STANLEY MATCH REPORT: Sobey inspires Phoenix over Hawks in OT
8 Jan
1
min read
The South East Melbourne Phoenix take pride in playing at a frantic pace and outlasting their opponents and it took until overtime, but eventually it worked as they won another 124-113 shootout against the Illawarra Hawks.
Fresh off beating the Kings 124-117 in the highest scoring game of the NBL season on Monday night, the Phoenix and Hawks put on another spectacular offensive show on Thursday at the State Basketball Centre in Melbourne.
It had added feeling too as a rematch from last year's playoffs with the Hawks on the way to winning a championship and they needed a win to stay in touch with the top six.
South East Melbourne were attempting to consolidate second place too setting the stage for a contest that not only ended up featuring 237 points, but had plenty of drama, feeling, physicality and tension across all 45 minutes.
The Phoenix dominated the extra five minutes, though, with 18 points to seven with Nathan Sobey earning MVP chants from the home crowd on his way to 37 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Sobey racked up 13 of his equal career-high 37 points in the heated extra period after scores had been tied at 106 after four pulsating quarters.
Angus Glover buried a huge three-pointer with 4.8 seconds remaining to put the Phoenix up 106-104, before QJ Peterson equalised for the Hawks via a layup with 2.3 seconds left.
Somehow, the drama escalated from there.
Sobey dominated overtime, throwing down a dunk of the year contender over Mason Peatling, pulling off two more athletic finishes and getting to the foul line repeatedly.
Tensions rose when Sobey responded to being bumped by Biwali Bayles by grabbing the Hawks guard's uniform with the benches quickly clearing.
Hawks coach Justin Tatum earned a technical foul in remonstration for a lack of a call against Sobey in the aftermath although the Phoenix guard and Illawarra's Davo Hickey received technicals.
On top of the heroics from Sobey, Angus Glover enhanced his hold on the Best Sixth Man crown with 22 points 5/9 three-point shooting with DJ Mitchell chiming in with 16 points and four rebounds, Owen Foxwell 15 points, seven boards and six assists, and Jordan Hunter 11 points and five rebounds.
Sam Froling continued his stunning return from an achilles rupture with 22 points and nine rebounds for Illawarra on 10/13 shooting with Peterson added 22 points on 4/8 shooting from deep but he had four costly turnovers.
Tyler Harvey added 19 points on 4/7 three-point shooting, JaVale McGee 17 points, nine rebounds and three assists, and Mason Peatling 15 points and five rebounds.
Sobey was aggressive from the tip with 11 first-quarter points but the Phoenix had their hands full with Illawarra's twin towers McGee and Froling in the paint as the Hawks led 25-23 at quarter-time.
Illawarra coughed up seven second-quarter turnovers and trailed 9-2 in offensive rebounds as the Phoenix moved ahead 55-50 at half-time.
The Hawks took better care of the ball after the break, squaring the scores at 79-79, before the two sides again couldn't be separated at the end of regulation.
The Phoenix hosting the Perth Wildcats on Saturday night while the Hawks are back home against the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday.
FULL TIME STATS
Sobey: 37p/6r/4a/3stl
Glover: 22p/3r/2a/3stl
Mitchell: 16p/4r/2a
Foxwell: 15p/7r/6a/2stl
Hunter: 11p/5r
Iwundu: 7p/7r/2a
Clark: 6p/1r/1stl
Aliir: 6p/2r/3a/1blk
Brown III: 2p/5r/2a/3stl
Lewis: 2p/3r/2a/1stl
14 Jul
Get Your Kids on Join Cain Arena with Birdman’s Ballerz!
12 Jul
Next Star Lewis Eyes Off First Round Selection
10 Jul
Unique Malique to Light Up the Heartland
10 Jul
Next Star Malique Lewis Signs with Phoenix
10 Jul
Wieskamp: Phoenix Key to NBA Return
10 Jul
Dead-eye shooter Joe Wieskamp explains his strengths
9 Jul
Phoenix Reach 20K Gametime by Kmart Participants
8 Jul
Off-Season Player Wrap: Foxwell Knocks Lights Out with 60-Point Weekend
8 Jul
Joe Wieskamp Highlights
8 Jul
Phoenix Add Second Import Joe Wieskamp for NBL25
4 Jul
Phoenix Assistant Headed to NBA's Utah Jazz
3 Jul
Title-Worthy Moves by Phoenix Excite Sobey
3 Jul
“Signing here was always exciting.” - Sobey on coming to the Heartland
1 Jul
Off-Season Player Wrap: Strong Performance from Vodanovich in Tall Blacks Friendlies
1 Jul
Get to Know Your New NBL25 Phoenix Players: Tom Vodanovich
30 Jun
Phoenix Off-Season News Wrap: Which player dropped 76 points?
Support your team with the latest gear
Grab your latest team releases before they're gone.
Follow for behind the scenes content
Get the latest Team Updates
Breaking news & special offers. Direct to your inbox.
2025/26 Memberships Now Available
NBL Properties
Subscribe to our Newsletter
The National Basketball League acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work, live & play. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present & emerging as well as all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Community. © year National Basketball League |Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy