BASKETBALL
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Demetri McCamey etched his name into Hawks folklore yesterday but Wollongong fans won't rush to relive the Cairns import's heroics.
Scores were locked at 77-77 before McCamey broke Hawks hearts when he calmly nailed the buzzer-beating game winner.
Overtime seemed certain after Wollongong's Kevin Tiggs tied the game with four seconds to go.
But McCamey had other ideas.
Referees checked TV replays of the shot, which confirmed McCamey had released the ball before the siren sounded.
"I knew there was only four seconds, so whoever had the ball in their hands was going to have to make a play," he said.
"I'm always cool, calm and collected. I was fortunate enough to get a separation from [Hawks forward] Oscar [Forman] and made a shot.
"This is my first professional game winner. I made a couple in college, and it's just that great feeling you get, that thrill that you get, especially on the road when the fans are talking trash. It was one of those crowd quieters."
Cairns move up to fifth on the NBL table at Wollongong's expense.
Hawks forward Kevin Tiggs insisted his side would move on quickly from the tough loss.
"It ain't over. There's a lot of games left, a lot games," he said.
Wollongong guard Tyson Demos missed yesterday's game with a leg infection and is racing the clock to be fit for this week's meetings with New Zealand Breakers and Melbourne (home).
"That's all going to be on how he pulls up," coach Gordie McLeod said.
"There's virtually nil chance of him going to New Zealand, and there might be a small chance of playing Melbourne.
"There's a marked improvement; if it continues to improve, we might be able to get a bit of a workout on Saturday at practice and make the call on whether he'll suit up on Sunday."
The Breakers are in seventh spot, while Melbourne are fourth.