The Illawarra Hawks emerged victorious in a highly anticipated Christmas night clash against the Sydney Kings, pulling out a narrow 111-108 win in front of a raucous crowd of 8,589 at Qudos Bank Arena. The victory allows the Hawks to strengthen their hold on the top spot in the NBL standings as they improve their record to an impressive 12-5.
Kings Come Out Strong, But Hawks Weather the Storm
The Kings, eager to knock off the league leaders in front of their home fans, came out of the gates with great energy. They built a 10-point lead in the second quarter behind the strong play of Next Star Alex Toohey, who poured in 20 points in the first half alone.
However, the Hawks refused to let the game get away from them. The dynamic backcourt duo of Trey Kell III and Tyler Harvey, after being held scoreless in the opening period, combined for a blistering 26 points to close the half and pull Illawarra even at 58-58 heading into the break.
Tensions Flare in Heated Contest
The intensity was palpable throughout the night, with emotions boiling over on multiple occasions. Just before halftime, a confrontation between Kings import Cam Oliver and Hawks captain Sam Froling nearly escalated into a physical altercation, requiring the two to be separated as the teams headed to the locker rooms.
“We felt like if we want to become a championship calibre team then this is the type of game we need to win. We had to show that resilience, and we had to fight through a lot of things to become a championship team, and we did pretty well.”
– Trey Kell III, Illawarra Hawks
Hawks Build Big Lead, Hold Off Kings’ Furious Rally
Sydney made one final push, using a 13-0 run fueled by Toohey and Keli Leaulepe to trim a 14-point fourth quarter deficit down to a single possession game. But the Hawks had an answer, as a clutch three-pointer by Kell helped keep the Kings at bay.
In the end, despite winning the battle of the offensive glass and generating multiple extra possessions, Sydney was unable to complete the comeback. When the final buzzer sounded, Illawarra had held on for the hard-fought three-point win to continue their reign atop the NBL.
Top Performers
- Trey Kell III (Hawks): 26 pts, 8 ast, 6 reb
- Tyler Harvey (Hawks): 22 pts, 4 ast
- Alex Toohey (Kings): 25 pts, 4 reb, 3 stl
- Kouat Noi (Kings): 24 pts, 9 reb
With this signature win over their closest challenger, the Illawarra Hawks made a resounding statement that they are the team to beat in the NBL this season. They will look to continue their winning ways as the calendar flips to 2025, while the Kings must regroup quickly in what is shaping up to be a thrilling race to the finish.
