Hawks hit back for big win in Tasmania

Sam Froling set it up in the first half and the Illawarra Hawks took care of business to maintain NBL top position with the 102-78 win to open Champion Pride Round against the Tasmania JackJumpers.

The JackJumpers were still up against it despite the return of Majok Deng with Sean Macdonald and Will Magnay still absence, and the defending champions felt their absence.

Without Magnay, Froling delivered 16 points and four rebounds in the first half for the Hawks at MyState Bank Arena.

While without Macdonald with the ball in hands, the JackJumpers amassed 13 turnovers for 20 Illawarra points as the visitors claimed the win to stay clear in top spot.

The Hawks had a week to respond to a loss in Cairns last Thursday and needs to keep winning to maintain top spot, and produced a dominant first half performance.

Co-captain Froling produced 16 points for the first half with the Hawks heading into the break leading 52-34.

That was on the back of shooting 52 per cent from the field to just 38 from the JackJumpers while they also added 18 free throws to eight, and scored 14 points off the 11 Tasmania turnovers, and had eight second chance points from six offensive rebounds.

Milton Doyle tried to keep Tasmania in touch with 13 points in the second quarter but throughout the second half they could never get closer than 11 with the Hawks ending up winning by 24 to improve to 18-9 in top spot.

Froling ended up with 18 points and seven rebounds with Tyler Harvey adding 15 points and five assists, Mason Peatling 12 points and six rebounds, Davo Hickey 12 points, four boards, three assists and two blocks, and 431-game veteran Todd Blanchfield 12 points with three triples.

"I'm pretty happy with it. Our effort level was high, through the roof. Our attention to detail was great," coach Justin Tatum said.

"I still have some things to complain about, but our team got better this week. We were determined to play better today."

Tasmania (12-15) now need some help with Adelaide losing to be a chance of breaking into the top six with Doyle top-scoring with 17 points but 13 of those came in the second quarter.

Jordon Crawford added 16 points and seven assists, Clint Steindl 13 points, Gorjok Gak seven points and five rebounds, and Nick Stoddart seven points.

"They're really good. I hope they get into the grand final and I hope JT gets Coach of the Year," JackJumpers coach Scott Roth said.

"We're obviously not playing very well just in general, but it is what it is at this point.

"We've just got to keep battling and keep our heads up. You have the highs and lows in sport, and this is a low. But it's also a great character builder for our organisation."

It was Gorjok Gak who came out aggressive with four quick points down low for Tasmania, but the JackJumpers only managed nine more the entire first quarter.

The Hawks answered with a 14-3 run that included three-pointers from Mason Peatling and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk before the league-leading visitors ended up leading 21-13 by quarter-time.

Todd Blanchfield put up six quick points to start the second half for Illawarra to push the lead out to double-figures before it was Sam Froling who dominated the rest of the half inside for the Hawks.

Milton Doyle did his best to keep Tasmania in touch with 13 of his 15 points in the second quarter, but Froling scored 16 to the half with 12 in that second period with the Hawks going into the break in control leading 52-34.

Captain Clint Steindl hit eight quick points to start the second half to help the JackJumpers get back to within 12, but the Hawks kept on responding and pushed the lead out to as much as 21 and were on top by 18 at three quarter-time.

Illawarra went on to cruise to the 24-point win with Kuany Kuany even getting some burn late to score for just the second time in the NBL.

The JackJumpers now head straight to Melbourne to play United on Saturday night at a venue and against an opponent they have a terrific record against.

The Hawks are next in action on the road to the New Zealand Breakers on Wednesday before finishing the season at home to the Sydney Kings.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 78 (Doyle 17, Crawford 16, Steindl 13)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 102 (Froling 18, Harvey 15, Blanchfield 12, Hickey 12, Peatling 12)

BOX SCORE