The Hawks have come from behind to claim a 93-81 victory over Cairns at the WEC on Sunday afternoon.
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A lethargic Illawarra outfit, who had survived a thriller in Adelaide two nights earlier, trailed by five points at half time, but a superb 23-6 third quarter set up the win in captain AJ Ogilvy's 200th.
Justinian Jessup led the home side's scoring with 24 points. Tyler Harvey was crucial in the fourth, finishing the fixture with 22 points and nine assists, while Ogilvy had a double-double, mustering 11 points and 11 boards. For Cairns, Scott Machado had 17 points and nine assists, while Majok Deng scored 16 points.
The result strengthens the Hawks' hold of fourth spot on the NBL ladder and keeps them in well contention for this year's playoffs.
"Coming in here, I knew this game was going to be nasty and really important to us. They (Cairns) had nothing to lose, they're free flowing, (Nathan) Jawai is playing well and they've got shooters," Illawarra coach Brian Goorjian said.
"I thought the first half issue was mainly mine, in the fact that were doubling on those on-balls and trying to keep Scott out of the lane, and we gave up catch-and-shoot, feet-set threes because the rotations were a little slow. And then in the second half, we went with a show and recover, and didn't rotate. And I thought in the second half, we took the three-ball away.
"And the reason why we're here today with the amount of games that are left is because we're defending. And when we defend, we've got a chance. And when we defend, that also opens up the offensive end of the floor."
The Hawks received a boost before tip-off, with Dan Grida cleared to return from his hand injury.
The Taipans were the first to score through a Majok Deng lay-up, but Illawarra quickly responded through Justinian Jessup from long range and Sam Froling's basket gave them a 5-2 lead. However, Mojave King's three-pointer saw the Taipans draw level.
The big men then went to work, as AJ Ogilvy and Nathan Jawai hit the scoreboard, with the Hawks taking a slender 8-7 advantage.
However, the Hawks' offense then went cold, with Cairns scoring seven of the next nine points to take a 14-9 lead. With three minutes left, Deng Deng finally broke the Hawks' drought, draining a three-pointer to cut the deficit to two points.
After Scott Machado went two from two from the line, Deng returned serve with two free throws at the other end. Mirko Djeric then drilled a three-pointer for the Taipans, but a Tyler Harvey three and Ogilvy basket saw Illawarra drew level at 19-19.
Ogilvy cashed in with two free throws, but back-to-back Veny Jois baskets gave Cairns a 23-21 advantage at quarter time.
The Taipans came firing out of the blocks in the second, going on a 9-2 run to take a 32-23 lead, before the Hawks responded through back-to-back three-pointers through Jessup and Tim Coenraad to cut the deficit to three.
Fabian Krslovic hit back with a basket, but Coenraad's second bucket from long range and Harvey's lay up saw the Hawks draw level at 34-34 with five minutes left. Cairns then steadied, scoring seven of the next nine points, to jump out to a 41-36 advantage.
The Hawks needed a lift and it was Jessup who provided it, scoring all 12 of his team's points for the rest of the quarter, as the hosts drew level at 48-48. But Cairns finished strongly, with a Deng three and Machado basket helping them take a 53-48 lead at half time.
Jessup was Illawarra's standout performer in the first half, mustering 18 points and three rebounds, while Ogilvy had seven points and six boards, and Harvey six assists. Machado led the Taipans' scoring with 13 points, while Deng had 11.
The Hawks started the third well, with Froling hitting back-to-back baskets off Justin Simon assists, before Ogilvy's lay up gave his side a 54-53 lead. King then ended the Hawks' run with a bucket from long range.
Illawarra was strong in defense, while at the other end of the floor, Ogilvy's basket and Jessup's lay up plus free throw saw the home side take a 61-56 advantage. Jessup then drained one from long range to extend the Hawks' buffer to eight points.
After a timeout, Tad Dufelmeir hit a much-needed three for Cairns, but Harvey returned the favour and Froling's basket gave Illawarra a 67-59 advantage. Harvey then went two from two from the line as the Hawks opened up a 71-59 lead going into the final quarter.
Harvey mustered the first basket in the last, but the Taipans responded by going on a 10-0 run to cut the margin to four. Deng Deng's three-pointer steadied the ship for Illawarra, but Cairns' Mirko Djeric returned the favour as the Hawks led 76-72.
Harvey's three-pointer then gave the Hawks a 79-72 advantage. Deng and Froling's baskets helped Illawarra extend their lead to 11 points with three minutes left.
Majok Deng responded with a three, but a clutch Harvey basket from long range gave the Hawks a handy buffer. Machado continued to work hard, scoring two quick baskets, but a Deng Deng lay-up plus free throw extended Illawarra's lead to 89-79.
The Hawks continued to finish strong, scoring four of the next six points, to round out the 93-81 victory.
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Joshua Bartlett
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
