#cairnstaipans

By Asa Schuster - 9/12/15

The Illawarra Hawks continue to roll at home, disposing the Cairns Taipans 97-82 to notch their fourth straight win and improve their grasp on fourth place.

The Hawks led by seven at the half and turned the defensive screws during a hard-nosed 47-39 second half to squeeze the life out of the fangless Taipans.

Kirk Penney led the charge with a game-high 24 points, AJ Ogilvy had 19 points and nine rebounds and Tim Coenraad added 17 points as the Hawks wrapped up an impressive undefeated four-game home-stand.

When asked post-game, if his team was now playing ‘Bevo-Ball™’, Hawks coach Rob Beveridge expressed his delight at the current form of the playing group.

“I’ve always run this style of game for many, many years and it does take buy-in and I’ve recruited a team based around that,” he said.

“I’m so happy with how hard they play, I’m so impressed with their work ethic, their attitude; they’re such a tremendous group to coach, there’s no whingers in the group and they accept their role.”

“If you want to call it Bevo-Ball™, fantastic, I’ll take it as a compliment.”

Larry Davidson had five points, six rebounds and two assists in his 300th career NBL game.

Davidson made his NBL debut on 30 September 2004 for the Hunter Pirates against the Brisbane Bullets, in a game that also included former Hawks Kavossy Franklin and Ben Castle.

Illawarra edged ahead early in the game, and with the injection of Rhys Martin off the bench were able to stake control as the veteran playmaker put together a masterful six-minute stint.

Martin capped his six-point, three-assist opening quarter with a running flip shot in the lane for the last basket of the term to put the Hawks up 27-18.

Stephen Weigh single-handedly kept the Taipans afloat in the second stanza with 13 points, but big plays from Penney held the Snakes at bay.

Davidson closed the half with a tip-in on Martin's wayward jumper as the Hawks held a 50-43 advantage.

Cairns cut the deficit to two early in the third, but Kevin Lisch (16 points) instantly responded to spark the Hawks back into action, posting four straight points including a steal on Cam Gliddon at halfcourt followed by a difficult finish in the lane on the breakaway play.

Coenraad piled on with a triple and Illawarra were suddenly in control by nine points and eventually up 74-62 to end the third, after more threes from both Coenraad and Penney.

The Hawks had a lucky charm heading into the fourth quarter when fan Daniel Perger was called from the crowd and banked in a $1000 shot from halfway during the break.

Daniel Perger went home $1000 richer after hitting the Mcdonald's half court shoot.

Cairns crept within eight points early in the fourth, but that was as close as they got after threes from Penney and Lisch paved the way for Ogilvy's breakaway steal and slam to essentially put the Taipans to rest.