Olbrich stars again as Hawks keep winning

Fresh off a tantalising battle with Aron Baynes, rising big man Lachlan Olbrich was again outstanding for the Illawarra Hawks to close the NBL Blitz in Friday's 108-90 win over the shorthanded Cairns Taipans.

Olbrich has elected to put his faith in the NBL this season at the Hawks after a year at college at UC Riverside and based on what he's delivered on the Gold Coast this week, he's only going to keep rising up draft boards in NBL24.

The final day at the Blitz started with a full strength Hawks up against a Taipans team missing their imports and Bul Kuol, but it was the Snakes that started the game in them most spectacular of ways.

They got underway with two dunks from Akoldah Gak against his former team, including one to start off from the alley-oop pass from Taran Armstrong, and then another nice finish on the break from Next Star Bobi Klintman.

That gave Cairns the first six points of the contest but the Hawks took charge from there beginning with three-point bombs from Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Tyler Harvey and AJ Johnson.

Hyunjung Lee then got in on the fun before Todd Blanchfield closed the quarter with two of his own from beyond the arc and Illawarra was up 30-17 despite having conceded those first six points.

The Hawks maintained that edge through the second quarter with another 28 points to 23 to go into the half leading 58-40, and while the result was never seriously in doubt in the second half, it didn’t stop the highlights or both teams taking plenty out of it.

Olbrich again top-scored with 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals with Tyler Harvey adding 16 points, three boards and three assists, and Hyunjung Lee 15 points on 4/5 from three-point range. 

Todd Blanchfield is readying for his return to the Hawks this season and hit 4/6 from deep for 14 points while Gary Clark contributed nine points, five rebounds and four assists, and Sam Froling eight points, four boards and two blocks.

The Hawks now turn their focus to the opening round of NBL24 next Saturday as they host the reigning champion Sydney Kings.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 108 (Olbrich 18, Harvey 16, Lee 15)

CAIRNS TAIPANS 90 (Gak 21, Mayen 18, Mennenga 10) 

BOX SCORE