Big Shot Milton delivers for Hawks

Milton Doyle wasted no time reminding everyone of his big shot reputation by hitting the stunning game winning three-pointer for the Illawarra Hawks as they pulled up a CODE Sports NBL Blitz miracle to beat the Adelaide 36ers 100-99.

The 36ers looked on target for a first up win at the Blitz in Bendigo as the era under five-time championship winning coach Trevor Gleeson begins.

With Flynn Cameron showing what an emerging superstar he is and Bryce Cotton showing he's ready to go in NBL27, the Sixers were leading the Hawks by six inside the last 30 seconds when Nick Rakocevic scored inside.

But there was plenty of drama from there starting with a three ball out of a timeout to Illawarra for Kelan Martin.

Then on the inbounds, the Hawks trapped Cotton and he lost the dribble for Doyle to pick it up and dish off to Davo Hickey to take it hard to the rim despite the best efforts for a block by Zylan Cheatham.

It was deemed a goal tend instead along with a foul but Hickey missed the extra leaving Adelaide up one before Cheatham went 1/2 at the stripe up the other end.

That gave Illawarra the chance to snatch it and Doyle didn’t need to be asked twice showing just why he's built such a clutch reputation in the NBL so far as a championship winner at the Tasmania JackJumpers and then even last season with Melbourne United.

Showing ice in his veins, he calmed dropped the winning three-pointer with 1.3 seconds on the clock for the Hawks to snatch the one-point win having outscored the 36ers 8-1 in the last 15 seconds of the game.

Both teams were close to full strength to open the Blitz with Illawarra having just about everyone available while Adelaide were only without Isaac Humphries and Matt Kenyon.

That set up a tantalising match up and it delivered in the first quarter with 27 points apiece with Flynn Cameron having nine points already for the Sixers and Bryce Cotton six while combining to shoot 5/8 from beyond the arc.

The Hawks also went 4/6 from the outside as a team before it was 24 points to 23 in favour of Adelaide in the second term with another combined 17 points from Cameron and Cotton to see them lead narrowly 51-50 at the half.

Things stayed tight in the third quarter with Adelaide stretching the lead to 71-69 by three quarter-time with Cameron having added another seven points to already have 23 to his name after three periods with 5/8 three-point shooting.

The Sixers then looked to have the win in the bag inside the last 30 seconds before that dramatic finish from the Hawks saw them snatch the one-point victory in stunning fashion.

On top of hitting the game winning shot, Milton Doyle delivered 23 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals for the Hawks with 6/11 shooting from the outside.

New import Kelan Martin also had 20 points and three rebounds with 9/17 shooting with Davo Hickey stuffing the stat sheet once more with 12 points, seven assists and six boards.

New Aussie Tyler Harvey ended up with 11 points and six assists with Wani Swaka Lo Buluk contributing 10 points and three boards on 3/4 shooting from deep having added to his championship collection this off-season in the NBL1 East at the Norths Bears.

Despite the end result, it was a night to showcase what an emerging superstar Flynn Cameron is with the 36ers. He finished with 27 points, six rebounds and six assists with 5/10 shooting from the outside.

Bryce Cotton also had 20 points, four rebounds and three assists, Zylan Cheatham 16 points, 16 rebounds and three assists, John Jenkins III 16 points on 4/11 shooting from deep, and Nick Rakocevic 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

The Sixers also lost development player Deonte Williams to what appeared an ankle injury in the second half after four points in his nine minutes.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 100 – ADELAIDE 36ERS 99

Illawarra Hawks
Milton Doyle – 23 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
Kelan Martin – 20 points, 3 rebounds
Davo Hickey – 12 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds
Tyler Harvey – 11 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds
Wani Swaka Lo Buluk – 10 points, 3 rebounds

Adelaide 36ers
Flynn Cameron – 27 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists
Bryce Cotton – 20 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Zylan Cheatham – 16 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists
John Jenkins III – 16 points, 4/10 3PT
Nick Rakocevic – 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals