HAWKS edge thrilling away win at Oaklands Wolves.

A few days earlier on Sunday 18th Jan, Hawks had hosted Oaklands Wolves at Harlow Leisurezone in one of their Sunday evening showpiece games in front of a moderate crowd as both teams put on an absolute show.

Both sides played with real intensity, hustle, and heart from the first tip to the final buzzer. The Hawks pushed hard, but the Wolves found that extra edge when it mattered and came away with the win, the final score Hawks 55 – 66 Wolves.

Harlow Hawks travelled to Oaklands College in St. Albans two days later knowing that they would have another challenging away fixture with Oaklands Wolves (who were still the only unbeaten side in the league at the time).

Hawks arrived determined to show their progression, raise their intensity, and make a statement on the road. The rematch carried added significance, offering Hawks the opportunity to test themselves against one of the league’s strongest outfits and measure how quickly lessons had been learned from the previous encounter.

The opening quarter set the tone for the evening, with Hawks starting sharply and taking control of the game’s tempo. Ball movement was crisp, defensive rotations were disciplined, and scoring opportunities were taken with confidence. 

G. Migliori delivered a standout performance early on, putting on a shooting clinic and racking up 12 points in the first quarter alone. Wolves found scores of their own but struggled to disrupt Hawks’ rhythm, allowing the visitors to establish a deserved early lead.

End of Q1: Wolves 17 – Hawks 23

Wolves responded strongly in the second quarter, increasing their physicality and finding more success inside the paint. Hawks continued to defend with real tenacity, contesting shots and forcing tough looks, but the home side’s persistence began to tell. While Hawks continued to share the scoring load, Wolves slowly chipped away at the deficit. By the interval, the game was finely balanced, with Hawks clinging to a narrow one-point advantage at the break.

End of Q2: Wolves 33 – Hawks 34

The third quarter proved to be the most challenging spell for the Hawks. Fatigue began to show, and scoring became increasingly difficult against a Wolves defence that had found its stride. Hawks were limited to just 10 points in the quarter, while Wolves capitalised at the other end, pouring in 19 points to swing momentum firmly in their favour. As the period closed, the Wolves had opened up an eight-point lead, placing Hawks under real pressure heading into the final
quarter.

End of Q3: Wolves 52 – Hawks 44

Facing an uphill battle, Hawks showed impressive resolve in the final quarter. The group came together with a clear focus, committing fully at both ends of the floor. Defensively, Hawks executed almost flawlessly, restricting Wolves to just 14 points. At the other end, offensive composure returned, with improved shot selection and decisive ball movement leading to a dominant 25-point quarter. Hawks clawed back the deficit, took control late on, and closed out the game with maturity to secure a hard-fought away victory.

Final Score: Wolves 66 – Hawks 69

G.Migliori – 20pts, J.Bailey – 15pts, F.Hiscock – 13pts, O.Hiscock – 6pts, R.White – 6pts, P.Simecek – 4pts, L.Morris – 3pts, R.Whytock – 1pts, A.Riley – 1pts, S.Niaz, G.Paulauskas