A grossly lopsided second half has helped South East Melbourne rework what loomed as a good tussle right into a record-breaking 111-72 annihilation of hapless Illawarra at John Cain Arena.
The Hawks, buoyant after Monday’s drought-breaking win over Melbourne United, had been nicely and actually within the hunt towards the Phoenix on Thursday evening once they levelled the scores at 50-all late within the second quarter.
But from that second, their season from hell took a horrific flip.
The Phoenix rifled the final eight factors of the second interval and the primary 11 of the third, conjuring a 19-0 burst which blew the competition aside.
The house aspect prolonged that run to an inconceivable 31-3, monstering the Hawks 29-9 within the third quarter and 24-13 within the fourth to publish the best rating in franchise historical past.
Ryan Broekhoff (21 factors) and Mitch Creek (19) piloted the cost for the Phoenix, who had been medical on offence all night and impenetrable defensively after halftime.
Michael Frazier II (20 factors) was the one participant to impress for the clawless Hawks, who collapsed from a place of parity.
Illawarra discovered American guard Gary Browne’s three-point prowess (5-of-6) powerful to cowl however they had been environment friendly sufficient on the different finish to restrict SEM’s quartertime result in 28-27.
Broekhoff prolonged Phoenix’s benefit to 10 factors halfway by the second interval earlier than the Hawks, thanks mainly to imports Frazier and Tyler Harvey, obtained on a roll and drew degree.
Junior Madut’s three-pointer on the halftime buzzer deflated the Hawks, who by no means seemed remotely within the contest once more.
The 39-point margin surpassed Phoenix’s earlier greatest win by 34 factors, additionally over Illawarra, in Round 8.
