Harvey superb as Hawks destroy Bullets

The Result

Illawarra Hawks 96 - Brisbane Bullets 72

The Story

It was certainly a night to remember at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Monday as the Hawks overcame a hoop malfunction - which caused a half hour delay to play as officials scrambled to fix the issue - to power past the Bullets 96-72 in thrilling fashion.

Once the problem was solved - and a Hawks official had a quick swing on the ring - things got underway with a trademark Tyler Harvey three ball setting the stadium alight.

Justin Simon followed it up with five points of his own - a corner three and this crazy circus shot from behind the backboard.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Circus shot on a string <a href="https://twitter.com/simon_Says_so?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@simon_Says_so</a> ??‍??<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IllawarraProud?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IllawarraProud</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZwgtphP0Dd">pic.twitter.com/ZwgtphP0Dd</a></p>&mdash; Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1376468099054989312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Harvey stayed busy in the opening quarter - shooting his way out of a recent funk with eight points, Deng Adel landed had five and 'Next Star' Justinian Jessup got in on the action with four points.

The Hawks opening up an eight-point lead at the quarter time break and leading 28-20.

Harvey started the second the same way he ended the first - landing another blow from beyond the arc. Cam Bairstow added a two of his own off the bench while skipper AJ Ogilvy and Jessup both racked up a pair of blocks on the defensive end.

The Bullets couldn't buy a bucket - shooting a dismal 31% from the field.

It was Harvey's half though - the point guard lights out from beyond the arc as the Bullets scrambled to keep the American star in check.

His seven first half threes equalling the most made by any player this season for a full game - and helping the Hawks to their biggest halftime lead of the season.

Harvey entering the sheds with 23 first half points on 8/12 shooting in an epic offensive display. The Hawks ahead 58-38.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chef Harvey is cookin <a href="https://twitter.com/YoungTRaaw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YoungTRaaw</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IllawarraProud?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IllawarraProud</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://t.co/M23i1jSuWB">pic.twitter.com/M23i1jSuWB</a></p>&mdash; Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1376475803693670404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The third quarter was a carbon copy of the two before it - the Hawks could barely miss and the Bullets couldn't buy a bucket.

Big man Sam Froling started getting busy, edging ahead of brother Harry on the stat sheet as the Hawks extended their lead to as much as 27 points at one stage.

Harvey kept keeping on - dropping his eighth three and notching 28 for the game before a layup left him a little lame. The star guard heading up the race for treatment with three minutes left in the third - Emmett Naar coming into the game to replace him. 

The Hawks maintaining a huge buffer with one to play - leading 72-50.

The fourth quarter was played without Harvey who didn't return from injury - so it was left to Naar (11 points and five assist) and Adel (11 points, 11 boards and six assists) to steer the team home.

Things got interesting when the Bullets pulled within twelve with only a handful of minutes left on the clock - but ultimately the cool heads of the Hawks prevailed as the home side registered it's first win at the WIN Entertainment Centre this season.

The Stats

It was the biggest win of the season for the Hawks and the Bullets biggest loss.

It was also the first time this season the Hawks have won all four quarters of a game.

The Hawks got it done absolutely everywhere on the box score as well - leading nearly every statistical category you could think of.

Illawarra shot 47% from the field and 46% from three compared to the Bullets 43% and 29% respectively. 

The Hawks led the rebound count (58-39), assists (25-13), blocks (6-3) and steals were tied at six apiece.

The Hawks bench chipped in a season-high 43 points to outgun the Bullets reserves as well (32).

On the Hawks side Harvey was the star - knocking down eight threes for the game in a season-high performance across the NBL.

Adel had a double double and added six assists in a game coach Brian Goorjian must have appreciated, while Naar and Bairstow were key players off the bench.

Deng Deng continued his good form with seven points and six boards - and managed to add his name to the season highlight reel with this thunderous slam.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Oh dear lord ??? <a href="https://twitter.com/DengDeng19?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DengDeng19</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IllawarraProud?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IllawarraProud</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://t.co/HEJt9eJjxA">pic.twitter.com/HEJt9eJjxA</a></p>&mdash; Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1376484893970980867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Fallout

"Tyler's [Harvey] right there with the top guards in this. His all around play, his ability to score the ball, his ability to run a team and just a great person through all this adversity that we've had this year with the first year in the league and tonight again, having our own rings and a comfort, he really shot the ball well. He wanted this thing bad tonight, I think the team did, we were desperate tonight," Goorjian said.

"I don't remember being this nervous before a game, I didn't want to feel this way when I came back into the league. I wanted to relax and enjoy the game but leading into this game just after the two losses and where we're sitting and starting this home stand it was a really really important game," Goorjian said.

"I called the guys in before we went out on the court [after the ring malfunction] and just repreated what I have all year, this is just not a normal year, it just ties in with what's gone on over the last three months. The team that can handle all this adverstiy, the unusual travel, not knowing who you're gonna play, it's not the league's fault, it's COVID...I was real pleased with the way the guys were focused tonight and if the game would have started a half an hour later we'd still be right. If it had gone dark, we'd have waited for the lights to come on. We just really wanted to play and needed this one," Goorjian said.

"I really think we're playing better right now than we were in that hub. So the key for us now is just to build on this and maybe we can get some momentum at home and give them some confidence that will add to the growing performance from tonight and the last few games even though they were losses," Goorjian said.

"I can't tell you how great it is to wake up or finish the game and walk up the hill and you're at home. You know, cook a meal, pour a glass of red wine, put your feet over the balcony, everybody's got tomorrow off, they can relax, get their groceries, see their girlfriend and then we've got another couple of days to sleep in our own beds, be around the people we love and care about, be in our community and enjoy the win before our next game," Goorjian said. 

The Road Ahead

Round 12 – Thursday 1 April at 7:30pm AEDT v SE Melbourne @ WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

The schedule has been changed more times than we can poke a stick at but it'll be the Phoenix (we hope) that come to town on Thursday to take on the Hawkies.

The Phoenix has been a tough opponent for Illawarra so far this season - with the Melbourne based side claiming both games earlier on in the season in convincing fashion. Goorjian even calling the Phoenix the Hawks 'bogey side'.

The Phoenix will be without star playmaker and on court general Mitch Creek though - and will enter the WIN Entertainment Centre behind the high-flying Hawks on the NBL ladder as both teams strive for a playoff berth.