From 42-point loss to heartbreak: Hawks show resilience in defeat to Adelaide
The Illawarra Hawks suffered a narrow 90–88 defeat to the Adelaide 36ers on Sunday, ending a spirited effort that nearly redeemed their earlier slump. Just days before, the Hawks had endured one of their worst performances in franchise history, losing 102–60 to the New Zealand Breakers.
With 1.6 seconds remaining, Will “Davo” Hickey stepped to the line for two free throws that could have tied the game. He missed both, leaving the Hawks short but proud. In spite of the heartbreak, Hickey was the standout performer, scoring 20 points, collecting nine rebounds, dishing eight assists, and blocking four shots. He came just shy of a triple-double and nearly became the second Indigenous player to achieve the feat in NBL history.
Before this matchup, Illawarra had not secured a victory in Adelaide for four years, yet their latest performance marked significant progress. Head coach Justin Tatum praised his players for their rebound in both spirit and execution, recognizing the fight they showed so soon after the heavy loss.
“I tip my hat off to my team for coming back and having so much resilience and fighting them today. They gave a great effort on both ends of the floor, just a little bit unlucky,”
“If my team plays like this every game from now on with a full, healthy roster, we can beat anybody.”
Summary
The Hawks rebounded from a crushing loss with passion and resilience, falling just short against Adelaide but proving their spirit and potential to challenge any team ahead.