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Kell III took it personally, smokes Phoenix in Game 3
Trey Kell III of the Hawks drives to the basket during game three of the NBL Semi Final Series between Illawarra Hawks and South East Melbourne Phoenix at WIN Entertainment Centre on March 05, 2025 in Wollongong. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images
Trey Kell III leads Illawarra Hawks into the NBL25 Grand Final Series against Melbourne United
- Illawarra Hawks make emphatic statement in Game 3 of NBL25 semi-finals
- Trey Kell III exploded for 26 points in the first half, finished with 32
- Illawarra set NBL25 record for most points in the first half with 70
Trey Kell III refused "to be trash like last game", steamrolling the Illawarra Hawks into the NBL25 Grand Final Series with a 26-point first half performance for the ages against South East Melbourne Phoenix in Game 3 of the semi-finals in Illawarra on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
Illawarra flat out dismantled the Phoenix 126-96, scoring an extraordinary 103 POINTS by three quarter time after leading 70-44 at half-time.
Kell III described his 1-from-10 performance in Game 2 as "trash" when asked at half-time of Game 3 what was the motivation for his 8-from-11 shooting, including 3-from-5 from three in the first 20 minutes. He was also 7-of-7 from the free throw line.
"Trying not to be trash like last game," he said during the half time interview.
The American star guard finished with 30 points, on 9-from-16 from the field, grabbed four rebounds and dished out five assists.
Asked at full-time what sparked the Game 3 demolition, he replied: "It started with No3 from Illawarra not being terrible at basketball."
Kell III, who wears No3, was full of praise for 400-game NBL veteran Todd Blanchfield who finished with 28 points. Blanchfield shot the lights out from three.
Illawarra has home court advantage against Melbourne United on Saturday night in Game 1 of the NBL25 Grand Final.
Kell III made his intentions clear from the opening tip, attacking Phoenix big Jordan Hunter right at the rim for a tough finish with this left.
For the first five minutes, Kell III was penetrating at will, lighting up the visitors with five straight makes for 16 points in the first quarter.
Phoenix's Game 2 star Matt Hurt didn't get his first attempt, a contest three he missed, until three minutes left in the quarter.
"Not good enough," Brad Rosen said on commentary after Hurt led the Phoenix to 1-1 in series with 30 points on 11-from-19 from the field.
He was a non factor in Game 3.
Tyler Harvey, Kell's backcourt All-NBL First Team teammate, hit step back three at the buzzer to make it 37-22 after one and Hawks home crowd was fired up and the Hawks didn't look back.
It didn't get any better for the Phoenix in the second quarter. They simply couldn't stop Kell, nor on-fire Todd Blanchfield who splashed a career high eight threes on 12 attempts for 28 points, nor Darius Days, nor Will Hickey, nor Harvey, nor anyone really.
The Hawks finished the first half with the highest score of NBL25 — 70-44 — pretty much getting anything they wanted on the offensive side of the ball.
"Don't let off the gas," is what Kell said at half-time in a very brief on-court interview.
And, well, they didn't. They led 103-64 at three quarter time.
Harvey and Kell III combined for 44 points after their dismal 16 in Game 2.
Their 126 is the most points by any Hawks team in NBL playoffs history.
NBL25 Grand Final Series
- Game 1: Saturday 8 March: Illawarra v Melbourne, WIN Entertainment Centre, 8:00pm AEDT
- Game 2: Wednesday 12 March: Melbourne v Illawarra, John Cain Arena, 7:30pm AEDT
- Game 3: Sunday 16 March: Illawarra v Melbourne, WIN Entertainment Centre, 5:30pm AEDT
- Game 4 (if required): Wednesday 19 March: Melbourne v Illawarra, John Cain Arena, 7:30pm AEDT
- Game 5 (if required): Sunday 23 March: Illawarra v Melbourne, WIN Entertainment Centre, 2:30pm AEDT
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