Seahawks Butcher Huge Lead

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday May 20, 2008

Basketball with Tim Keeble

THE Illawarra Seahawks were on the wrong end of a possible record comeback in Saturday night's 95-94 road loss to Parramatta.

Despite building a seemingly unassailable 47-16 lead in the second quarter, the Seahawks were overpowered by the Wildcats in the second half, with Goran Veg sinking a free throw with no time on the clock to clinch an incredible victory.

Waratah Australian Basketball League officials were still checking, but it is believed no team has ever come back to win after being down by 31 points.

The loss was compounded by Illawarra guard Luke Higgins suffering a broken arm in the third quarter.

"Luke was a huge loss for us, but to lose after playing so well in the first half was a very disappointing result," Seahawks coach Matt Flinn said.

The visitors could do no wrong in the opening two quarters and skipped to the locker room with a 58-32 lead.

But instead of sealing the win after half-time, a subdued Illawarra were run down.

"We were two teams within a team," Flinn said.

"Our first-half effort and execution was the best we've had all year, our defensive intensity was great - we were giving them a lot of trouble with our constant pressure. Unfortunately, we put the cue in the rack at half-time.

"The momentum started to swing, we turned the ball over continuously and stopped cutting hard.

"We played like a team who were down 20 instead of up 20."

Parramatta chipped away at the margin in the third period and soon realised their opponents were coming undone.

A frustrated Seahawks felt they weren't getting a fair shake from the referees and were slapped with three technical fouls and an unsportsmanlike foul in the fourth quarter.

"They were highly questionable calls, but we have to be more disciplined than that," Flinn said.

"That was a big game for us. It could've possibly shot us into the top four, but now we are right in the pack. With seven games left, we'll be in a fight to make the play-offs."

Dom Cooks led Illawarra with 20 points, while Dan Jackson finished with 18 and Troy Pilon added 14 and 12 rebounds in his Seahawks debut.

Veg was outstanding with 33 points and 19 rebounds, while teammate Anto Lilac had 32 points after scoring just two in the first half.

The Seahawks host Sutherland on Saturday.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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