Up-and-down Hawks get away from the Scorpions as Pumas avoid Tiger trap against Trades

Hawks fended off a stout challenge from Stateside Scorpions as Fletcher Klazstorny retook his lead at the top of the points-scoring charts.

The Hawks were stunned last week at the hands of the Trades who handed them their first loss of the season with Stateside hoping to cause an upset of their own and finally post a win.

However, Klazstorny did not play in that last game and his return this round certainly seemed to lift the Hawks as they were hot early racing out to a 20-point lead in the opening half.

Stateside were dealt a blow during the week when they lost Tristan Jacques their biggest offensive weapon averaging more than 17 points a game after he moved to rivals Trades.

This saw them unveil Jonas Nzamba in his stead who took up the mantle of power forward for the Scorpions to centre their offence around.

He showed great strength around the rim and there was no denying Stateside’s effort, but the change seemed to affect their structure with errant passes and at times a disconnect between players in offence a feature of their first half.

It didn’t help that they were awful from the field while the Hawks were able to split open Stateside’s defences in transition as they posted 51 points to lead by 19 points at the end of the half.

Ryan Blanchett was leading the way with 17 with Klazstorny on 15. For the Scorpions Nzamba had 12 built off his work around the rim.

The second half began in a similar fashion with the Scorpions offering up far to much room in defence allowing the Hawks to work their way to the basket.

However, Stateside stayed energetic and a dip in intensity from the Hawks saw them get on a run and bring the gap down to 10 points.

Stuart Egan was getting fired up as he took over as the main threat, ending up with 24 points for his best performance of the season.

The Hawks refocused and put the foot back down to grow the lead back to 20 points with Robert Greichen something of a second-half specialist getting 12 points in the half.

Klazstorny did foul out with about seven minutes to go but by that time had 26 points his best performance since round three including a signature dunk.

But the Hawks dropped off again, similar to what happened against the Trades, looking lethargic in the closing stage as the Scorpions closed the gap to under 10 points with two minutes to go.

The Hawks were forced to drain the clock and while they held on fairly comfortably to win 90-82 those lapses in effort could hurt them come the pointy end of the season.

In the later game an understrength Pumas were too good for Trades who were hoping to maintain their giant killing form.

Pumas were without their three most damaging players in Liam Hunt, Tomas Dobson and Harry Evans. The Trades now had Jacques to add another tall beside Charlie Thurkle.

However, even without their top-end talent Pumas were far more clinical going forward as they brokered a double-digit lead early on in the piece.

Trades once again had a full bench and went for a similar game plan that worked against the Hawks by trying to run the Pumas off their feet and catch them with tired legs.

But Pumas avoided the trap led by new starter Kye Chamberlain, who dropped 33 points in his first division one game including six three-pointers, as they eased home 76-53.

Lachlan Morphew was the best for the Trades with 14 points with all 10 players hitting the scoreboard but none able to grab hold of the game.

In Tuesday night’s clash Chapman Valley pounced on an understrength Olympians side to record a 72-59 victory and jump to third on the ladder.

Olympians were without their two best players with Jonhy Narkle and Richard Bartlett both missing from the line-up, leaving Liam Bennett and Isaac Smith to run the offence.

But the Warriors controlled the game from the outset with Mathew Wundenberg putting in his best performance since round one. Carter Cook had his best game all year with 15 points.

A nine-point gap at the half continued to grow with Olympians never threatening a comeback as Wundenberg ended best afield with 20 points.

Bennett and Smith combined for 33 points but they lacked support as Olympians posted their lowest score this year and move to a negative three and four record.