AUS - Crocs crush Hawks to set up semi-final decider

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TOWNSVILLE (NBL) - After being embarrassed by 19 points by the Wollongong Hawks in game one of their NBL playoff series, the Townsville Crocodiles have answered emphatically with a start-to-finish 82-53 victory in Townsville.

Townsville 82 (Williams 23, Hinder 16, Tovey 15)
Wollongong 53 (R Martin 15, Tragardh 11)

Star Crocs import Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams, a US playground legend, had no answer for the Hawks gimmicky defences in game one, but took control of game two in the open court to record 23 points - albeit on 10/25 shooting - to help keep his team’s season alive.

Game three is in Wollongong this Saturday night Australian time, and while the Hawks are 14-1 at home they will need to find a way to put the ball in the basket, with their 53-point total the lowest score in the club’s 32 year history.

Only former Australian junior representative Rhys Martin (15 points) and forward Cameron Tragardh (11 points, 5 rebounds) reached double figures as the Hawks shot a pitiful 18/54 from the field and committed an inexcusable 21 turnovers.

But the story of the night was the resurgent Crocodiles, who shot 10/23 from three point range, led by 2006 FIBA World Championship reserve Russell Hinder, who said the key to the game was he and Williams “pulling our heads out of our rectum and actually shooting the ball!”

The plan worked, with the 208cm Hinder nailing 3/3 from downtown on his way to 16 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals. Cam Tovey added 15 points and import Rolan Roberts pulled in 11 rebounds as Townsville won the boards 41-30.

The winner of game three on Saturday will face the Perth Wildcats in the NBL Grand Final, commencing on Friday, 5th March.

Paulo Kennedy
FIBA