The Ringwood Hawks produced possibly their best performance of the season on Saturday night against one of NBL1’s most talented teams. Unfortunately, the Hawks could not make a shot to close out the win in the final minute and fell to the Nunawading Spectres by three points.

In the NBL1 Game of the week, Nunawading Stadium was packed to the rafters and the Hawks looked sharp as they moved the ball and created some good scoring opportunities. Despite still being undermanned with import Jacob Gibson playing restricted minutes, the Hawks pushed themselves to an early lead.

Matt Fennell (22 points and 7 rebounds) and Adrien Sturt (19 points and 6 rebounds) kept the Hawks score board ticking over in the second quarter, but a controversial foul on Sturt sent him to the bench. Shaun Clarke stepped up offensively and the Hawks led by three points at the half.

In the third quarter, the intensity of the game went to a new level with both teams playing at an extremely high level. Both teams were shooting at well above 50%, however the Hawks again won the quarter and held a 5 point lead at three quarter time.

The talented Spectres line up dug deep in the third quarter, but Matt Snow and Nathan Truman kept the Hawks in the lead. Another controversial offensive foul, this time on Shaun Clarke and a deep three pointer put the Spectres in the lead for the first time with just 90 seconds left in the game. The Hawks maintained their focus and executed their offence which created four great looks from the three point line to take back the lead, but all four shots rimmed out and the Hawks fell agonizingly short.

“Tonight we were great, but that game is the story of our season.” Hawks Veteran Matt Snow said.

“We just needed a bit of luck, a good call from a ref or the roll of the ball, we just must have walked under too many ladders.”

Next Saturday night the Hawks will have another opportunity to grab a season defining win when they host the Geelong Supercats in the annual Aussie Clubfoot Kids game at the Rings. The Club will be helping Brady Cochrane raise money to help underprivileged children get the treatment they need.

RINGWOOD 96 (Fennell 22, Sturt 19, Clarke 14, Gibson 10, Truman 9, Miller 9. Latham 8, Snow 5) lost to NUNAWADING 99 (Wright 20,Swetalla 19) at Nunawading Stadium.