A touch over 3000 people had WIN Entertainment Centre rocking down the stretch of the Hawks 104-97 overtime win over the Townsville Crocodiles last Saturday.

It’s an atmosphere Martin hopes Hawks fans can replicate at this vital stage of the season. 

‘‘Last season I don’t think we got anything near that kind of noise,” Martin said.

‘‘It got kind of quiet there when we were down, but they picked up there in the fourth quarter and got the energy going in the building.

‘‘That is kind of playoff basketball.

‘‘That sort of intensity the entire time and that enthusiasm, you really feed off it.’’

The healthy crowd was the second time since the New Year that the Hawks have surpassed the 3000 mark.

But with Friday’s huge home stand against Adelaide 36ers and a home finals game against either Perth Wildcats or Melbourne United, the Illawarra faithful have the chance to expand on that figure.

The finals game will cap a dramatic seasons turnaround for Illawarra after they finished bottom of the NBL 12-months ago.

It will also see the Hawks squad execute their long-held goal.

‘‘It is something that we set our sights on and was a goal at the start of the year so to achieve that is good,” centre AJ Ogilvy said.

“After we take care of Friday’s game we have to reset, refocus and aim high.’’