New, familiar faces shine in Illawarra

Photos: Illawarra Hawks Media

It was the first time fans got a glimpse of the new-look Illawarra and New Zealand squads for NBL24, and the home team ultimately came out on top at The Snakepit. 

There were fresh faces on both sides, with New Zealand's DP forward Carlin Davison shining brightest early. An alley-oop pass from Parker Jackson-Cartwright saw the Breakers' newest signing hammer down a big dunk. He hit eight points on the day. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Carlin Davison can get ?<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/NZBreakers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NZBreakers</a> lead <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@illawarrahawks</a> 34-32 at the half ?<br><br>Watch the second half live &amp; free on the NBL app ? <a href="https://t.co/cYWwbj4Cca">pic.twitter.com/cYWwbj4Cca</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1698218872963215411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

For the Hawks, Biwali Bayles was stepping it up too, going into half-time with eight of his own. 

Illawarra got out to an early lead, grabbing a seven-point first quarter advantage, but the Breakers' 23-point second term handed them ascendency. 

Jacob Jackomas' side hit back though, Will Hickey and Lachlan Olbrich particularly influential in a 30-point third quarter. Then it was over to star import Tyler Harvey to put the icing on an impressive first-up win for the Hawks. 

Harvey finished with 19 points for the victors, while Hickey had 11 and Olbrich 10. 

Lining up in new colours, Mason Peatling (Melbourne United), Todd Blanchfield (Perth Wildcats) and Bayles (Sydney Kings) all impacted at different times, in encouraging displays. 

For the Breakers, Jackson-Cartwright brought intensity and fire to the game as a provider for his team, finishing with nine points, ten assists and two rebounds. 

Fellow import Zylan Cheatham was just as influential, with 14 points and nine rebounds. 

Sharp-shooter Cam Gliddon reminded Breakers’ fans of why he's been such an effective NBL player for so long, top-scoring for New Zealand with 18 points, to go with four rebounds. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@illawarrahawks</a> came out on top in their first pre-season hit-out ?<br><br>Tyler Harvey led the Hawks with 19 points and 3 assists ?<br><br>For all NBL pre-season action and updates, download the NBL app ? <a href="https://t.co/idlXlpXDyA">https://t.co/idlXlpXDyA</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/y0mzaDlsNQ">pic.twitter.com/y0mzaDlsNQ</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1698230641614274885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Mangok Mathiang faced his former side and stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, eight rebounds and two steals.

Both teams were missing key names for the clash with Justin Robinson, AJ Johnson and Dan Grida among the absentees for Illawarra, while New Zealand will soon welcome back World Cup stars Izayah Le'afa and Finn Delany, with Will McDowell-White, Justinian Jessup, Mantas Rubstavicius, Tom Abercrombie and Dane Pineau still to return. 

Illawarra 85 (Harvey 19, Hickey 11, Olbrich 10, Bayles 9)
New Zealand 74 (Gliddon 18, Cheatham 14, Jackson-Cartwright 9, Mathiang 9)