Jesse Wagstaff's unique path to back-to-back Commonwealth Games gold is nearing completion after Australia muscled past Scotland in the 3x3 basketball semi-finals.
A member of the Boomers' traditional 5-a-side team that dominated on the Gold Coast four years ago, the six-time NBL champion with Perth is now poised for a rare basketball feat in the modified game's event debut.
The Wildcats veteran scored nine points in Australia's 20-15 win over the Scots on Monday night, which followed a similarly tense defeat of Kenya by the same score earlier in the day.
Kyle Jimenez scored 11 points for Scotland, who led 4-1 but were slowly worn down by Wagstaff, Daniel Johnson, Tom Wright and Greg Hire.
Australia's women fell in their efforts to join them, beaten 21-15 in a fiery, physical battle with hosts England.
Emerging at last year's Tokyo Olympics, 3x3 asks teams to play for 10 minutes or until a team scores 21 points with regular three-point shots worth two and all other baskets just one.
