West Spotlight | Blackmon, Pearl with 59 in Warwick win

Featured image: Michael Farnell @sportsimageryau

Cameron Huefner shot out of his shooting slump to give the Perry Lakes Hawks a sniff with 18 fourth quarter points, but the Warwick Senators had all the answers to open the NBL1 West season winning 92-82.

It was the season-opener in the NBL1 West at Warwick Stadium on Thursday and with both teams without some key players, and plenty of new faces, it was always going to be a fascinating match up to see who stood up.

After last season's run to the grand final at RAC Arena, the Senators are without Elijah Pepper, Cooper Creek, Mitch Clarke and Todd Withers in 2026.

One significant replacement is Pepper's Perth Wildcats teammate Ben Henshall as he reconnects with coach Andrew Cooper, but he wasn’t available on Thursday night fresh off his NBL season and neither were Keegan Phillips nor Cody Ellis.

It's now a distinctly fresh Perry Lakes team under the coaching of Wildcats assistant Ben Peterson. From their last NBL1 West championship under Matt Parsons in 2021, there wasn’t a single player left from that team out there on Thursday night.

It turned into a fascinating game where the Senators were in control most of the way but then after going 1/12 from deep up to that point, Huefner caught fire for the Hawks to get them back within two with 10 rapid-fire points including four triples as part of 18 fourth quarter points.

Warwick had the answers, though, to secure the 10-point win on the back of standout performances from former Lakeside import Marshawn Blackmon and 118-gamer George Pearl.

Blackmon produced 30 points, six rebounds and two assists on 11/19 shooting while being +24 with Pearl ending up with 29 points, seven assists and six rebounds on 11/17 and being +21.

Brody England added nine points, six rebounds and three assists, Marcus Inu seven points, two rebounds and five fouls in 10 minutes, and Tyler Shand six points, six boards, three blocks and two assists.

Huefner ended the night with 36 points, six rebounds and four assists with 13/29 shooting from the field, 5/18 from downtown and 5/8 at the foul line as he awaits his Wildcats teammate Jaron Rillie to join him in the Perry Lakes team.

Jack Kingswood put up 14 points with five rebounds while Andreas Grubisa added 12 points and four rebounds, and Kiwi guard Darcy Knox five points, six assists and five rebounds despite 1/9 shooting.

Perth Wildcats development player Cameron Huefner set the tone for the evening in his Perry Lakes debut after leading the West Adelaide Bearcats to an NBL1 Central championship in 2025 by getting up 10 shot attempts in the first quarter for 10 points on 1/7 three-point shooting.

The Hawks ended up going 6/19 as a team in that first quarter but were still leading 24-22 on the back of 14 free-throw attempts to four from the Senators.

Warwick were able to turn things around in the second quarter and new import Marshawn Blackmon got things rolling to go into half-time with 15 points as did teammate George Pearl.

The Senators went into half-time leading 48-39 on the back of shooting 51 per cent from the floor to the 32 from the Hawks who did still have an extra 10 free-throw attempts while Huefner had 18 points on 6/15 from the field and 1/9 from deep at the break.

Warwick maintained control to still lead by 13 at three quarter-time but then suddenly Huefner found his shooting touch and hit two quick three-pointers and had 10 points to start the fourth term in a couple of minutes.

He dragged the Hawks back within two points but they couldn’t quite get any closer with the Senators steadying on their home floor and Blackmon particularly impressive late to complete the 10-point first up win.

Both teams are in action again next Thursday night ahead of the Easter long weekend with the Senators on the road to the Kalamunda Eastern Suns while the Hawks host the Joondalup Wolves at Bendat Basketball Centre.

NBL WEST 2026 SEASON | ROUND 1

WARWICK SENATORS 92 (Blackmon 30, Pearl 29, England 9)

PERRY LAKES HAWKS 82 (Huefner 36, Kingswood 14, Grubisa 12)