A SENSATIONAL individual performance from Matt Hurt has kept the SEM Phoenix’s season alive, leading them to a seven-point triumph over the Illawarra Hawks at John Cain Arena on Sunday afternoon.

The Hawks won game one at home on Friday night, and had the opportunity to advance straight through to the Championship Series with a win on Sunday. Having been the best side all season, Illawarra was a tough prospect for the Phoenix, but the two sides had produced classic encounters all season, so it was unlikely that South East Melbourne would go down without a fight.

Rallying behind a pair of match winning performances from Hurt and guard Nathan Sobey, the Phoenix upset the championship favourites, forcing a game three on Wednesday night and keeping their own title aspirations alive.

South East Melbourne Phoenix (101) def. Illawarra Hawks (94)

It was a close contest from the get-go, with the teams unable to be separated after the first 10 minutes of play. Both teams had their runs throughout the second and third quarters, with the Hawks leading by two points at the final change, looking to run away with the contest and put an end to South East Melbourne’s hopes of reaching its first ever Championship Series.

However, the Phoenix posted a whopping 35 points in the final quarter, truly playing like a team with nothing to lose as the John Cain Arena crowd began to get involved. It was the typical resilience South East Melbourne has exemplified all season, starting its campaign 0-5 and now one win away from the decider after storming home to victory on Sunday.

Hurt posted 30 points in the win on 4/7 shooting from behind the arc, bouncing back from an uncharacteristically quiet performance in game one with 10 points on just six attempted shots. His importance to the Phoenix has never been understated, and was perfectly demonstrated in game two of the semi-finals.

He formed a damaging duo with Sobey, who also showed how dangerous it is to allow him time and space, punishing the Hawks with 25 points and eight rebounds of his own. Despite the return of point guard Derrick Walton Jr (who had a quiet night with five points on 1/9 shooting), Sobey still dominated the match and torched the Illawarra defence at times.

For the Hawks, William Hickey led the way with an inspiring performance off the bench, posting 19 points in 19 minutes to go with six rebounds and four assists in a typically tireless and energetic performance from the heart and soul player. He stepped up in the midst of quiet performance from star teammates Trey Kell III (six points, 1/10 FG) and Tyler Harvey (10 points, 3/13 FG, fouled out), and kept the Hawks in striking distance of a win.

The semi-final series will continue on Wednesday night as the decider takes place at WIN Entertainment Centre, and with season on the line for both sides, expect another encounter.