Hawks forward Cody Ellis says the desire to be a leader at the defensive end inspired his superb fourth quarter performance against the Brisbane Bullets on New Year’s Eve.
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With the game still on the line, Ellis claimed three steals and a massive block down the stretch to help halt any chance of a late Brisbane fight-back.
He finished with eight points, three steals, two rebounds and one block.
“I try to come off the bench with energy,” Ellis said.
“Bevo talks about being an energetic player.
“I think for us to be successful and to make a run at the playoffs, defensively we need to step it up another notch. I think we were pretty good in patches, and I am just trying to be a leader on that end.”
Ellis endured a difficult start to the season after falling out of the rotation but has since been welcomed back into the fold.
“We have given him an opportunity and he has taken it with both hands,” Hawks coach Rob Beveridge said.