Knight is a picture of intensity as he pulls down a rebound. Source: Getty Images

But paced by Martin, a stagnant Perth began to find its groove in transition. The Cats skipper produced a fine around-the-back pass to set up a thunderous Jermaine Beal slam, before Beal returned the favour with a pinpoint alley-oop pass to Ennis moments later.

An offensive putback by Martin on the half-time horn gave the home side a 45-37 advantage at intermission, and they pulled further clear upon resumption.

Ennis produced a huge block on Pace to deliver an emphatic defensive statement, before a pair of Drake U'u threes from either side of the court pushed the margin out to 12.

Ennis then sealed the deal with two early baskets in the final term – including a long-range triple from the top of the arc – to ensure Perth would send its fans home happy.

The Wildcats now prepare for a potential playoff preview matchup with the 36ers in Adelaide, while Townsville heads to the City of Churches for the second leg of their 'Doomsday Double' roadtrip tomorrow.

In tonight's other game, Melbourne produced a stunning 44-point final term to overcome a 14-point three-quarter-time deficit and beat New Zealand 97-84.

Follow Chris Robinson on Twitter: @CJKRobinson

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