Round 7 Eagles Wrap – Men

It was a night to remember and droughts to be broken for the East Perth Eagles in Geraldton on Saturday as they now hope to keep the momentum going from consecutive victories.

East Perth arrived at Geraldton's Active West Stadium on Saturday night having not won in the venue since the championship year back in 2014.

They won in Geraldton late in that regular season before also then going on to beat the Buccaneers in the Grand Final to claim the 2014 championship.

However, the going has been tough for East Perth since against a Buccs team who have been perennial championship contenders, and broken through to win titles in both 2019 and 2023.

Not only had the Eagles not won in Geraldton since 2014 and lost on their previous nine visits, but it's been tough against the Buccaneers wherever the games have been held.

Going into Saturday night's game and East Perth had lost the past 15 matches against the Buccs with the last win coming back on June 15, 2016, at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre before the redevelopment.

Not only that, but the Buccaneers have been dominant against any opponents on their home floor having won 19 straight coming into the Saturday night contest with their last loss being against the Perry Lakes Hawks back in July 2022.

If that wasn’t enough, Geraldton also won last season's NBL1 West championship and had yet to lose in 2024 having won all seven matches ahead of hosting the Eagles on Saturday night.

That was all ahead of East Perth once they got on the bus to Geraldton on Saturday morning but they were a team on a mission and put in an outstanding performance to come away with the memorable win.

The stage was set for a fascinating match up at Active West Stadium and the fact neither team was full strength only added to the intrigue with the Buccs missing Grand Final MVP Johny Narkle and former league MVP Josh Braun.

The Eagles are still yet to welcome in former Grand Final MVP Lee Roberts and gun import Lukas Milner either, so that all but cancelled each other out to set up the match up where the Buccs put their home winning run on the line.

Geraldton had won 19 straight home games dating back to July 2022 but against East Perth it was even more significant coming into Saturday's game.

The Eagles hadn’t won in Geraldton since their championship year of 2014 but the Buccs had not only won nine straight home games against East Perth, but 15 consecutive matches overall.

However, East Perth started the game on fire with 11 straight points to lead by nine but Geraldton hit back with its own 10-0 scoring run with the Eagles only leading 20-18 by quarter-time.

It remained a tight contest with the Eagles up one at half-time and then Geraldton by one at three quarter-time, but it was then all the visitors in the final period.

East Perth delivered some scintillating basketball with 32 points to 16 in the last term to end up winning 87-72 and to hand Geraldton a first home loss in nearly two years, and to win there themselves for the first time in 10 years.

It's a first win in 16 attempts for the Eagles over the Buccs with Sunday Dech delivering 19 points, four rebounds and two steals.

David Okwera hit a massive three in the fourth quarter to put the icing on the cake on his way to 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals with Sebit Reath returning from a finger injury with 14 points and 14 boards.

Nick Filpo hit 4/9 from downtown for 12 points and three assists with Taylor Young contributing 12 points and six assists, and Jerami Grace nine points, two rebounds and two steals.

Sharif Watson also battled hard for five points, five rebounds and two assists for the Eagles.

East Perth will now attempt to keep the momentum going this Friday night at home on Peter Campbell Basketball Arena at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre to the Cockburn Cougars.