Hawks ready to tame the Wildcats at home

The Hawks came within a basket of recording back-to-back road games last Sunday against the Bullets, with the squad’s renewed commitment to the defensive end on full display.

Although the result fell the way of the home team, the Hawks used a balanced attack to fill the box score with four players in double figures, led by Mr Consistency Gary Clark and Co-Captain Sam Froling.

The home faithful will be buoyed by the play of import guard Justin Robinson, whose second half against the Bullets showed his ability to score from both the perimeter and at the basket; the long-range shooting of Hyunjung Lee, who has 3-4 from the three-point line and a plus 14 on the afternoon, and the explosiveness of rookie big man Lachie Olbrich, who went upstairs in the third quarter for one of the dunks of the season.

Tonight’s game will be the home debut for interim coach Justin Tatum, who has unlocked a new energy and vigour within the group since taking over the reins just four weeks ago.

Opportunity has knocked for Next Star AJ Johnson, Biwali Bayles and Mason Peatling since Tatum’s appointment. Behind a passionate home crowd, their form will continue to build as they carve their roles in the second half of the season.

The match-up with Perth presents the right challenge at the right time; a surging Wildcats outfit with the league’s hottest win streak is just the scalp the Hawks need to build momentum through an important December and holiday period.

Opposition Watch 

The Wildcats hit Wollongong with the league’s longest active win streak. Perth dethroned the Kings in the West to record their sixth consecutive win and cement their spot in the top four.

Coach Rillie has made a host of changes to his rotation to spark the recent run, but the star of the show remains Bryce Cotton.

Cotton has been electric in recent weeks and has reclaimed his position atop the league’s leading scorers at 21.7 points per game.

He’s also averaged 32 points per game across his last four appearances and has shot at almost 46 per cent from the field in that same period.

While the Hawks guards of Robinson, Swaka Lo Buluk, Bayles and Co. will have their hands full with Cotton, the bigs will need to meet the length and physicality of Pinder, Doolittle, Harris and potential number one pick in the NBA draft, Alexandre Sarr, if they are to secure the home W.

We Rise Together

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster for tonight's match at www.hawks.com.au/tickets 

Be in your seats by 7.15 pm for lights out, with the action to tip-off at 7.30 pm.

Tonight’s home game is presented by City Motors Group. Wollongong Motor Group (wollongongcitymotors.com.au)