The Wollongong Hawks have advanced to the NBL Grand Final Series, following a hard fought 88-76 victory over the Townsville Crocodiles at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday.
The Hawks bounced back from their Game Two breakdown in Townsville to rediscover their impressive home court form, where they now stand at 15-1 on the season.
The Hawks will now have to find a way to lift on the road as they face the Perth Wildcats in the best-of-three Finals, with Game One at Challenge Stadium on Friday.
Rhys Martin and Dave Gruber paved the way for the Hawks with an outstanding first half, the duo combining for 25 points on a perfect 10-of-10 clip from the field.
Martin finished with 16 points (7-of-8 shooting), while Gruber (15 points and five boards) and Cam Tragradh (14 Points) each had perfect shooting nights.
Corey Williams poured in 27 points for the visitors, while Michael Cedar had 11 of his 14 points in the first half as the visitors were unable to reel in the hot Hawks in the final 20 minutes.
After trading wins in two lopsided games, both teams locked horns with a heightened intensity in the opening moments.
Russell Hinder quickly established a physical presence, sparking some fireworks after shoving both Rhys Martin and Mat Campbell, inducing both teams into a miniature scuffle.
When the dust settled, Wollongong skipped ahead 20-9, behind threes from both Martin and Campbell, while Williams operated in the post for eight points for Townsville.
Cedar kept the Crocs afloat with a pair of threes, but Gruber unleashed a devastating stint from off the bench to push the Hawks ahead 29-17 at quarter time.
After charging the lane for a thunderous slam in traffic, Gruber plucked a layup attempt from Williams in the air with two hands to initiate a fast break, which he capped with a three-point play.
Cedar opened the second quarter with a three, before Rhys Martin peeled off seven straight points for Hawks.
Gruber continued to provide an unlimited source of energy for Wollongong, single-handedly out-working and out-hustling the Townsville frontline.
When Rolan Roberts finally found some creases in the paint he helped the Crocodiles chip away at a 15-point deficit (50-35) late in the period, closing the half with a vital 7-2 spurt to trail 44-52.
Threes by Saville and Campbell early in the third opened up a 14-point buffer (62-48).
The Hawks led by as much as 17, but once again Townsville clawed back with some gritty stops to pull within 10 (62-72) before Wollongong escaped the quarter holding a 73-62 advantage.
The result looked ominous when Campbell heaved a triple from the corner to beat the shot-clock on the Hawks first possession in the fourth.
On the Hawks' next possession the frenzied crowd then reached higher decibels when Rhys Martin converted a fumbling circus shot in the lane to push the margin to 14 (78-64).
Wollongong Hawks 88 (Martin 16, Gruber 15, Campbell 14)
Townsville Crocodiles 76 (Williams 27, Cedar 14, Roberts 10)
@ WIN Entertainment Centre, 27/02/2010. Crowd: 4451.