Hawks beat Bullets as Olbrich shines

They might be opposite ends of their professional careers, but Lachlan Olbrich and Aron Baynes combined for 40 points and 22 rebounds as Olbrich’s Illawarra Hawks beat Baynes’ Brisbane Bullets 95-88 at the NBL Blitz.

Both teams started their NBL Blitz campaigns on the Gold Coast with losses to Melbourne United so were looking to open their accounts, and it turned out a fascinating contest with plenty for both outfits to take out of it.

Olbrich is at the start of his professional career after a college season at UC Riverside and coming off an NBL1 Central championship at the West Adelaide Bearcats. What the result was on Wednesday was a tremendous battle between both men who were hugely influential for their teams.

It was Olbrich and his Hawks who got the victory, though, with the 19-year-old ending up with 20 points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal while hitting 8/10 from the floor and 3/5 at the free-throw line while knocking down his lone three-point attempt.

There was plenty more for Illawarra to like out of the game as well including what import guard Justin Robinson offered in the first half to put up his 12 points, three assists and two steals.

Sam Froling also did most of his work in the opening half with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists while Tyler Harvey put up 16 points with Gary Clark contributing nine points, four boards, three assists and two steals, and Hyunjung Lee eight points, five rebounds and two steals.

The Hawks play again on Friday to close the NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast against the Cairns Taipans.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 95 (Olbrich 20, Harvey 16, Froling 12, Robinson 12)

BRISBANE BULLETS 88 (Baynes 20, Sobey 17, Mitchell 16) 

BOX SCORE