East Spotlight | Sharks beat Hawks to stay hot

Featured image: Rob Sheeley/@robshots

The Sutherland Sharks are still the hottest team in the NBL1 East with Jason Spurgin and Tyler Robertson standing tall late as they overran the Mason Peatling-less Illawarra Hawks for the 92-88 win.

The Sharks were back home at Sutherland Basketball Stadium on a six-game winning run taking on a Hawks team who came into the weekend in top spot but had slipped to second with a win on Friday for the Norths Bears.

Sutherland do need to keep winning if they want to end up in the top four and while they found themselves down by four with a few minutes to go, Robertson and Spurgin then scored their next 10 points to help them on the path to the four-point victory.

The win is a seventh in-a-row for the Sharks who improve to 12-6 on the season while the Hawks are now 14-4 with both teams having a double to finish the regular season with next weekend.

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By the end of the contest, the Sharks were shooting 45 per cent to the 43 from the Hawks and 11/18 to 9/12 at the foul line but once again Illawarra were more prolific from the outside going 15/36 to 11/28.

But the Sharks pulled down 12 offensive rebounds to five to win the possession battle and ultimately the game to remain the hottest team in the NBL1 East with Sydney Kings NBL big man Jason Spurgin producing 25 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals including 3/4 shooting from the outside.

Luke Jamieson had 10 points in the first quarter on his way to 24 in the game with nine rebounds and two steals while Tyler Roberton contributed 16 points, six boards, three assists and two steals, Harrison Raynor 16 points, five boards and three assists, and Lochlan Hutchison five points, five rebounds and five assists.

The Hawks won't be too deturbed and will be confident of turning the tables with Mason Peatling back in the line-up with Todd Blanchfield delivering another 28 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and two steals with 5/11 three-point shooting.

Matt Mims had a hot start with 14 points in the first quarter on his way to 27 for the game with two assists with 5/8 shooting from the outside.

Mohamed Kone added 19 points, seven rebounds, five steals and three assists, and Ethan Moss nine points, six boards and three assists.

The Sharks brought their six-game winning streak into the match and started like it with 24 points to 19 in the first quarter while getting up an extra seven shots thanks to forcing the Hawks into seven turnovers.

Luke Jamieson had 10 points for Sutherland while Matt Mims was keeping Illawarra in the contest with 14 points including making all three of his long-range attempts.

The Hawks were then able to take better care of the ball in the second quarter and went on to outscore the Sharks 26 to 20 on the way to the narrow 45-44 advantage by half-time.

Things remained tight through the third quarter with 21 points apiece leaving Illawarra clinging to the 66-65 advantage by three quarter-time with Mims up to 26 points and Todd Blanchfield 21 while Jamieson had 22 for Sutherland and Jason Spurgin 17.

That set the stage for a big finish between two teams that could very well meet again in the finals and after Illawarra went up four with just under four minutes to play thanks to a three ball from Mohamed Kone, Sutherland took charge.

It was Sydney Kings NBL pair Spurgin and Tyler Robertson that showed their quality with the game on the line for the Sharks combining for their team's next 10 points to turn that four-point deficit into the five-point lead, and eventual four-point win to make it seven straight.

Sutherland now have a double header to finish the regular season next weekend both at home to the Penrith Panthers and Norths Bears while the Hawks also are at home both to the Hills Hornets on Saturday and the Panthers on Sunday.

NBL1 EAST 2026 SEASON | FIRST NATIONS ROUND

SUTHERLAND SHARKS 92 (Spurgin 25, Jamieson 24, Robertson 16, Raynor 16)

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 88 (Blanchfield 28, Mims 27, Kone 19)