Hawks open Blitz with overtime win against Phoenix

The Illawarra Hawks made a winning start to their #NBL22 Blitz campaign on Monday, defeating the South East Melbourne Phoenix 116-112 in overtime.

Leading the way in the four-point win at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre was Justinian Jessup, who scored 27 points while adding five rebounds and one steal.

Other standouts for the Hawks, in the battle between last season’s two losing semi-finalists, were guards Isaac White (19 points and three rebounds) and Tyler Harvey (17 points, four rebounds and two assists), as well as new import Xavier Rathan-Mayes (13 points, seven assists and four steals).

Fellow import Antonius Cleveland (six points, five rebounds and four assists) was also impressive during his club debut, while Duop Reath’s was plagued by fouls, finishing with seven points in just 20 minutes of action.

All five of Phoenix’s starters reached double-figures, with Reuben Te Rangi (18 points, seven rebounds and two assists) and Chinese big man Zhou Qi (17 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks) standing tall in the absence of Mitch Creek, Cam Gliddon and Dane Pineau - as Simon Mitchell’s side drop to 1-1 in the Blitz following their defeat of the Kings on Saturday.

NBL Next Star Jessup started the match on fire, shooting a perfect 4/4 from the field and 2/2 from the line, to pace the Hawks with 13 points and steer them to a 27-26 lead at quarter-time.

With Tyler Harvey sitting on the bench with three fouls midway through the second term, coach Brian Goorjian turned to sharp-shooter Issac White and the 23-year-old delivered - hitting five straight three-pointers.

Despite White’s heroics, 18 first-half points by forward Te Rangi had the Phoenix up 56-51 at the break - capped off by a long-range buzzer-beater by import Xavier Mumford.

White and Jessup, who was a perfect 5/5 from the field, had 17 and 16 respectively for Illawarra at half-time.

The Phoenix opened the third term on an 11-6 run fuelled by guard Kyle Adnam before the Rayan-Mayes sparked the Hawks’ fightback - to going into the final period down 81-79.

Harvey’s injection at the start of the fourth saw the Hawks retake the lead on the back of a 15-7 six-minute period.

Down the stretch, both teams traded scores before Adnam missed the go-ahead basket, as the teams were locked 100-all at full-time.

Five quick points by Tim Coenraad and clutch free throws by White and Rathan-Mayes helped the Hawks win the extra period 16-12 and ice the match.

The Hawks will play their second Blitz match against United at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Saturday, which will be followed by the Phoenix’s match with the New Zealand Breakers.