SCOTT Balsar and his Illawarra Hawks have dropped to 2-2 on the Waratah League season after losing 91-80 to the Blacktown Storm on Saturday.
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The Hawks made a flying start to the match on their homecourt, thanks to a 10-0 run in the first two and a half minutes - to lead 32-16 at the end of the first quarter.
But a brilliant second term by the visitors saw them reduce the margin to just three (54-51) at the main break.
Midway through the third term, the Storm's comeback was complete as they hit the front for the first time - seeing them go into three-quarter-time up 75-72.
In the final period, both sides traded baskets, which saw the Hawks get back within three with 3.50 on the clock.
But the visitors never relinquished the lead and closed the fixture on a 12-4 run, to win the round three game by 11 points.
In the loss, Harry Morris (27 points) and Brandon Freire (26) both dominated, as Zachary Ottosson and Harrison Matthew both added 11 points.
The Hawks next travel to the Bankstown Basketball Stadium to take on the 4-0 Bruins from 1pm on Saturday.
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