Record-setting Batemon fires Bullets

James Batemon is the first player in a 40-minute NBL game to get over 50 points for the Brisbane Bullets after hitting nine threes and finishing with 51 in Sunday's 105-84 win against the Perth Wildcats.

Batemon made a slow start to the season as point guard, but his move to the bench providing a scoring punch with captain Mitch Norton starting in the one spot had been working well.

That had seen him average 15.2 points over the past six matches and then he went up another level on Sunday afternoon at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

He started in the absence of Casey Prather (hip) after Brisbane's loss in Hobart to the Tasmania JackJumpers on Friday night, and Batemon was the difference between the Bullets and Wildcats.

Bryce Cotton wasn’t able to replicate his heroics for Perth from Friday night where he had 33 points in his return from a rib injury in the win against the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

Cotton ended up missing his first 11 shots but it was the opposite story for Batemon who hit four three-pointers in the first quarter, four more in the third and finished with 9/15 for the game.

By the time he hit the fourth in the third period, he had helped the Bullets to a 10-point lead and they turned that into the 21-point win.

His 51 points is just the second time since the league returned to 40-minute games a player has got to 50 after Chris Goulding for the Melbourne Tigers in 2014.

It's the most points by a Bullets player in a 40-minute game as his team improves to 4-6 heading into the FIBA break.

Afterwards, Batemon said he got nervous approaching 40 but was all good by the 50-point mark.

"When I looked up the scoreboard and the most nervous I've ever been honestly in basketball was shooting that free-throw when I had 39," he said.

"I was thinking, 'Man I'm about to get 40, I've never scored over 34.' That was crazy and once I got to 50 I knew it was good with the last free-throw.

"I can't really explain the feeling, I'm still up on a high right now and it's amazing the crowd kept giving me energy and the teammates. It was like I was in a movie, man, it was crazy."

Next Star Rocco Zikarsky got more opportunity with foul trouble to Tyrell Harrison (10 points, six rebounds) to also score a career-high 13 points to go with six boards while Keandre Cook hit four three-pointers for 17 points, five rebounds and five assists.

The Wildcats are now 6-7 ahead of the week's break with Keanu Pinder starring with 27 points on 11/16 shooting but Kristian Doolittle wasn’t seen after quarter-time through injury.

Cotton also finished with 13 points on 3/16 shooting in his second game back with Tai Webster adding 11 points and Ben Henshall 10.

Wildcats coach John Rillie just never felt his team could get their teeth stuck into the contest.

"When we're dialled in and locked in defensively we're a very good team, and offensively when we're moving and sharing the ball we're tough to defend," he said.

"Tonight we didn’t have that for consistent and long enough periods to arrest the momentum into our favour."

Perth came out and scored the first four points before Brisbane answered with three balls from Keandre Cook and James Batemon, and that kickstarted a hot patch for Batemon who landed two more triples on his way to 11 points by quarter-time.

Rocco Zikarsky also had some good moments with a couple of baskets and a big block on Bryce Cotton after two early fouls to Tyrell Harrison, but still the Wildcats were leading 26-25 by the end of one on the back of 14 points from Keanu Pinder.

Batemon landed a fourth three-pointer to start the second quarter and the Bullets opened up a 12-point lead thanks to a 10-0 run including an offensive rebound and put back from Zikarsky as he continued to embrace his extra opportunity.

Brisbane went into the half still leading 47-39 with Batemon the difference with 22 points and he was only just warming up.

The dynamic combo guard hit another three long bombs in the third quarter to help Brisbane to a double-figure lead with the home team still on top 74-65 at three quarter-time with Bryce Cotton still without a made field goal for Perth.

The Bullets then hit the first six points of the final period including four finishes at the rim to Batemon to push the lead to 15 and John Rillie was forced into a timeout after just 59 seconds.

Batemon then scored two more straight after that to push the run to 8-0 and even with Cotton finally hitting a field goal after 11 misses, the Bullets wouldn’t be denied on the way to the 21-point win.

Following the FIBA break, the two teams play each other once again albeit in Perth on Friday November 29.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

BRISBANE BULLETS 105 (Batemon 51, Cook 17, Zikarsky 13)

PERTH WILDCATS 84 (Pinder 27, Cotton 13, Webster 11)

BOX SCORE