Hawks defeat Taipans to end two-game skid

The Illawarra Hawks are back in the NBL winner’s circle after defeating the Cairns Taipans 87-81 at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday.

Leading the way in the Hawks’ win were Justinian Jessup and Duop Reath, who both dropped 18 points - with the latter also pulling down 11 rebounds.

Those two were well supported by Antonius Cleveland (16 points, six rebounds and three assists), 50-game milestone man Tyler Harvey (12 points, three rebounds and three assists), Sam Froling (nine points and nine rebounds) and Xavier Rathan-Mayes (nine points and five assists).

These statistics, as well as the Hawks winning field goal percentage (50-36), rebounds (46-37) and points in the paint (44-26), secured the hosts their seventh win of NBL22 and elevated them back into the top four.

In the defeat, Tahjere McCall stood out for Cairns with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Others to score in double-figures for the Taipans were Scott Machado (16) in his return from injury, Majok Deng (14) and Bul Kuol (12).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Slammin&#39; <a href="https://twitter.com/samfroling_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@samfroling_</a> with AUTHORITY ?<br><br>?: <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Foxtel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Foxtel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreIllawarra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreIllawarra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://t.co/o8f8J2ayS4">pic.twitter.com/o8f8J2ayS4</a></p>&mdash; Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1492398894407290882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cairns raced out the blocks, hitting five of their first six shots, to lead 12-9 after three minutes.

The hosts responded though, sparked by seven first-quarter points by Reath, to lead 21-18 before going into the first break up by one (29-28).

The Taipans opened the second period with back-to-back triples by Bul Kuol, with two downtown efforts from Jessup keeping the Hawks’ noses in front.

Despite five quick points by Machado, including a shot as the siren sounded, the Hawks went into half-time up 52-49 - thanks largely to 13 points from Jessup through the opening 20 minutes.

Fueled by eight early points by Cleveland, the hosts opened the third quarter on a 13-3 run - to stretch their advantage to double-digits.

The visitors didn’t roll over though, fighting back to trial by just six (69-63) at three-quarter-time.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/xrm_22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@xrm_22</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/DuopReath?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DuopReath</a> connect for the alley-oop jam ?<br><br>?: <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Foxtel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Foxtel</a> <br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreIllawarra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreIllawarra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://t.co/lVhZmyvLoD">pic.twitter.com/lVhZmyvLoD</a></p>&mdash; Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1492411237640011780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Both sides traded baskets through the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, including a runaway dunk by Keanu Pinder and alley-oop jam from Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Reath.

A creative blow-by lay-up by Rathan Mayes then helped restore the hosts’ double-digit lead.

Although the Snakes made a late charge, fueled by an athletic dunk by McCall, a clutch basket by Rathan-Mayes and timely defensive plays by Jessup and Tim Coenraad, sealed the hosts' six-point win - to improve to 7-6 on the season.

The two sides will match up once again next Friday, tipping off at 7.30pm AEDT at the WIN Entertainment Centre - with tickets available Ticketmaster.