Tim Coenraad
BASKETBALL
By their own admission the Wollongong Hawks reckon it's time to "man up" in the rebounding department.
The Hawks have won the battle under the boards just once in their past 10 games, a sad fact of life that has had a major impact on the win-loss column.
Despite losing six straight games and eight of their past nine, Wollongong have kept hold of fourth spot.
But the wolves are at the door, with three teams just two wins behind the Hawks.
If they don't start grabbing more rebounds, they can kiss the finals goodbye.
"We need to start manning up and boxing people out," swingman Tim Coenraad said.
The Hawks (8-9) know they will have to work hard to outmuscle titleholders New Zealand under the boards in Saturday's Australia Day stoush at WIN Entertainment Centre.
"Rebounding will be a big key," Coenraad said.
"We need to keep guys like [Mika] Vukona and [Will] Hudson and [Alex] Pledger off the glass. That's pretty much what it all comes down to."
The Hawks have become well acquainted with the Breakers, with Saturday's meeting the third in three weeks.
League leaders New Zealand (15-3) prevailed by two in Wollongong on January 5 before escaping with a one-point victory last Thursday in Auckland.
"We match up well against them and we're definitely very competitive against them," Coenraad said.
"We've learned what they do and know them a little better now, and we know what our defensive schemes are. Hopefully we can get on top of them this time."
Coenraad only returned to action earlier this month after missing the first 13 games with plantar fasciitis.
In the four games he has played, the 27-year-old has averaged seven points and 3.5 rebounds. He is making 39 per cent of his field goals, 44.5 per cent from three-point range, and 60 per cent of his free throws.
"It's up and down and I don't really know what's in store each day," he said of the occasional pain he still feels in his foot.
Hawks officials are hoping for a big turnout on Saturday.
Tip-off is at the earlier time of 5pm and plenty of tickets are on sale through Ticketek, the WIN Entertainment Centre Box Office and Hawks headquarters at Beaton Park.
The Hawks signed new import Malcolm Grant on Sunday and hope to have him in the line-up against the Breakers.
Grant, a 185-centimetre guard from New York, was brought in as a replacement for injured import Lance Hurdle.
