IS it an omen? Illawarra fans long-starved of championship success will certainly hope so after the Hawks booked their place in a grand final series with an epic 106-98 win over Adelaide on Thursday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It’s been 16 seasons since Damon Lowery produced three of the most celebrated ugly free-throws in Hawks history to see off the 36ers at the semi-final stage and set his side’s charge at a maiden NBL crown in motion.
This win was at least the equal to that night in Wollongong, with the victory coming largely without star big-man AJ Ogilvy who left the court with the four minutes left in the first quarter.
He took no further part in the game and seems at long odds to play in the opening game of the grand final series on Sunday but – to a man – the Hawks stood up in his absence.
SCROLL DOWN TO LEAVE THE HAWKS A MESSAGE OF SUPPORT
It didn’t come without some nervous moments with the hosts pegging back an 18-point three-quarter-time deficit to get within five down the stretch before Rotnei Clarke iced the game with two clutch threes.
MVP Jerome Randle and back-court partner Nathan Sobey looked tight early on but came to life in the fourth with Sobey producing 13 as the hosts looked to steal the game but it was Clarke’s night.
Clarke finished with 20 points and Marvelle Harris had 12 of his 17 points in a telling second quarter – but it was the likes of Michael Holyfield and Cody Ellis who proved the major surprise packets filling the Ogilvy void.
Holyfield (10 points six rebounds) reached double figures for the first time since round three while Ellis had 11 points and veterans Rhys Martin (13) and Tim Coenraad (10) also came up big.
Rookie of the Year Anthony Drmc led the Sixers resistance but payed for ill-discipline by following up his second flopping foul with a technical and ejection in the third quarter.
The win broke a streak of 10 straight playoff losses on the road for the Hawks but leaves little time to regroup ahead of game one in the west on Sunday. The Hawks will head to Perth direct on Friday to begin their charge at the silverware.
Daniel Johnson and Randle opened the hosts account from the line in what was a nervous start from both sides.
Clarke hit his first three quickly after being injected from the bench but it was Martin who really seized the initiative for the Hawks with two triples and classy dish for Coenraad to also hit from the perimeter.
Ogilvy left the court with four minutes to play in the quarter but it didn’t affect the visitors with Harris knocking down a three of his own as the Hawks led by nine at the first break.
Clarke got things going after the resumption while Oscar Forman added four but the term belonged to Harris who had 12 as the visitors took a 14-point buffer into the main break.
Sobey and Drmc got going on a 7-0 run for the hosts to peg back the lead but Drmc’s ejection proved a telling blow to the home side’s resistance.
Mitch Norton produced a telling six points to close the third while Kevin White’s monstrous three gave the Hawks an 18-point cushion at the final change.
They needed every bit of it with Sobey igniting a 13-0 run to get his side back in the clash in fourth but it came too late with Clarke’s heroics down the stretch sealing the win and grand final date.