Game Report: Hawks @ Wildcats | RD17 NBL26

Hawks Fight to the Finish in Gritty HoopsFest Battle

In our third trip to the Jungle this season, the Illawarra Hawks once again proved they have no quit, pushing the Perth Wildcats to the final buzzer before falling 92-87 in a high-stakes HoopsFest clash. While the result didn't go our way, the Hawks' trademark grit was on full display in front of a hostile RAC Arena crowd.

Playing without QJ Peterson JR due to illness and navigating early foul trouble for Captain Tyler Harvey, the Hawks showed moments of absolute brilliance. The game opened in spectacular fashion with Harvey finding JaVale McGee for a clinical lob and dunk, setting the tone for a physical interior battle.

The story of the game, however, often sat with the whistle. In a lopsided statistical anomaly, Perth headed to the charity stripe for 37 free throw attempts compared to just 12 for the Hawks. Despite the foul count sitting at 8-2 against us just five minutes into the game, the boys stayed composed. Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Todd Blanchfield caught fire from deep in the second quarter, combining for five consecutive triples to briefly snatch a 28-27 lead.

The Hawks' transition defense was tested in the third as Perth pushed the lead to 14, but a late-game surge kept the faithful hawkheads on the edge of their seats. William "Davo" Hickey was a spark plug late, burying two huge threes and snatching a crucial steal to bring the game within four points in the final minute. Even after Tyler Harvey was forced to the bench with an ankle injury late in the fourth, the Hawks kept swinging. Local WA product Johny Narkle checked in to drill a clutch three-pointer in the dying seconds, but Perth’s steady hand at the free-throw line eventually sealed the result.

While it will now take a miracle to reach the playoffs and defend the championship, the Hawks proved they can compete with anyone, anywhere. We won't have to wait long for a chance at revenge on our own terms; after three games in Perth this season, the Wildcats finally have to travel to the Gong when they visit the WIN Entertainment Centre on January 31st.

For the Wildcats, Kristian Doolittle (21 points, 11 rebounds) and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (20 points) led the way.

Hawks Player Performance Breakdown

• Todd Blanchfield: Stepping up in a hostile environment, Todd led the scoring for the Hawks with 16 points, including 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. His back-to-back triples in the second quarter were pure momentum-shifters.
• William "Davo" Hickey: Davo was everywhere tonight, finishing with 14 points and a team-high 7 assists. His energy in the final two minutes was elite, grabbing a steal and hitting two massive three-pointers to keep the pressure on Perth until the very last second. He finished with a team-high efficiency rating of 20.
• Wani Swaka Lo Buluk: Wani continues to be a two-way force. He sparked our best offensive run of the game with three triples in the first half and finished with 13 points on an efficient 60% shooting from deep.

‍Be sure to check our social media channels for all the game highlights and behind-the-scenes photos!

The Hawks now head back home to prepare for a Round 18 clash against the Tasmania JackJumpers on Saturday, January 24th in Tasmania.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26 (Boxscore)

PERTH WILDCATS 92 (Doolittle 21, Lual-Acuil Jr 20, Henshall 15)
ILLAWARRA HAWKS 87 (Blanchfield 16, Hickey 14, Swaka Lo Buluk 13)

‍