The Wollongong Hawks continue to defy the doubters, soaring to their third straight win with Saturday night's 99-77 thrashing of Townsville in Wollongong.
They boosted their record to 4-1, keeping hold of top spot on the NBL ladder.
Once again the star at WIN Entertainment Centre was dynamic guard Tywain McKee, who tallied 21 points (8/12 field goals), four assists and four rebounds.
Full coverage of the Wollongong Hawks In the process he completely dominated his duel with Crocodiles playmaker Corey "Homicide" Williams (three points, 1/10 shooting, four turnovers).
After an even opening five minutes, the home side put its stamp on the game with a decisive 23-2 run, much to the delight of the crowd of almost 3500 fans.
They turned a 19-11 quarter-time lead into 41-24 at the main break and were up by 33 when Mat Campbell hit the second of back-to-back three-pointers with just under four minutes remaining in the third period.
"It was a great effort," Hawks coach Gordie McLeod said.
"The really pleasing thing again for us is the contribution we're getting from everyone."
Indeed, six Hawks scored in double figures.
Cam Tragardh had 14 points and seven rebounds, Larry Davidson finished with 11 points and seven rebounds and Mat Campbell chipped in with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal.
One of the most encouraging signs for the Hawks was the valuable production from the bench.
After scoring just two points in the previous week's defeat of New Zealand, Wollongong's back-ups were outstanding, with 34 against the Crocs.
Rookie Tim Coenraad had 13 points, Rhys Martin chalked up 10 and Dave Gruber added nine points and seven rebounds.
McLeod said the Hawks understudies were keeping the starting five honest.
"They've been given an opportunity and they want to show people what they can do, and it's making us a better team," he said.
"It's great at practice and the hardest thing as a coach is putting the different combinations together, and what's pleasing is that everyone is pushing everyone else and that's what's making us better.
"The senior guys that are there at the moment, if they want to keep their spot, they know they've gotta keep doing what they're doing."
Hawks fans hoping to see an absorbing battle between McKee and Williams were left high and dry.
Williams set the tone with a signature driving lay-up 20 seconds into the game, but the brash New Yorker could only manage a single free throw in his other 17 minutes on the court.
Crocs coach Trevor Gleeson yanked Williams - and four of his equally listless team-mates - two minutes into the third quarter.
"We weren't playing what we were supposed to be doing. If they don't want to play what we're doing they won't play," Gleeson said.
Inspired by forward Brad Williamson's 25-point haul in the second half, the Crocs trimmed the lead to 16 in the fourth quarter. But the Hawks finished strongly in the final two minutes.
"The intensity level was higher and the work rate was more pleasing. I was pretty proud how we stuck with it in the second half."
The Hawks will be aiming to stretch their unbeaten run at home to five games when they host Cairns on Wednesday night.
"Next week brings a completely different challenge," McLeod said. "It's early days and the guys are working hard and putting the time in and it's come up with some results that are making fans happy.
"That's the important thing - because this is a community team and a lot of people here have put their bucks in, it's important that we play a way that they're happy with. The guys have done a great job establishing ourselves at home, but there's 23 games to go and these games are only the first in a whole lot of series.
"We have to enjoy the wins while we've got them because it's not going to be like that for the whole season. We enjoy the moment and then we come back to work," he said.
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