Hawks shuffle backcourt as Bayles starts, Hickey blocks game-winner in 92-90 New Year’s Eve victory.
Energetic guard Biwali Bayles made the first start of his career as Illawarra Hawks head coach Justin Tatum lined up in Back to the Future, bringing William “Davo” Hickey back to the bench, as the defending champions claimed a must-win 92-90 victory over the Tasmanian JackJumpers in the first match of NBL26 Round 15 in Wollongong on New Year’s Eve.
Hickey and Bayles, who grew up together playing for the Sydney Comets and played for the club in NBL1 2025, combined for 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists, but it mostly put Hickey back in the role that led the Hawks to the NBL25 championship.
Tatum said: “(Biwali) has us organized all week in practice. I reward the guys who help us prepare. You can’t ignore that.
“I hope this mindset carries over to the rest of the team.”
But it wasn’t easy. The Hawks only survived after Hickey blocked David Johnson’s game-winning three-point attempt. Tasmania’s Bryce Hamilton took over the offensive board, but his reverse layup was still between his fingers as the clock expired.
Hawks center JaVale McGee had 16 points, six rebounds and six blocks and star guard Tyler Harvey said having McGee and Sam Froling on the court at the same time created opportunities for the entire team.
“Two big threats in the paint lead the way for everyone,” Harvey said.
“If teams double up, they’re out. Otherwise, the big guys go head-to-head. It’s a cat-and-mouse game we haven’t had all year. This is the first time we’ve had a near-full team. We’re still figuring it out, but I think we did a good job tonight.”
The Hawks are now 7-13, three games behind the sixth-place JackJumpers at 10-13.
“I’m really happy with my guys and the way they played for 40 minutes, even though we went through a tough stretch in the last five minutes of the game,” Tatum said.
“We found a way to make this win.
I take my hat off to guys like (Wani Swaka Lo Buluk), holding Bryce Hamilton to 10 points in 32 minutes – incredible.
This guy next to me (Harvey) has been out for a week or two with back spasms, he comes off the bench, he’s a big fan of the team, he comes out and helps us with 15 or 16 points. Total team effort.
“I really take my hat off to guys like (Biwali), who came in and set the tone defensively and also had some opportunities offensively.
“Whatever’s going on right now with this team, everyone wants to find a way to contribute to helping us win games, and they’ll get the opportunity.”
Tasmanian JackJumpers coach Scott Roth endured another close game and was within touching distance of sending it to overtime.
“Obviously a very intense end to the match,” Roth said.
“If you take the positive from my side, you come back to it. Everything is positive. We played our butt off.
“We played as hard as we could. That’s what we do every night. So it’s all good for me. We just keep showing up and staying in the fight, and that feels really good.
“It’s frustrating obviously, but the fight is real with us. We swung and maybe we didn’t execute as well in certain situations. We missed a bunch of foul shots.
“But ultimately they continue to compete, which is fantastic in this short time and with all these matches ahead of us.”
Key details
By the numbers
- Josh Bannan (Tasmania) played with 25 points, six rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes.
- Sam Froling (Illawarra) had 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and a block in 28 minutes.
What happened
The Hawks took control early with strong shooting in the first half, leading 50-39 at the main break. Illawarra’s efficient offense was led by its balanced attack, with five players reaching double figures. The Hawks shot an exceptional 50% from the field, compared to Tasmania’s 44%, while both teams connected on 10 three-pointers each.
Tasmania staged a spirited comeback in the second half, outscoring Illawarra 51-42 over the final two quarters. The JackJumpers’ fourth-quarter surge allowed them to outscore the Hawks 25-19, cutting what had been a comfortable lead to just two points. Tyger Campbell’s efficient 18-point performance on 7-of-13 shooting was crucial in keeping Tasmania within striking distance throughout the competition.
Josh Bannan delivered a stellar performance for the visitors, shooting a superb 11 of 14 from the field (78.6%) to finish with a game-high 25 points. His dominance in the paint was complemented by David Johnson’s 16 points off the bench, while Majok Deng contributed 11 points despite struggling shooting from beyond the arc.
The Hawks’ defensive presence proved decisive, particularly their rim protection led by JaVale McGee’s six blocks. McGee’s 16-point, six-rebound performance was matched by Sam Froling’s stellar double-double. Tyler Harvey added 15 points off the bench, connecting on 4 of 9 from downtown to provide a crucial score when the game was on the line.
Illawarra’s superiority in rebounds (44-38) and free throw shooting (76.9% compared to 58.3% for Tasmania) ultimately made the difference in this tight competition. The Hawks’ ability to control the defensive glass limited Tasmania’s second-chance opportunities, while their more reliable charity performance proved crucial down the stretch.
With this hard-fought victory, the Hawks maintain their position atop the NBL standings at 19-9. The defeat leaves Tasmania at 12-16, sitting in seventh place as they continue their fight for playoff positioning. The JackJumpers will rue their poor free throw shooting, going just 14 of 24 from the foul line in what turned out to be a costly two-point loss.
