THE Waratah League finals chances of Scott Balsar's Illawarra Hawks have taken another hit, after walking away from the weekend's road double-header without a victory.
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The youth men's side were first scheduled to play fifth-placed Newcastle on Saturday.
But due to a COVID-19 scare involving a number of junior Hunters representative players and their schools, the fixture at the Newcastle Basketball Stadium was cancelled.
The Hawks then quickly turned their attentions to Sunday's match at Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium against competition front-runners Central Coast.
Following a three-pointer by Harry Morris, the visitors led 12-11 midway through the first quarter - only for the Crusaders to call a timeout.
Their decision paid huge dividends for the hosts, who ended the term on an 11-0 run, to go into the first break up 22-12.
The two teams exchanged baskets in the second term before a late three-pointer by Riley O'Brien closed the margin to just eight (38-30) heading into the main break.
The third followed suit, with both sides going on mini runs but were unable to break the game open, as the hosts led 56-47 at end of three - following a late shot from downtown by Hawks' Aaron Puljic.
Philip Dopud scored the three first points of the fourth period for the Hawks, reducing the deficit to just six points.
But that was as close at Balsar's troops got, as the Crusaders outscored their rivals 35-14 in the last quarter - to run out winners 91-64.
Chol Adup (24 points) was the match's top scorer for the Crusaders, while Morris (18), Dopud (12), O'Brien (12) and Shoalhaven's Gavin Costain (12) all reached double figures for the visitors.
The result leaves the Hawks in eighth with a 2-3 record, heading into this Saturday's must-win match against the Maitland Mustangs at 4pm at the Snakepit.