The Illawarra Hawks decisively defeated the Perth Wildcats 120-88 at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Sunday, showcasing their dominance at the top of the NBL standings. This impressive win came just days before Christmas and ended Bryce Cotton's remarkable run of consecutive 40-point games.
Despite initially starting strong, with Cotton scoring 13 points in the first quarter, the Wildcats struggled to keep pace as the Hawks tightened their defense. Illawarra’s backcourt duo of Trey Kell III and Tyler Harvey, along with Sam Froling’s presence inside, proved too much for Perth, who were missing key players Kristian Doolittle and Tai Webster.
The Hawks opened the game with intensity, scoring 37 points in the first quarter and leading 63-48 at halftime. Trey Kell was particularly impressive, hitting his career-high of 31 points, supported by Froling with 18 points and Harvey contributing 15.
Hawks coach Justin Tatum praised his team's defensive effort, especially their ability to contain Cotton, stating, "To hold somebody as exceptionally great offensively as Bryce is, it's kudos to the team. We know he’s like a microwave, he’s cooking right now. But when we’re playing against him, we want to make everything difficult." This was evident as Cotton failed to score after the first quarter.
Perth's coach John Rillie acknowledged the difficulty faced by his team, mentioning, "This was seen as a great challenge to see where we are at the moment, and we came up very short today. That's a reminder in this league; if you think things are going too good, you get smacked in the mouth like this." The Wildcats now hold a record of 10-9, placing them squarely in the middle of the league standings.
The Hawks maintained their league-leading position with an 11-5 record, demonstrating their offensive prowess throughout the game. They shot 54% from the floor and capitalized on turnovers, scoring 22 points off the 17 mistakes made by Perth. Kell's explosive performance included shooting 13 out of 21 attempts and grabbing five rebounds and five assists, proving to be the catalyst for the win.
Peaking with their strongest offensive display of the season, Illawarra continued to put pressure on the Wildcats throughout the second half. They surged to as much as a 36-point lead at one point, which left the home crowd jubilant. With the game clearly beyond doubt by the fourth quarter, both teams cleared their benches, allowing for minor players from both sides to get some valuable court time.
The game also marked a significant moment for the Hawks' Tyler Harvey, who became the first Hawks import to hit 400 three-pointers, adding another layer of success to the match. Harvey reflected on the team's performance, highlighting the trust and teamwork visible on the court, "We think we’re a really good offensive team with many threats, and we’re proving it with the scoring outputs we’re putting out."
Attendance for the game was strong, with 5,462 fans witnessing Illawarra's Christmas festivities as they sported unique Christmas-themed uniforms. The Hawks will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for their Christmas night clash against the Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena, aiming to solidify their place at the top of the NBL ladder.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats will seek to regroup after this heavy defeat and look to bounce back against the Adelaide 36ers this Saturday. They will need to address their shortcomings and find ways to contribute offensively, particularly with Cotton aiming to rediscover his scoring form.
The game illustrated not just the Hawks' capabilities as championship contenders, but also served as a sobering reminder to the Wildcats of the competitive nature of the league. Tatum believes their performance against Perth could signify what lies ahead, stating, "I believe we could win the championship. Every game we feel is championship-type for us." The Hawks' impressive victory certainly sent waves throughout the NBL, heralding them as serious title contenders this season.
