Friday night saw the Hawks leave their home court with an emotional win, as the home team beat off a determined Adelaide Sixers outfit.
5,674 fans turned out for the event, spurring them on to a win over the higher ranked Sixers. If only those same punters had been around all season long, the team would not be in the strife that it is now, as they have been forced to pull the pin on a return next season.
A special pre-game ceremony was held for Hawks icons Mat Campbell and Glen Saville, with the club honouring the pair by retiring their playing jerseys.
“The crowd was unreal,” Campbell said during a post-game on-court interview.
“I wasn’t sure how many people would turn out tonight but it’s a credit to the people of Wollongong. I want to thank you for all your support and supporting the team.”
According to this article, import Kavossy Franklin is off to Belarus after this gig with the Hawks. I do have a rumour that there has been interest in Auckland surrounding the NBL journeyman import, so it will be interesting to see if he arrives next NBL season with the Breakers (currently carrying one import in Rick Rickert), another startup New Zealand squad in the new league, or alternatively with a NZNBL squad.