Adelaide 36ers go close to an upset against Wildcats in a thriller at Perth Arena Adelaide's Daniel Johnson scored a match-high 28 points but it wasn't enough to stop the powerful Perth Wildcats. DANIEL Johnson's 28 points were not enough for Adelaide to bring off a first-round NBL upset at Perth Arena, the Wildcats claiming a thriller 83-80. The Wildcats' NBA-bound import James Ennis made some of the game's biggest plays but it was Perth veteran Shawn Redhage whose jumpshot with 20.5 seconds left created the final scoreline. Anthony Petrie's attempted three to force overtime never looked likely but the 36ers walked out with their heads held high, having contested the game without captain Adam Gibson (hamstring) and import Jarrid Frye (ankle). Luke Schenscher (back), expected to hit the court for only minimal minutes, played 24 and scored 13 points at 67 per cent. And Adelaide had terrific contributions from import Gary Ervin (14 points, seven assists), Mitch Creek added 10 and even development player Daniel Sims hit the floor as the 36ers tried to establish control of the tempo. Johnson was a force all night, his 28 points coming off 9-of-13 shooting, with 10-of-10 free throws. He even played some key defence on Ennis who was always, well, a menace, en route to 25 points. Perth led 63-58 going into the final quarter, a lead quickly erased by Scehnscher and Johnson. Wildcats import Jermaine Beal knocked down two big threes to give Perth a 74-72 edge before Schenscher tied it again. With 4:30 left, Jason Cadee fouled Ennis as he stuck a three, the bonus free throw giving Perth an important 78-74 buffer. Cadee grabbed an offensive rebound for a bucket, then hit a three and went to the stripe with 2:24 left and the 36ers down two. But he made only his first free throw for 80-81, and missed triple attempts by him and Ervin left the door ajar. Redhage (11 points) barged through it with the big shot and Perth had escaped unscathed. Ennis looked every centimetre an NBA player-of-the-future in a first quarter he dominated with 12 points. A sweet three gave Perth its first lead at 7-6 and he added another triple, a slam dunk and a super bank shot to close the first quarter. Despite his dominating presence, the first period belonged to Adelaide. Coach Joey Wright opened with a big line-up, starting Ervin on Beal, Petrie on Ennis and BJ Anthony on Redhage. Johnson caused Wildcats centre Tom Jervis problems from the outset and when Anthony copped two quick fouls - the first a total phantom prompted by some Redhage acting - Schenscher was the surprise early entrant. Ervin fed him for a big dunk and on the 36ers' next offence, Schenscher returned the favour with a slick pass giving the playmaker an easy basket. Creek hit the court and immediately swished a three and when Johnson completed a three-point play from the stripe, Adelaide was ahead 20-11 inside two minutes from the first break. But Perth scored eight of the last 10 points to be within touch, 22-19 at quarter-time. Drake U'u threatened to seize the game in the second quarter, his opening triple tying the game and two strong cuts ensuring the Sixers could not again get away. But at 29-29, Ervin connected on consecutive jumpshots and after a forced time-out, Johnson put away an offensive rebound for a 35-29 buffer. It was Beal's turn to stamp his authority on the game, twice splitting the 36ers' defence. Ennis collected his third foul 3:29 from halftime with an open court error but a big three from Greg Hire sent Perth into the interval ahead 43-41. It was a cracker all the way to the buzzer. PERTH WILDCATS 83 (Ennis 25, Wagstaff 15, Redhage, Beal 11) d ADELAIDE 36ERS 80 (Johnson 28, Ervin 14, Schenscher 13, Creek 10) at Perth Arena.