Grace leads Wildcats over Breakers - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Grace leads Wildcats over Breakers

By Tim Clarke 19/02/2005 05:02:39 AM Comments (0)

It may have been the beginning of the end for Ricky Grace, but the NBL legend rolled back the years to lead Perth Wildcats to a comfortable 129-91 win over basement-dwellers New Zealand Breakers at Challenge Stadium.

Grace stunned Wildcats fans on Thursday when he announced he was calling time on his 15-year NBL career at the end of the season.

Despite Perth's hopes of a home final disappearing before tip-off, after Melbourne failed to beat Brisbane in Queensland, nothing could spoil Grace's party.

The 38-year-old anchored the home team with 19 points, while new Wildcat hero Rosell Ellis firmed up his club MVP chances with a stunning all-round performance.

For NZ, only the 213cm frame of Ben Pepper and the long range accuracy of Mike Chappell troubled Perth - but from the first buzzer it always "Amazing" Grace's night.

With an admirable sense of occasion, Grace opened the proceedings with a three pointer from the top of the key - sparking a 14-point run to establish Perth's superiority very early on.

But a succession of Wildcat turnovers allowed the Kiwis back into the context, a nine-point run of their own reducing the deficit to five.

A three-pointer on the buzzer from Tony Ronaldson reasserted Perth's authority, and then in a mirror image of the first term Perth sped out to a commanding lead before the Breakers fought back in the second term.

The reintroduction of Grace sparked Perth again while Pepper, despite a dislocated finger, offered the Breaker's only resistance with a similar tally.

A 19-point half time advantage quickly blew out to 24, until Chappell's silky long-range shooting, and some hustle from former Wildcat Ben Thompson kept the contest interesting.

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