Bullets hand Hawks first defeat of NBL22 season

The Illawarra Hawks suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday, going down 96-92 to the Brisbane Bullets at the Nissan Arena.

Feuling the win for the Bullets was guard Nathan Sobey, who finished with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and one steal.

The Boomer was one of five players to score in double-figures for the victors, including Robert Franks, Jason Cadee (both 16), Tyrel Harrison (14) and Lamar Patterson (11).

For the Hawks, big men Duop Reath and former Bullet Harry Froling both scored 15 each, while grabbing seven and three rebounds respectively.

Import Antonius Cleveland added 13 points, four rebounds, four steals and two assists, as Justinian Jessup and Sam Froling (who also pulled down 11 rebounds) both chalked up 11.

After their first loss in #NBL22 we hear from @illawarrahawks head coach Brian Goorjian and Harry Froling. pic.twitter.com/34pE2qNAuK

— NBL (@NBL) December 19, 2021

The round three fixture started with both teams trading three-pointers through Duop Reath and Anthony Drmic.

However, a 14-2 run by the hosts, who were playing their NBL22 home opener, gave them first quarter ascendency.

The Hawks responded though, with crucial threes from Tim Coenraad and Harry Froling, as well as a crafty move by guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes, helped reduce the margin to 30-20 after one.

The break didn’t help the Hawks though, as back-to-back baskets by Robert Franks and Tyrell Harrison extended the hosts’ advantage to 15.

Friday night’s hero against the Breakers Tyler Harvey then sparked the visitors' comeback, with him and Justinian Jessup exchanging shots from downtown, to cut the lead to single digits.

A coast-to-coast one-handed jam by Antonius Cleveland temporarily stopped the Bullets’ momentum but scores from imports Robert Franks and Lamar Patterson kept Brisbane in front.

.@ac_uno1 goes coast-to-coast for the one-handed jam 😤#WeAreIllawarra #FlyAsOne #NBL22 pic.twitter.com/50qWqU4CFr

— Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) December 19, 2021

Strong play by Harry Froling and Rathan-Mayes helped the Hawks close to within nine (54-45) at the main break.

Brain Goorjian’s words at half-time sparked a 10-4 to start the third period, which included six straight points by excitement machine Cleveland.

Quickfire and-one plays by Duop Reath, off an alley-oop by Cleveland, and Sam Froling, helped the Hawks take the lead for the first time since the opening minute.

That lead was short-lived, as the hosts scored 15 of the next 21 points, to lead by eight at three-quarter-time.

Crucial scores by Harry Froling and the fact the Bullets had five fouls within the first three and a half minutes of the period, saw the visitors work back to within two points.

An and-one by Sam Froling equalled the ledger at 86-all before seven straight points by Nathan Sobey gave the hosts the advantage.

The Hawks were dead though, with scores by Froling, Harvey and Reath cutting the margin to just three.

That proved to be as close as the Hawk got though, with numerous missed late shots and a Patterson free-throw sealing the 96-92 win.

Next up for the Hawks, who are now 3-1, is a home fixture against the South East Melbourne Phoenix at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Thursday, December 23 - with tickets available via Ticketmaster.

While the Bullets, who improve to 2-2, take on the Taipans on Boxing Day, in the first Sunshine Stoush of NBL22.