AFTER trailing behind the Perth Wildcats for most of the night, Hills Raiders officer Shaun Bunting said the team were able to rebound at last Saturday’s match-up.

“Our Raiders men dug deep, found another gear and stormed home for an 86-81 win over the Perth Wildcats Academy,” Bunting said.

Bunting said the Wildcats looked in control in the first two quarters, but the gap was narrowed in the third.

“(The Raiders) exploded in the fourth with a surge that swung momentum for good,” he said.

Bunting said a steal at mid-court in the fourth quarter led to back-to-back transition buckets.

“That sequence lit the fuse and the boys never looked back.

“When the comeback began a Raiders supporter behind the bench bellowed a Raiders chant that spread like wildfire until the entire arena was roaring.”

Bunting said captain Ethan Croot set the tone for the game, Riley Marriott’s relentless pressure forced the Wildcats into mistakes, while Tyson Kelly’s offence was almost impossible to stop.

Bunting said the team were pumped and proud of its achievement.

“They knew they’d weathered the storm, fed off the crowd and shown exactly why the showdown series matters to basketball in the hills.”

The final games of the showdown series will be held on June 7 from 6pm with both men’s and women’s Raiders to play against the Cockburn Cougars at Mundaring Arena.