BASKETBALL
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The new-look Wollongong Hawks soared into the 2014-15 season with Friday night’s pulsating 92-83 comeback victory over Townsville at WIN Entertainment Centre.
With the club’s new owner James Spenceley cheering in the front row from start to finish, the Hawks dug themselves out of an 11-point hole in the third quarter by out-scoring the Crocodiles 33-16 in the fourth period.
American guards Gary Ervin and Jahii Carson spearheaded the win with 22 and 20 points respectively.
The pair also combined for 12 assists, while 14 of Carson’s points came in the final quarter.Wollongong’s Dave Gruber (illness) was a late withdrawal from the game and remains in doubt for Saturday night’s road clash with arch rivals Sydney.
Recently-signed centre Luke Nevill tallied 17 points and 10 rebounds in his Hawks debut, Adam Ballinger was strong off the bench with 10 points, while Tim Coenraad finished with eight points and 11 rebounds.
Brad Hill was solid with nine points off the bench and Oscar Forman had six.
Todd Blanchfield led the Crocs with 17, while Brian Conklin and Clint Steindl added 15 apiece.
The Hawks held an eight-point lead early in the third quarter but went cold and fell behind 67-59 at three-quarter time.
A typical revival ensured they started the season on a high note and sent 3277 fans home happy.
Nevill scored his first point as a Hawk from the free throw line and dunked on the next possession after a sweet dish from Carson.
But the visitors settled into a smooth offensive flow, picking apart Wollongong’s shabby defence and out-working them under the boards.
Blanchfield nailed back to back three-pointers and Stendl followed with a pair of threes of his own to push Townsville’s lead to 17-7 midway through the opening quarter.
Wollongong received a lift from the bench, as Ballinger scored six quick points to cut the margin to five.
The Crocs responded and extended the lead to 25-15, only to see their opponents close the quarter with a 9-1 run.
Ballinger Nevill and Hill led the Hawks with six points apiece, while Blanchfield paced Townsville with 11.
Wollongong made just 1/4 threes compared to the Crocs’ 4/7.
Ervin gave the home team their first lead since the opening seconds when he nailed a three early in the second period.
The fast-paced scoring from the first quarter slowed considerably, and Wollongong held a 36-35 advantage with just under five minutes left in the half.
They stretched the margin to five before one-time Hawk Mirko Djeric splashed a long three and followed with a driving lay-up to lock the score at 46-all at half-time.
Carson was up to six points after being going scoreless in the first period, while Ervin and Nevill each had 10.
Hill added nine and Ballinger had eight.
Blanchfield and Steindl stood had 13 apiece.
Townsville grabbed 18 rebounds to the Hawks’ 16, but Wollongong made 55 per cent of their shots to the Crocs’ 41 per cent.
Forman hit his first shot of the game to get the Hawks rolling in the third quarter.
Ervin knocked in a three and Nevill scored inside to make it an eight-point margin.
But just when Wollongong were getting on top, the Crocs peeled off 19 unanswered points to all but stun the home crowd into silence.
Ervin finally broke the drought with a three in the final moments of the third period to cut Townsville’s lead to 67-59.
Wollongong were smashed 13-7 under the boards in the quarter and made just 5/18 shots.
A re-focused Hawks emerged in the fourth period, chipping away at the deficit before regaining the lead on Ballinger’s lay-up.
Tim Coenraad’s three caused Crocs coach Shawn Dennis to use a time-out, but the party only got louder for Wollongong, as Carson made a few spectacular driving lay-ups to put his team up by 13.
Townsville knocked down a couple of late shots but the Hawks got the win Spenceley and coach Gordie McLeod hope is the catalyst for a successful season.
