SATURDAY in the National Basketball League (NBL) saw the Illawarra Hawks and SEM Phoenix emerge victorious from a double-header, defeating the New Zealand Breakers and Brisbane Bullets respectively.

The first clash of the day took place at WIN Entertainment Centre, with the Hawks hosting the Phoenix in a clash between two sides in very different form of late. Illawarra entered the match at the top of the table, while New Zealand had slid down the ladder in dramatic fashion of late, and was in danger of missing the postseason action altogether.

The first half was all Hawks, with the home side dominating the first two quarters to jump out to a seemingly match-winning lead by the main break. At half-time, Illawarra led by a whopping 21 points, and the game was nearly over given how dominant the hosts were.

However, the Breakers were not done yet, putting up a much better fight in the second half, before making a genuine charge in the fourth quarter to draw back within single-digits in the closing stages of the match. However, Illawarra’s class shone through when it mattered most, with the home side holding on for an eight-point win.

For the victors, Trey Kell III was the star of the show with 31 points, combining well with Darius Days in the first half to help the Hawks get out to a match winning lead. At one stage, the Illawarra pair had combined for 32 points while the Breakers had managed just 35 as a team.

Despite the loss, Matt Mooney was exceptional for the New Zealand Breakers posting 33 points and eight assists as he did all he could to get his side back in the contest in a terrific individual performance.

The action then moved South, as the Phoenix hosted the Bullets in Gippsland in an intriguing clash in the context of the ladder. South East Melbourne had emerged as one of the form teams of the competition of late, while the Bullets were also playing a much improved brand of basketball.

The first half belonged to the Bullets, as Brisbane slowly but surely chalked out a seven-point buffer by halftime. The Phoenix were still in the contest but needed to improve if they were to remain a chance in Gippsland.

South East Melbourne flicked a switch in the second half, overrunning the Bullets and completely taking control of the game. Storming home in the fourth quarter, the Phoenix ended up claiming a 19-point win in a dramatic turnaround to continue their charge up the standings.

Resuming his impressive season, Matt Hurt posted a whopping double-double of 32 points and 12 rebounds and played a crucial role in getting the Phoenix over the line, while Casey Prather was Brisbane’s best with 21 points and 11 rebounds of his own.