Hawks' Horror Streak Rolls On

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday December 18, 2008

RECENT woes encountered by the Wollongong Hawks hit a new low when beaten 91-88 by an undermanned Gold Coast Blaze on the Gold Coast last night.

The Blaze were without starting point guard Shane Heal, but still had too much for the badly out-of-form Hawks.

Gold Coast guard James Harvey more than made up for Heal's absence, nailing a game-high 37 points.

Wollongong led 87-81 with less than four minutes remaining, only to plummet to their seventh straight loss.

Gold Coast scored 10 straight points down the stretch, with a Harvey three-pointer giving the home side a 91-87 lead with 34 seconds remaining.

Harvey's virtuoso performance gave the Blaze their fourth win of the season.

In worrying news for Hawks fans, last-placed Gold Coast are now only two wins adrift of Wollongong.

The Blaze started strongly and led 31-28 after one quarter.

Wollongong, leading by 14 first-half points from Anthony Petrie, outscored their hosts 24-20 in a tight second quarter to take a one-point lead into the main break.

Striving to end a losing streak that started when Gold Coast bench guard Daniel Joyce hit a match-winning three-pointer at WIN Entertainment Centre on November 14, the Hawks opened up a 61-53 lead midway through the third term, only to see Gold Coast lift the tempo.

With Harvey playing a starring role, Gold Coast finished the third quarter with a 17-7 run to take a four-point lead into the final term.

Things don't get easier for the Hawks, with a trip to Melbourne to face the Tigers their next challenge on Saturday night.

Meantime, the Sydney Spirit finally had welcome news yesterday.

While the Spirit continue to search for investors and sponsors to prop up their ailing club, they have at least been able to sign some help in their unlikely quest for a play-off berth.

Written off as wooden spoon certainties at the start of the season, Sydney have surprised all during their tumultuous campaign to sit in the sixth and final play-off spot with an 8-9 record.

While their off-court troubles are well known, with remaining players agreeing to more than a 50 per cent pay cut to see out the season, they have managed to recruit some more help on the hardwood.

Blagoj Janev, a member of the Singapore Slingers who played alongside NBA stand-out Andrew Bogut and under Spirit coach Rob Beveridge on Australia's gold medal-winning junior team at the 2003 world championships, has agreed to terms with the Spirit.

With an imposing 202cm frame, Janev is just what the Spirit need, having lost centre Julian Khazzouh, swingman Liam Rush and guard Derrick Low to overseas clubs.

"It is great to have Blagoj on board for the rest of the season," Beveridge said.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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