Tyler Harvey's 24 points wasn't enough for the Hawks on Saturday. Photo: Anna Warr

The last time Illawarra won an NBL championship, they had to win a playoff series decider in Perth. That's the task faced by the Hawks of today after letting a golden opportunity to sweep the defending champions slip in Wollongong on Saturday.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

Two nights after breaking one of the most famous droughts in Australian sport, the Hawks were desperate to end things on their terms in returning to the WEC, but a third-quarter explosion from sharp-shooter Clint Steindl sparked a 79-71 win and broke the hearts of a sellout crowd.

The Hawks led by three at halftime, but found themselves down by 10 late in the third on the back of a shooting clinic from Steindl, the sharpshooter dropping all 12 of his points in a 32-point quarter that swung things back to the visitors.

The lead shot out beyond double digits early in the fourth and stayed that way to the end, leaving coach Brian Goorjian with the monumental task of getting his side up for the deciding rubber in Perth on Monday.

Steindl also drew a crucial fifth foul from Hawks skipper AJ Ogilvy, leaving the home side without their best rebounder for the best part of the second half. It showed, with the Cats grabbing 18 offensive rebounds and 16 second-chance points that proved the difference in a 51-40 second half for the defending champs.

It was a gutsy effort from Trevor Gleeson's team who, already without MVP favourite Bryce Cotton, lost Mitch Norton to recurrence of a hip injury after finishing at the rim late in the second quarter.

John Mooney fell just short of his trademark triple-double with 18 points and eight rebounds. Rookie Luke Travers was also outstanding for the visitors, finishing with 13 points and 10 boards.

For the hosts, Tyler Harvey broke out of an early funk to finish with 24 points at 6-11 from deep, while also grabbing four steals as he did all he could to heave things back his side's way.

Justinian Jessup (11 points) was the only other Hawks in double figures, with Sam Froling grabbing six rebounds but just two points on a night the Hawks struggled for inside presence.

Thursday's victory was just the second win for the Hawks in 36 outings in the west. They now face the task of putting wins back to back at RAC Arena to stay alive in a season that's exceeded most expectations but would fall supremely flat should they fall fully from a 1-0 perch.

Both sides traded baskets from close range before Magnay opened his side's long range account. Having started 0-3 from deep, Harvey's first triple took a 9-8 lead with Gleeson quickly calling timeout. It was otherwise dry from long-range, both sides going 1-6 from deep in a low scoring term that finished with the visitors in front 16-13.

Justin Simon upped the tempo out of the gate in the second, striding into the lane and slamming the first points of the term down. Perth grabbed the next five, including a triple to White for a six-point cushion pegged back immediately when Tim Coenraad fired straight back.

Norton went coast coast on an intercept but hit the floor hard at the finish, leaving the floor immediately in a blow for the visitors. The hosts grabbed the next eight points forcing Gleeson into another timeout.

The ultra-low scoring pace continued as both sides struggled from the field, Harvey and Blanchfield trading threes down the stretch of the half that saw the Hawks lead 31-28 at the main break.

The Hawks went 7-1 out of the break before Travers halted the run with a three. Magnay and Harvey traded threes, with Steindl's first triple taking back the lead for the Cats.

Ogilvy picked up his fifth foul on Steindl moments later, the sharp-shooter dropping all three from the line and sending the Hawks skipper to the bench. He didn't relent, nailing two more from deep and forcing Goorjian into a timeout as the lead ballooned to 10.

It looked to be slipping away before Harvey nailed a crucial triple on the buzzer to bring thing back to seven heading into the final quarter. It went straight back out to 10 when Wagstaff opened the fourth with an and-one. Harvey grabbed his fifth triple but Kevin White fired back to push the lead back out 11.

Blanchfield and Jessup got in on the act as the final term developed into a shootout, but the former had three more from the line to keep a double-digit lead with three and a half minutes left. It was junk time from there.

We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.