Basketball: Former janitor cleans up for Hawks

Cheers guys: Hawks players thank their supporters after ending a 24-game losing streak yesterday. Photo/Warren Buckland

Before Bay Hawks basketballer Joshua Fox became a fulltimer on the hoops scene he worked as a janitor for almost six years.

Swingman Fox, 23, was in charge at Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena last night, at both ends of the court in fact, as the Taylor Corp Hawks ended a 24-game losing steak in style with an 81-63 fifth round NBL win against the Mike Pero Nelson Giants.

All of his 15 points were scored in the first half and he also finished with six rebounds and two assists after 27 minutes on the floor.

Fox was rightly singled out alongside fellow swingman Ana Haku as the hosts player of the game by a relieved coach Kirstin Daly-Taylor. Haku was also cleaning up everything and finished with eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.

"We started slow but we then had the foot on the throat for most of the match. It was nice to get the monkey off our backs," the Fiji-born Fox, who played football and rugby in his younger days, said.

"This makes the season easier for us now. We can approach the next games with more confidence and while we know the Sharks are a really good team there's no reason why we can't beat them," Fox said.

"I know how hard it is to work at jobs like a janitor so I feel very blessed to be earning a living as a basketballer," he added.

It was the first time this season the Hawks played with their complete roster after this week's arrival of imported forward Amir Williams who proved he will be more than handy as he becomes more familiar with his teammates.

"That's our full roster and we will be able to beat teams like Saints now," Daly-Taylor said referring to the unbeaten Wellington-based defending champions.

She was thrilled to be able to give all of injury-free players plenty of court time. Former St John's College guard Dominic McGovan impressed with his six minutes off the pine for an outfit which had no passengers.

"There was a time when the Giants were looking tough so we decided to give Dominic a crack against their imported guard Kyle Adnam. He plays the same as Kyle and he did a good job against him," Daly-Taylor said.

She admitted she was beginning to ask herself whether she was jinxing her team during the losing streak.

"It's definitely a case of relief for me personally. The monkey is off my back not the team because this team is a different group of men to last year's team."

The arena was less than half full but if the Hawks continue to play the exciting brand of basketball they did last night and string some wins together there's no reason why it can be three-quarters full.

"It was a sunny day today but when winter comes this is the best place to be ... so come and watch us," Daly-Taylor urged Bay sports fans.

Co-captain Everard Bartlett top-scored for the Hawks with 19 points including several three pointers at times when the Giants were within 10 points and fancied their chances.

However, when Bartlett sunk his first three-pointer to give the hosts a 27-16 lead with 7m06s remaining before halftime, that was the signal ... it was always going to be the Hawks night to party.

Former Hawk Dion Prewster scored a game-high 25 points for the Giants who are winless after five games.

Giants coach Alan McAughty said his troops had targeted yesterday's game as a possible win.

"I thought the Hawks took us out of the game by playing hard. Yes we were baffled by some of the calls but that's not the sole reason for the loss ... we didn't follow our structures and execute as well as we should have."

Hawks franchise chairman Keith Price had the biggest smile as his players thanked their supporters after the game.

"It's good that we were able to win and do it by giving our young fellahs plenty of court time because a lot of the other teams have done that to us in recent times," Price said.

"I'm stoked for the team and Kirstin. Our season started today ... now we have to keep winning," he added.

■Result: Taylor Corp Hawks 81 (Everard Bartlett 19 pts, 3 reb, 7 ast; Joshua Fox 15 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast; Grant Fiorentinos 15 pts, 7 reb, 1 ast), Mike Pero Nelson Giants 63 (Dion Prewster 25 pts, 0 reb, 2ast; Kyle Adnam 11 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast; Finn Delaney 10 pts, 2 reb, 0 ast).
Quarters (Hawks first), 1st: 20-13. 2nd: 41-31 (21-18). 3rd: 61-48 (20-17). Final: 81-63 (20-15).