Heartland Hustle: Phoenix Look to Keep the Momentum Going Against the Hawks

 Fresh off a pulsating finish against the 36ers in Adelaide, South East Melbourne is gearing up for a date with Illawarra.

Resplendent in their stunning Indigenous jerseys, the Phoenix will celebrate First Nations people in their return to the Firepit on Sunday.
Short turnarounds are becoming second nature for the Phoenix, who are used to moving on quickly after a crammed schedule.

Can they make it four wins on the bounce?

(The last time the two sides met was only 4 rounds ago.)

Here is how the two teams are shaping up ahead of the grudge match.

Key Details
SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE 11-5 (2nd) v Illawarra Hawks 10-7 (4th)
Where: John Cain Arena
When: Sunday, March 6, 5.30pm AEDT
Watch: ESPN, Kayo

The Teams

Phoenix
It hasn’t been perfect, but the results have been. The Phoenix have been jumping out to big leads, before allowing teams to roar back into contests and having to scramble at the death. Fortunately, they’ve now piled up three wins in a row — the best streak in the NBL — and will have a clean bill of health heading into the Hawks battle.

Decision-making on offence and foul trouble for big man Zhou Qi are key facets of the Phoenix game coach Simon Mitchell is focused on cleaning up — he was not pleased Adelaide big man Daniel Johnson scorched his side for 31 points, even if they escaped with an 83-76 win thanks to late heroics from Mitch Creek and Kyle Adnam.

Hawks
It’s been a strange year for Brian Goorjian’s men. The master coach has admitted he is still figuring out the best way to use all his offensive weapons — and he’s been frustrated by his team’s lack of defensive intensity. But the Hawks have won four of their past five games and will be desperate as playoff spots become increasingly tight. They will have a full squad to call upon on Sunday.

(Creek will be looking to continue his form that saw him with 29 points against the 36ers Friday night.)

Players to Watch

Mitch Creek
After going through a short rough patch with his shot, Creek was at his MVP-worthy best against the Sixers on Friday night, pouring in 29 points in 29 minutes at a hyper-efficient 12-18 from the field, tearing down seven rebounds, dealing out five assists and swiping two steals. He will look to use his athleticism and nous to continue that stunning form against the Hawks’ strong frontline.

Xavier Rathan-Mayes
Has flown under the radar with all the Hawks’ heavy artillery, but the import guard is right at the front of the queue in the chatter for best sixth man this season. Comes off the bench and has the offence humming for the Hawks, leading the team in assists, and has developed a perfect balance between his scoring and facilitating.

Last 5

Phoenix: WLWWW
Hawks: WWLWW

The Stats

Phoenix
Points: M Creek, 21.56ppg (#2 in the NBL)
Rebounds: R Broekhoff, 6.94rpg
Assists: X Munford, 3.93apg
Blocks: Z Qi, 2.29bpg (#2 in the NBL)
Steals: R Broekhoff, 1.63spg

Hawks
Points: T Harvey, 15.47ppg
Rebounds: S Froling, 8.65rpg
Assists: X Rathan-Mayes, 4.18apg
Blocks: D Reath 1.53bpg
Steals: A Cleveland, 1.82spg

The History

Regular season Head-to-Head: 8 - 1 

South East Melbourne Phoenix – Illawarra Hawks

Last time out - Rd 10, NBL22

Illawarra Hawks 87-88 South East Melbourne Phoenix

The Numbers

Hawks
Harvey: 20 points,
S. Froling: 17 points, 5 rebounds
Reath: 15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists
Rathan-Mayes: 13 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists

Phoenix
Munford: 24 points, 5 assists
Creek: 20 points
Le’afa: 13 points
Broekhoff: 11 points, 16 rebounds
Zhou: 11 points, 7 rebounds

(Munford was the man of the moment in the thriller ending, the last time the two sides met.)

Recap

It was the Xavier Munford show, as a depleted Phoenix headed to Illawarra running on fumes, but had enough ticker to escape with a thrilling one-point win.

Coach Mitchell, captain Kyle Adnam and three other rotation players were all stuck in Melbourne due to Covid protocols on the Hawks’ trip, but all will be back in the line-up for Sunday’s clash.

The Phoenix gave Munford the ball and got out of his way as the Pennsylvania native delivered with a game-high 24 points to go with five assists. Everything good that happened for the Phoenix happened because of Munford.

The Phoenix started the game hotter than any team this season making their first 10 shots to leap out to a double-digit lead. But, after they squandered that and allowed the Hawks back into it, Munford was sent to the line by Xavier Rathan-Mayes with 1.1 seconds left in the game, his side down one.

He would made no mistake, popping in a pair of free throws to put the Phoenix in front, before missing the third on advice from star teammate Mitch Creek to ensure the Hawks had no chance of a Hail Mary heave.

(Phoenix will again wear their Indigenous Jerseys Sunday night.)

Quotes

“(It’s a) really important game. Illawarra bring their own set of challenges. They’re a streaky team and they can really get cooking quickly. We can’t have lapses. If you don’t continue to put the pressure on them, you’re going to watch a large lead establish. We need to be better.”
-South East Melbourne coach Simon Mitchell on the task at hand for the Phoenix

You look at the four, you look at Sydney, you look at Perth, you look at Melbourne, you look at Phoenix. Where we are and where we sit now, if we don’t win any of those games, we’re not making the playoffs. We understand the challenge. Phoenix knows what’s at stake, so it makes for a great competition. Our backs are against the wall.
-Illawarra coach Brian Goorjian on the Phoenix clash and the tough situation his side faces on the road.

Tickets still available for Sunday against the Hawks - CLICK HERE

Phoenix Media (5/3/22)