Kevin White (14 points) and John Mooney (14 points) did all they could to keep the Wildcats alive but they did not have enough weapons.

Goulding said it felt odd to be back in his home dressingroom after 11-straight road games but that was far from how it looked on court on court when he splashed three three-pointers to get United rolling.

This contest threatened to be a blowout when United led 17-5 as Goulding made his third triple,prompting Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson to call a time-out.

“You have got to weather the storm,c’mon guys,” Gleeson said.

The Wildcats listened. Using a three-quarter court press,they broke United’s rhythm,and soon went on an 8-0 run. Luke Travers,having missed the opening two games of the series and still not fully fit,gave the Wildcats punch off the bench,and when White knocked down a three-pointer and John Mooney followed up with a put-back,United’s lead had been cut to 39-37.

Goulding did not score in the second quarter,a late Dave Barlow three United’s only advantage at half-time.

“You never expect it to be a blowout in any of these games,” Landale noted.

Melbourne United notch second win in grand final series

By Michael Lynch

Melbourne United produced a big finish to edge the Perth Wildcats in game one of the NBL finals series,and they had to repeat that come-from-behind performance once again to stamp their authority in the second game of the series before running out 83-74 winners.

They now have a two-game lead in the best-of-five play-offs and,with the next three matches scheduled to be played in Victoria,they will certainly feel they have one hand on the trophy.

The West Australians,desperate to get back into a winning groove,began this clash with pace and intensity in front of their voluble home crowd. But in the end their failure to score heavily enough – their 74-point total was the seventh consecutive game in which they had failed to score 80 points – cost them dear.

It all started so promisingly for the Wildcats,who signalled their intentions by sinking two three pointers inside the first minute. Although Melbourne were quickly back on level terms that was as close as the visitors were going to get for quite some while.

By the time of the first change Perth were 10 points to the good – 28-18 – and looking likely to go on with the job.

But this United side showed in the finals opener that it has a never-say-die attitude to go with its undoubted talent,and it ground its way back into the contest,the Wildcats faltering as their opponents upped the tempo and started to take their chances.

With less than five minutes remaining in the second quarter Melbourne got their noses in front after Chris Goulding converted two opportunities.

Perth steadied and raced into the lead once more but United were not to be denied and they sealed a 24-point quarter – and ensured both teams went to the long break on level terms at 42 points apiece – thanks to an audacious last-gasp,long-range shot from the first half’s top scorer,Yudai Baba.

The Japanese scored his 11th point of the first two quarters when he hurled home from his own half with seconds remaining before the interval.

It was the fillip that Melbourne needed,and they carried that momentum through the crucial third quarter.

Baba was again a key factor with his athleticism,pace and desire,whether he was driving forward in a scoring attempt or defending tenaciously.

United raced to a nine-point lead before Kevin White,with a three pointer,got the Wildcats back within range.

Melbourne’s Jo Lual-Acuil looked in trouble when his knee buckled on landing late in the term,the 213cm defender hobbling off and playing no further part.

United went to the final change with a five-point lead (62-57) knowing they had to retain their composure in the partisan Perth environment if they were to get the job done.

And they did so in style,stretching the advantage and stemming any hope of a Wildcats resurgence when the hosts mounted a threat.

When Goulding sunk a three pointer from distance with less than five minutes remaining it stretched United’s lead to 12 points and made the score 75-63.

The hosts closed that gap marginally,but never looked likely to trouble United,who have the perfect chance to seal the deal in Melbourne.

United ‘dodge bullet’ to win grand final series game one

By Roy Ward

On Friday night,United notched an all-important game one win over the Perth Wildcats in the NBL grand final series. But the question they might be asking is:how?

Turnovers and missed opportunities saw United twice stare down overtime in the final seconds but Perth couldn’t make their shot with 12 seconds to go and Wildcats captain Jesse Wagstaff saw his three attempt,after a United turnover,rolling out just before the buzzer.

A 73-70 win was United’s lowest winning margin of the season but it was arguably their most important victory and it came in front of a sell-out 11,000-strong crowd in Perth. They need two more wins in the best-of-five series to claim the title.

“I think we dodged a bullet but it was a gutsy win for our guys to lock in and win this,” Goulding told ESPN post-game.

Goulding led United with 23 points,while Jock Landale had 17 points and point guard Mitch McCarron was brilliant with six points,11 rebounds and seven assists.

Wildcats guard Todd Blanchfield scored a game-high 27 points for the undermanned Wildcats.

With NBL most valuable player Bryce Cotton out injured for the series and young gun Luke Travers a late withdrawal on game day due to calf soreness,the Wildcats knew they had to control the tempo and keep United to as fewer possessions as they could.

That plan worked to a tee in the first half as United shot poorly and the Wildcats went through 11 players,while Kevin White and Todd Blanchfield found space on the three-point line to shoot some vital baskets.

A few additional misses hurt the Wildcats who still held a 35-31 lead at half-time with Goulding admitting during his TV interview at the break that his side was lucky they weren’t trailing by more.

Goulding stepped up in the third term and so did Boomers teammate Landale with the United captain nailing 13 points for the term and Landale adding eight of his own with the pair out-scoring the Wildcats for the term.

Goulding topped off his term with a three from way outside on the three-quarter time buzzer to give his side a 60-53 lead heading into the last.

Just as important was the efforts of McCarron and veteran power forward David Barlow who were alongside the two big guns for much of the term.

To make matters worse for Perth,championship-winning shooter Clint Steindl didn’t return in the second half after picking up a groin injury.

As expected,the Wildcats fired up early in the last ending a five-minute scoreless run and getting back within five points with five minutes to play.

This is where McCarron found another gear hitting a rolling Jo Lual Acuil for a dunk and then making a runner in the key soon after.

Perth persisted in the last term with White catching United off guard to make a lay-up and bring the home side within two points with two and a half minutes to play.

Game three is scheduled for John Cain Arena on Friday[June 25] at 7.30pm with game four and five,if needed,scheduled for Sunday[June 27] and next Wednesday[June 30] at the same venue.