Round 13: Hawks vs Wildcats
Your New Year’s Eve festivities kick off early this Saturday Night as the Hawks take on the Perth Wildcats at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
With the Christmas Break behind us, the Hawks are ready to see off 2022 in style with a win against a familiar and fierce rival.
Our last outing saw an undermanned squad cross the Tasman to face off against the JackJumpers.
Due to illness, the Hawks lost leading scorers Michael Frazier and Tyler Harvey just 24 hours before the tip, leaving a young squad led by Froling and Siva a huge task to try and steal a win on the road.
After giving up an early lead, the side settled into the game with Sam Froling dominating inside to see the Hawks trail by just two at the main break.
The JackJumpers seized momentum in the third quarter on their way to an 87-60 victory.
In welcome news for Hawk Nation, Frazier and Harvey will re-join the line-up for Saturday night’s fixture.
Keep a Hawk Eye On
Sam Froling.
The co-captain game has been building with every week of the NBL23 season.
Averaging 15 points and eight rebounds per game, Froling has been called upon to lead from the front in recent weeks.
His inside/outside game has been on full display, and he will need to be at his aggressive best against the Wildcats' front line of Thomas and Majok.
Opposition Watch
The Wildcats sit on the bubble of the play-in tournament as they enter New Years' Eve in the Gong.
The Cats are once again paced by Bryce Cotton, who leads the league in scoring at 23 points per game. Cotton is joined in the backcourt by former Hawk Mitch Norton and Corey Webster, with the new-look front line of Manek and Thomas starting to find their groove in their first season in the league.
John Rillie's squad carry huge expectations from a fan base spoilt with finals and championship success. After missing the playoffs for the first time in 35 years, the month of January will be pivotal in seeing them return to the business end of the season.
Protect the Pit
We are calling on all of Hawk Nation to turn out in force and "Protect the Pit."
Tip-off 5:30 pm – tickets from $30, and $70 for families, available through Ticketmaster now.