Triple treat as Hawks soar high on road to recovery

Triple Treat as Hawks Soar High on Road to Recovery

The Illawarra Hawks continue to gather momentum in their NBL title pursuit, driven by an outstanding trio of performances. On Friday, they secured a 107–90 victory over the Cairns Taipans at the Cairns Convention Centre.

Standout Performances

Will "Davo" Hickey recorded the first triple-double of the NBL season, contributing 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. QJ Peterson added 22 points, showcasing accuracy from deep with four three-pointers out of six attempts. Meanwhile, JaVale McGee dominated the paint with 28 points, six rebounds, and two assists, hitting 12 of his 13 shots.

Coach’s Reaction

“Our performance was really strong, especially coming off Wednesday playing at a high level and we didn’t want to drop that intensity,” said Hawks coach Justin Tatum. “We understand that Cairns is short-manned and our mentality was to keep coming and putting pressure on them as much as we can, and I loved the effort the guys came out and played with. They found ways to dominate and score in the paint and make it tough for Cairns.”

Recent Momentum

McGee entered the game following a stellar 37-point, 14-rebound performance in Wednesday’s home win. The Cairns Taipans, known as the Snakes, had recently broken their losing streak in Tasmania but couldn’t find a way to slow the reigning champions this time.

Key Statistics

Will Hickey: 19 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists
QJ Peterson: 22 points (4-of-6 from three)
JaVale McGee: 28 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists (12-of-13 FG)

Author’s Summary: Illawarra’s balanced offense and relentless pace, led by Hickey, Peterson, and McGee, powered the defending champions to another decisive road win.

Illawarra Mercury — 2025-11-07