Hawks record huge statement win against Phoenix

The Illawarra Hawks’ finals chances were boosted massively on Sunday after they defeated the South East Melbourne Phoenix 83-77 at John Cain Arena.

This marked just the Hawks’ second ever win against the Phoenix from nine attempts and also their first all season against the current top-four sides.

Leading the way for the Hawks, during the Indigenous round clash, was bench guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes, who totalled 19 points, three rebounds and two assists.

The Canadian was well-supported by Antonius Cleveland (16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one steals), Justinian Jessup (15 points and seven rebounds) and Duop Reath (12 points, five rebounds and three blocks).

Making the gutsy win all the more impressive was the fact point guard Tyler Harvey only contributed one point and the Hawks only shot 57 per cent from the free-throw line.

In the loss, Mitch Creek top-scored for the Phoenix with 18, with Ryan Broekhoff (15), Izayah Le'afa (14) and Xavier Munford (13) also scoring in double-figures.

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Creek started the match strongly, scoring a quick five points, as the hosts led 7-4.

Behind five points by Reath, the Hawks closed the margin to 14-13 before a Rathan-Mayes’ lay-up gave the Hawks the lead.

Scoring from both sides then dried up a little, before three late points by Isaac White ensured the Hawks went into quarter-time at 18-all.

Sloppy play on both ends of the play by the Hawks allowed the Phoenix to get back out by seven points with just over six to play in the half.

Sparkplus Rathan-Mayes then out the Hawks on his back, scoring seven quick points, to even the ledger at 33-all at half-time.

South East Melbourne jump out of the second-half block, scoring the first nine points of the term - including four from Zhou Qi.

Jessup then hit two straight jumpers, to keep the Hawks close but a triple and offensive putback by Broekhoff put the hosts up by 10.

Rathan-Mayes’ exceptional game of the bench continued, with six straight points, including a triple and and-one, before Cleveland acrobatically brought the Hawks back to within five.

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The Hawks ended the term on a 12-0, capped off by a Tim Coenraad triple, to go into the last change up 57-55.

The Hawks kept it going with buckets to Rathan-Mayes and Harry Froling, to extend the lead to six.

Tough defence and a crafty step-back by NBL Next Star Jessup put the Hawks up by nine with five to play.

A shot from downtown by Cleveland extended the lead to 13 before Creek cancelled it out and reduce it to 10 - which was made six after Munford and Brandon Ashley scored.

That momentum was stopped by Rathan-Mayes, who poked the ball away and scored a runaway basket.

Clutch free-throws at the death by Tyler Harvey and Jessup secured the six-point win.

Next up for the Hawks is a trip to Hobart on Sunday to take on the Tasmania JackJumpers for the first time ever at MyState Bank Arena.