Hawks win thriller
10/10/2008 10:26 PM
A game winning three-pointer by Dusty Rychart has seen Wollongong Hawks escape with a heart-stopping 85-82 victory over the Perth Wildcats at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday.
With the game tied at 82-82, the Hawks had possession with 23 seconds remaining and found a wide open Rychart for a rare three leaving just 1.9 seconds on the clock as the WEC crowd erupted wildly.
Perth made a last gasp attempt to force overtime but Alex Loughton's desperation heave fell short.
Rychart finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Glen Saville playing in his 400th game as a Hawk had 12 of his team high 19 points in the first quarter.
Shawn Redhage continued his blistering start to the season, racking up a game-high 31 points (11 in the fourth), while imports Darnell Hinson and Isiah Victor each added 15 points.
The Wildcats (3-4) complete their three-game road trip when they take on the Sydney Spirit at the Olympic Park Sports Centre on Saturday. The Hawks (2-3) will meet the Wildcats again on Wednesday at Challenge Stadium.
Wollongong Hawks 85 (Saville 19, Rychart 18, Petrie 18)
Perth Wildcats 82 (Redhage 31, Hinson 15, Victor 15)
@ WIN Entertainment Centre, 10/10/2008. Crowd: 2338.