BASKETBALL
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If not for the assertive performance of import Kevin Tiggs, the Hawks could've easily been down by 20 at half-time of Saturday's duel with Cairns.
Tiggs scored 12 of his game-high 20 points in the first half and was the only player to cause any real concern for the Taipans.
That all changed in the second half, as the visitors pulled together to erase a 13-point deficit and prevail 82-79.
Tiggs was asked after the win if he had any doubt at half-time that his team could still win.
"I don't have doubt. I don't even know what doubt is, not playing basketball," he said.
"Nobody likes being down at the half, but it made us come out and play harder.
"We had to change the tempo, come out and make them play our basketball.
"We did that a lot better in the second half and it brought us back."
Tiggs usually plays about 20-25 minutes per game and is Wollongong's main offensive weapon off the bench.
He has a knack for getting to the basket and lately he has become almost impossible to guard.
"Kevin's got a special talent," Hawks coach Gordie McLeod said.
"He's a great passer, he can score, he's unorthodox. He's a hard guy to defend and we want to try and put him in positions where he can make some things happen for us.
"He's got a fantastic attitude to life in general and playing the game. He brings a great positive feeling to the group and makes things good for us, and there's always a smile on his face.
"He's a very valued team member and we're excited moving forward with what he can help our team do."
The two teams square off again this Sunday at WIN Entertainment Centre.