Goulding, Vickerman reflect on epic 46-point performance

It was a four-minute stretch in the third quarter on Saturday night where Chris Goulding produced one of the most incredible offensive displays of all time.

The United sharpshooter scored 22 points in that period, and 25 total in the third quarter, to drag his team from a double-digit deficit to then take the lead and put the game away against the Perth Wildcats. 

Goulding scored 46 points for the game, the equal third-most since the switch back to the 40-minute era, and tied his career-high of nine three-pointers. 

“It wasn’t just the threes, but I thought his off the bounce play and getting in the paint was exceptional as well,” Vickerman said post-game about his captain’s performance.

For Goulding, he deflected a lot of the praise towards his backcourt partner, Matthew Dellavedova.

“He orchestrated a lot of our offence and found areas that we could just keep the thing rolling,” Goulding said.

“Delly was amazing at just continuing to find ways to screen for him (Goulding) and to pass to him,” Vickerman added.

Goulding holds the record for most points in a game since the move back to the 40-minute era with 50, which he set in 2014 when he also hit nine threes. 

“I was trying to get 50 at the end there,” Goulding laughed. 

As the United faithful in the stands rode every shot attempt from their main man, it became a spectacle that all of them will remember for a very long time. 

“I guess it’s cool to come out and treat the fans to something they enjoy,” Goulding said. 

“They pay their hand-earned money to watch us play. Especially because last time we were here, some of them probably felt like they wasted their money, so hopefully we made up for it tonight.”

As the 36-year-old Goulding enters the later stage of his impressive career, the opposing Wildcats boast two stars of the future, who both had a front row seat on Saturday.

“I actually look at it for (Ben) Henshall and (Elijah) Pepper. It’s great for them to see that, if that’s what they aspire to be,” head coach John Rillie said.

“I can show them film and I can tell them not to relax and fall for his tricks but until you’re in the fire, you can’t understand that. It was a great performance.”