Hawks Maintain Top Spot with Gritty Win
In a hard-fought contest, the Illawarra Hawks secured an 87-75 victory over the Cairns Taipans in Far North Queensland. The league leaders arrived at the Cairns Convention Centre with an impressive average of 104 points per game, but the Taipans did well to turn the match into a grind.
Taipans Start Strong but Hawks Warm Up
The home team scored 11 consecutive points early in the game and led for most of the first half. However, Tyler Harvey’s three-pointer on the buzzer capped off a 7-0 run, putting the Hawks up 40-38 at halftime. Despite struggling to find fluency, the Hawks started to gain momentum.
Front-Court Pair Leads Hawks to Victory
The Hawks’ front-court duo of Sam Froling and Lachlan Olbrich proved instrumental in their win. After Darius Days fouled out, the pair combined for seven straight points to restore Illawarra’s advantage. Harvey top-scored with 20 points, while Trey Kell III contributed 14 points and seven assists.
Toughness and Defense Key to Hawks’ Success
Coach Justin Tatum praised his team’s toughness and defensive efforts, saying, “It came down to our toughness and we knew we were going to come here and get battle tested.” The Hawks’ defense held Rob Edwards to 17 points on 5-of-16 shooting, with Wani Swaka Lo Buluk playing a crucial role.
Taipans Fall Short Despite Strong Performances
The Taipans’ Bradshaw collected 18 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists, while Sam Waardenburg contributed 14 points, 10 boards, and four assists. However, coach Adam Forde lamented that his team couldn’t maintain their best work for the full 40 minutes.
Hawks Maintain Top Spot
The win sees the Hawks maintain their top spot with a 5-1 win-loss record. The Taipans, meanwhile, fall to 3-4, having lost their past three games.
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