DREWITT'S BULBS MATCH REPORT: Season ends for Phoenix at hands of Hawks

The Phoenix fell a game short of their first ever Championships Series at the hands of Illawarra, falling 126-96 at the WIN Entertainment Centre.

The night’s result would decide who would face the locked-in Melbourne United for the title, with the series level at 1-1.

The hosts came out firing in the first term through First-Team All-NBL guard Trey Kell III, who slotted each one of his five shots for 16 first-quarter points.

There was a clear emphasis from the Hawks’ brass to get the ball into Kell, and captain Tyler Harvey, who were largely held ineffective in game two’s loss.

The Phoenix struggled to hit the scoreboard early yet remained unchanged until coach King ordered a bevy of substitutions with five minutes remaining.

The minute trio of Ben Ayre, Owen Foxwell and Angus Glover injected life to the visitors, each hitting a triple and Foxwell ending with eight points from five attempts.

Despite the 15-point buffer, the Phoenix soar in second terms, having won the previous seven of eight, and despite a manic and hellbent Derrick Walton Jr driving attacks, the lead for the Hawks blew out to 30 points.

A scary situation ensued with Nathan Sobey getting a quick steal and charging toward the rim, only to meet unaware floor wipers and take a hard landing.

But Kell continued his deadeye shooting against his former side, 26 points for him and a 26-point lead for Illawarra at the main break.

To make matters worse for the Phoenix, the Hawks’ 70 points at the half became the new record for the NBL25 season.

No team in the past 10 years had overcome such a deficit, but the Phoenix wouldn’t die wondering, several combinations tested to try and stop the bleeding.

Joe Wieskamp’s 25 points the Phoenix’s best contribution, Nathan Sobey close behind with 19 - although prodigious scorer Matt Hurt would finish the night with just four on a sour outing for the Minnesota native.

The Phoenix’s season would end in a playoffs series, but record equalling nonetheless overcoming an 0-5 start and becoming just the second team overall, and first in the 40-minute era, to return from such a start.