The Illawarra Hawks have finally broken their holiday-season hoodoo, clinching a heart-stopping 92-90 victory over the Tasmania JackJumpers in front of a sold-out home crowd on New Year's Eve. The win at Wollongong's WIN Entertainment Centre snapped a frustrating three-game losing streak and provided a vital boost to their NBL26 finals hopes.
A Season-Defining Victory
Coming into Round 15, the stakes were crystal clear for the Hawks. Only once in the last five NBL seasons has the team in eighth place after 15 rounds gone on to play in the post-season. Head coach Justin Tatum had been vocal about the need to start winning, and his squad delivered under pressure. "Right now, I'm happy anytime we get a chance to win," Tatum said post-game. "They played 40 minutes... We found a way to will that win. It was a total team effort."
The atmosphere was electrified by the return of two key players. Star centre Sam Froling made his first home court appearance since March, while sharpshooter Tyler Harvey also returned to the line-up. The occasion was doubly special, marking Wani Swaka Lo Buluk's 200th NBL game and Davo Hickey's 100th match for the Illawarra franchise.
Froling's Impactful Return Home
Sam Froling, who had returned from injury on Christmas night, was instrumental in setting the tone. He recorded an assist on the very first possession and finished the night with a stat line of 16 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and a block in 28 minutes of action. While Coach Tatum noted he'd like to see fewer turnovers, he praised Froling's overall contribution and growing confidence.
"Our chemistry is always there," said co-captain Tyler Harvey of playing with Froling. "He makes the right plays for everyone else." Harvey himself was crucial, putting up quick points to help the Hawks establish an early lead they would fight to hold for over 34 minutes of the contest.
Milestones and Momentum Shifts
The game was a rollercoaster. The Hawks built a 50-39 halftime lead, with significant bench contribution (23 points) and defensive presence from JaVale McGee, who blocked three shots in the second quarter. However, the resilient JackJumpers, who have a strong record against Illawarra when leading at halftime, staged a fierce comeback.
Tasmania took the lead briefly in the third quarter, and the final period became a tense, back-and-forth affair. With 6:40 remaining, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk hit a contested three-pointer to eclipse 1000 career NBL points, a fitting milestone on his 200-game night. The score see-sawed, tied four times in total, until the Hawks edged ahead 91-88 in the dying moments.
A late steal by Tasmania's Josh Bannan created a nail-biting finish, but the Hawks' defence held firm in the final three seconds to secure the two-point victory.
Focus Now Firmly on the Top Six
For Coach Tatum and the Hawks, this win was about far more than just two competition points. It was a statement of intent and a necessary step towards salvaging their season. "Nothing in this league is easy," Tatum stated, "but it's doable and that's what our goal is... to go one game at a time."
The victory improves the Hawks' record and keeps their faint playoff hopes alive in a tightly contested season. The challenge now is to build on this momentum, using the energy of a sold-out home crowd and the returning firepower of Froling and Harvey to string together the wins needed to chase down a top-six spot.
