Penney was far from alone in causing problems for an over-matched defence and, with another former league MVP in Kevin Lisch yet to be added, the newly-renamed Illawarra will clearly be one of a number of challengers for the Breakers' crown.
While the Kiwi club dropped to 1-2 on the season, this year's competition doesn't appear conducive to a runaway leader. Rather, a group of talent-stacked clubs could cancel one another out as the campaign progresses.
Winning on the road, as the Breakers have shown in the early rounds, will be especially difficult. But, despite the comprehensive nature of their two road defeats, the Breakers will hardly be worried.
After Mika Vukona failed a late fitness test, they were playing without their leader tonight, while a number of other key men were short of their best. Cedric Jackson, playing in his 100th game for the franchise and coming off Sunday's triple-double, was ineffective and finished with just two points.
Often such a strong area, the bench was equally anemic aside from a career game from development player Shea Ili, who scored 12 points and was one of the Breakers' few bright spots. Big duo Charles Jackson (19 points and nine rebounds) and Tai Wesley (14 points) were also effective, but this one was the Penney show from start to finish.
The 34-year-old's shot was as sweet as ever but he also showed the ability to finish at the rim and drew a number of fouls from players who should have been accustomed to guarding him, either at Breakers HQ or in Tall Blacks camp.
Tom Abercrombie was an early transgressor as Penney illustrated he was playing free from nerves, nailing five straight free throws to open his account. The Tall Blacks teammates initially seemed set for an intriguing battle as Abercrombie grabbed nine early points but Penny took over and showed the man closest to him on the Breakers' scoring charts he was still the top dog.
Penney had 14 points in the first period, as a couple of early triples sparked a 15-2 run that handed the Hawks a lead they would never cede. That advantage stood at 19 by the major break, with Penney hardly the Breakers' only problem.
The champs' defence struggled all evening to handle the multitude of threats boasted by the home side, who moved the ball well in transition and always came up with the extra pass to find an open man.
Such a well-rounded offence saw Illawarra extend their advantage in the third, with any sign of a fightback inevitably stamped out by the smooth shooting form of a once-favourite son.
Hawks 96 (Penney 36, Ogilvy 23, White 10)
Breakers 75 (Charles Jackson 19, Wesley 14, Ili 12)
HT: 59-40
