Stateside’s slim finals hopes are still alive following a second half blitz against Hawks on Monday night in men’s division one basketball.

The Scorpions will have to win their last three games of the season to have any hope of making the top four.

A physical match-up put both teams in close range at half time, but a second half flurry by Stateside put the Scorpions ahead 85-41 at the final buzzer.

It was a close contest throughout the first half with both sides going hard to make a clean break.

Stateside’s Corey Dickerson had a good night under the bucket, scoring 10 first-half points.

Hawks’ Paul Valenti was instrumental in keeping his side within reach.

Hawks trailed by just a point with four minutes left in the first half, but Stateside went into the main break ahead, 30-23.

Stateside turned up the heat in the second half.

Justin Mallard increased their lead with 12 second-half points.

Hawks couldn’t stop Dickerson, whose fast footwork and strong drives scored him a further 14 points after half time.

Hawks’ youngster Stuart Egan fed the ball well to Valenti who scored seven points in the final stanza.

Hawks struggled to convert and a frustrated Valenti received a tech foul mid-way through the last half.

Stateside out-rebounded, out-scored and out-played Hawks who couldn’t make any leeway on the scoreboard.

Calib Mourish chimed in with 19 points for Stateside, seeing them run away with a 44-point win.

It was a good night for Stateside all-round with the women’s side defeating Hawks, 78-40.

Stateside’s Charlotte Cripps dominated the keyway, scoring 18 of her side’s 40 first-half points.

Cripps combined well with Abbie McDonald who also added 10 points to the scoreboard.

A desperate Hawks trailed by 20 points at half time.

Karyn Tapper was a shining light for Hawks but her side found it hard to break through Stateside’s man-on-man defence.

Stateside’s Teisha Standen helped extend their lead, scoring nine points in the last half to take home the 38-point win.