Martin, Narkle spark Hawks win in Perth

Kelan Martin returned to form and then it was home state boy Johny Narkle who saw the Illawarra Hawks see off the charge of the Perth Wildcats for the much-needed 105-98 win at RAC Arena.

The Hawks arrived on Saturday night with backs to the wall at 2-8 and having struggled a week earlier at home to the Brisbane Bullets as they took on a Wildcats team trying to bounce back from a home loss to Sydney on Wednesday.

Illawarra made a hot start to lead the entire three quarters including by five at quarter-time and then seven at the half with Martin on fire with 13 points already with three triples after having just four points on 2/14 shooting the past two games.

The Hawks were still up nine at three quarter-time but Perth started the final frame with a 17-6 run to grab the lead and have all the momentum, but Illawarra responded.

It started with a four-point play and then three free throws from WA product Narkle on the same RAC Arena floor he was Grand Final MVP in the NBL1 West for the Geraldton Buccaneers in 2025.

Narkle then completed a dunk following up by a fifth three from Martin for the Hawks to complete the seven-point win to improve their season to 3-8.

Martin top scored with 23 points while Narkle had nine of his 11 points in the last quarter to go with seven rebounds, two steals and a block.

Davo Hickey almost had a triple double with nine points, eight rebounds and eight assists while Makur Maker was powerful down low for 21 points and five boards.

Wani Swaka Lo Buluk did a terrific defensive job on Brandon Knight (12 points, 4/13 shooting) and had 15 points with 3/5 three-point shooting while Tyler Harvey chimed in with 11 points and seven assists.

The Wildcats are now 5-4 following consecutive home defeats with Anthony Dell'Orso top scoring with 21 points with three steals.

Dylan Windler also had 19 points, 10 rebounds and four steals, Kristian Doolittle 16 points, seven assists and five boards, Elijah Pepper 13 points, and games record holding captain Jesse Wagstaff eight points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

The Hawks had seven days to try and regroup and get their season up and running, and arrived in Perth on a mission and produced a strong first quarter showing and going into quarter-time were still on top 24-19.

Illawarra remained on top through the second quarter with another 27 points to 25 to go into the half-time break leading 51-44.

Kelan Martin has been struggling just four points over his last two games, but he was already up to 13 by half-time on 3/4 three-point shooting while Makur Maker was giving a strong presence inside with nine points.

The Hawks were shooting 22/42 from the field and had the only eight offensive rebounds of the half to get up 10 extra shots and to be leading by seven.

Kristian Doolittle and Dylan Windler had nine points each for the Wildcats, but the Hawks were doing well putting the clamps on Brandon Knight who had just three points on 1/7 shooting.

The lead for Illawarra got out to 15 in the third quarter and John Rillie was forced into a standing timeout to try and ignite his team, and the Wildcats had closed the gap to nine by three quarter-time.

Then early in the fourth the 'Cats got within four and it was Justin Tatum's turn for an early timeout inside the first two minutes.

Anthony Dell'Orso then hit a big three to bring it back to one after Windler flew out of bounds to keep the ball in play, and Knight was fouled taking a three and made all three to tie scores up.

Doolittle hit two free throws to put Perth up two but Western Australian Johny Narkle responded with a three ball up the other end. He was fouled too and converted to stop a 17-6 run to start the quarter.

Next possession and Narkle was again fouled shooting a three and made them all with Illawarra steadied on the back of his seven straight points to be up five with just over 3:30 to go.

Martin marked his return to form with a dagger three with two on the clock to keep the Hawks up six, and they had a turnover leading to a wide-open Narkle dunk for him to have nine points in the quarter, and Illawarra completed the seven-point win.

The Wildcats head to Brisbane to take on the Bullets in an Ignite Cup match up on Wednesday while the Hawks head to Cairns to play the Taipans on Thursday to try and build some momentum.

PERTH WILDCATS 98 – ILLAWARRA HAWKS 105

Perth Wildcats
Anthony Dell'Orso – 21 points, 3 steals
Dylan Windler – 19 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals
Kristian Doolittle – 16 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds
Elijah Pepper – 13 points, 2 rebounds
Brandon Knight – 12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists

Illawarra Hawks
Kelan Martin – 23 points, 4 rebounds, 5/10 3PT
Makur Maker – 21 points, 5 rebounds
Wani Swaka Lo Buluk – 15 points, 2 rebounds, 3/5 3PT
Tyler Harvey – 11 points, 7 assists
Jony Narkle – 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals
Davo Hickey – 9 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists