It was a three-point and double-double party tonight as the Hawks got back to their Bartercard National Basketball League campaign with a vengeance in Napier.
The Liam Flynn-coached IMS Payroll-sponsored Hawke's Bay franchise team out-muscled Augusta Taranaki Mountainairs 98-88 at the Pettigrew-Green Arena in Taradale.
The hosts won every quarterbar the last one -- 21-16, 48-38 (27-22), 69-55 (21-17), 99-88 (29-33).
Nigerian import Suleiman Braimoh spearheaded the Hawks' victory with a double-double 22 points and 11 rebounds as well as four blocks and three assists to boot.
Guard Alonzo Burton broke out of his shell this season, fingers taped, to score 17 points and collect five rebounds.
US import forward Zack Atkinson racked up yet another double-double 16 points and 10 rebounds despite getting fouled out in 29 minutes of court time.
The Hawks had a bumper night out, managing 57 per cent in both field goals and from outside the arc.
Shooting guard Luke Aston, captain Jarrod Kenny, guard Anamata Haku, debutant guard Mataeus Marsh all joined Braimoh and Burton in the three-point party.
Kenny had a jaw-dropping 13 assists and 11 points to also clock a double-double.
For the winless Airs, Aaron Fuller claimed a game-high 23 points and eight rebounds while skipper Aaron Bailey-Nowell and Brad Anderson added 19 points each.
Bailey-Nowell also joined the double-double club with 10 rebounds and five assists but it would have given the team, who are eight and oh on the wrong side of the ledger, little joy.
Co-skipper Paora Winitana didn't play but kept close to the young guns Mataeus Marsh (centre) and Jaxson Macfarlane. PHOTO/Paul Taylor
Point guard Chris Hagan, who was held to a record two-point league low against the Hawks in New Plymouth, bounced back with 20 points and nine assists.
For the visitors, the challenge appeared to be not to lose by more than a 10-point margin, which they did ... just.
The leaky defence of the Daryn Shaw-coached side, yet again, proved to be their undoing.
Hawks co-skipper Paora Winitana didn't take the court after the previous Saturday's shock loss to the Breakers Manawatu Jets here.
