On 18 July 2016, the Nets and Hawks returned to North Highland Assembly of God's Church Gymnasium to compete in their first game of the NOSBL XVI Western Division Title Series.  The Nets had to wait for the Hawks to finish their series against the Kingdom Ballers.  This should be a good series, but a greater challenge for the Nets due to the lack of depth on the bench. 

The starters for the Nets were:  #21 Keith LaFavor, #32 Willie Walker, #22 Willie Filmore, #48 Rodney Patrick, and #45 Lamont Shuford.

The starters for the NHA Hawks were:  #22 Kevin Douglas, #24 Quentin Leonard, #11 Kenyatta Hardge, #34 Ernest Adams, and #0 Michael Smith.

The Officials were Ice Elliott and Brandon Thomas.

The Nets was the Home Team.  The game started with the Hawks losing the tip-off due to a violation.  The Nets received possession and passed the ball to Lamont "No Answer For Me" Shuford for a 2-point jumper.  Quentin Leonard retaliated, quickly, with 2-points, as well.  It was clear, from the onset, that this would be a battle.  The Nets would get six players involved in scoring and the Hawks would get four players involved in scoring.  The Nets', Willie Filmore, scored 9 points from three 3-point shots, but the leading scorer was #45 Lamont Shuford with 15 points.  Quentin Leonard accepted the Nets' challenge and repaid them with 17 points along with 9 points from #23 Yohance Thompson.  The teams had five lead changes and two tied scores in the first half - with the last tie taking place at 36 before the Nets would score two points to end the half 38 - 36. 

Coming out of halftime, The Hawks would quickly obtain the lead by hitting a 3-point shot to put the Hawks ahead of the Nets 39 - 38.  The Hawks would take control and hold a lead for the remainder of the game.  The Nets were reduced from six players scoring in the first half to three in the second half.  At 13:23 minutes remaining in the game, the Hawks had accumulated a 12 point lead with a score of 54 - 42.  Seven of the Hawks' eight players scored in the second half.  Quentin Leonard continued to lead the Hawks with 14 points and Kenyatta Hardge dropped in 13 points (with nine of his points coming from 3-point shots).  The pressure was on the Nets to play catch-up, but the Hawks' wing span overshadowed them down low and on the perimeter.  With 1:55 remaining in the game, the Hawks were holding a 68 - 52 lead.  The Hawks successfully held the Nets to 19 second half points.  The Hawks accumulated 41 points in the second half as they defeated the #1 seed, Nets, 77 - 57 to take game one.  The Nets committed 12 team fouls and the Hawks committed eight team fouls.

The scorers for the Hawks were:  #24 Quentin "Quick" Leonard with 31 points, #11 Kenyatta Hardge with 18 points, #23 Yohance Thompson with 11 points, #9 Kevin Douglas with 7 points, #34 Ernest Adams with 5 points, #0 Michael Smith with 3 points, and #25 Roderick Williams with 2 points.

The scorers for the Nets were:  #45 Lamont "No Answer For Me" Shuford with 23 points, #22 Willie Filmore with 9 points, #32 Willie Walker with 9 points, #9 Tony Reese with 8 points, #25 Troy Tells with 6 points, and #48 Rodney Patrick with 2 points.