Bullets shoot down the Hawks
Brisbane Bullets guard Ebi Ere added to his NBL MVP claims with a stellar 33-point haul in his side's 115-94 win over Wollongong Hawks at WIN Entertainment Centre.
In a match Brisbane never looked like losing, Ere needed just 31 minutes of court time to hammer the Hawks into submission.
Wollongong big-man Cameron Tragardh had a career-high 32 points, but his side was staring down the barrel of a double-figure deficit for the majority of the match.
Brisbane will have to chase a second straight NBL title without reigning MVP Sam Mackinnon, but Ere gives them a player capable of taking down any opposition.
Ere, who came into the game averaging a league-high 27 points per night, received strong help from bench guard Adam Gibson (16 points) and starting centre Craig Bradshaw (17).
Despite scoring the last six points of the opening quarter, Wollongong trailed 34-20 at the first break.
Brisbane led by as many as 19 points during their opening onslaught, with the Hawks looking like anything but a club that had secured its immediate playing future during the week.
Earlier in the week, Wollongong had come within hours of being unable to guarantee their position into the league next season.
After a quiet first quarter, Ere had 12 points in the second term to go into the halftime break with 17 to his name.
Bullets coach Joey Wright said even he was surprised with the standard Ere was playing at.
"Now I am just starting to expect it, some of those shots he hit out there were awesome," Wright said.
Wright added that the match officials could have done a better job in containing the physical play of Hawks duo Larry Davidson and Cam Rigby.
"I thought the refs let him (Davidson) and Rigby get a bit out of hand."
Hawks coach Eric Cooks was left regretting a lethargic start.
"That's the type of team where when they get confidence early, they are hard to contain," Cooks said.
Both teams are in action again on Saturday night, with Brisbane away to Townsville and Wollongong visiting West Sydney.
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