Huddersfield-based West Yorkshire Hawks defeated Stockport Falcons 95-75 at the Hawks Nest keeping them third in the table.
Chris Sibbett and Rob Donaldson were pivotal in the first quarter for the Hawks, combining for 12 points to help build a solid 24-16 lead.
Stockport fought back with a more physical approach in the second quarter to disrupt the Hawks’ momentum. By half-time, the Falcons had clawed back to within seven points, trailing 48-41.
The Hawks emerged from the locker room with renewed focus, especially on defence. A stellar third quarter saw them limit Stockport to just 13 points while scoring 24 themselves. Dave Walsh was the catalyst during this stretch, contributing 10 points and setting the tone for a strong finish.
In the final quarter, Hawks head coach Danny Byrne gave his bench extended minutes, but the intensity never wavered. The rotation players kept up the pressure, and the Hawks closed out the game with a commanding 20-point margin.
Walsh led the scoring with a season-high 34 points, while Ethan Rose and Donaldson chipped in 12 points apiece.
Reflecting on the performance, Byrne said: “Even though the result was ultimately quite comfortable, we just did not play our best basketball today. Both the team and I expect more, and I’m confident we’ll raise our level in the coming weeks.”
The Hawks now face a crucial away test against the Sharks at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield on Saturday December 21.
A victory there would propel them into second place, setting the tone for a strong finish to 2024.
