West Finals | Cherry lifts Tigers over Eagles

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The Willetton Tigers scored first 10 points of their NBL1 West elimination final but still ended up conceding that lead to the East Perth Eagles before hitting back with Taeshon Cherry putting up 29 points in the 96-83 home victory.

The seasons of both teams went on the line at Willetton Basketball Stadium on Saturday night with the Tigers having finished in fifth spot at 13-9 to earn home court advantage while the Eagles were eighth at 10-12.

Both were short of full strength as well with Willetton having lost Tim Ibukunoluwa and Bryce Johnson for the season while East Perth were without Jonah Antonio following the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

It's a fourth straight finals appearance for Willetton and third in-a-row for East Perth as well, but it was the Tigers on their home floor who started on fire racing out to a 10-0 lead after the ball was thrown up.

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East Perth did manage to stem the tide and not let things get out of hand but it was still Willetton leading 20-14 by quarter-time.

The Eagles then further worked back into the contest and not only that, even briefly hit the front when Lat Mayen knocked down a three-pointer having returned from a first week of pre-season training with the Brisbane Bullets during the week.

Nick Filpo also hit a three soon after to return East Perth to the lead again but it was Willetton clinging to the 37-35 advantage by half-time even while going 0/9 from the outside.

East Perth were shooting 4/16 from downtown but the Tigers had the narrow lead with 10 points from Tom Gerovich while De'Sean Parsons had nine for East Perth and Lee Roberts seven.

Once again the Tigers worked on top in the third quarter with 10 straight points and this time it would be for good with them opening up a 61-53 lead by three quarter-time.

It was a high scoring affair from both teams in the final quarter but Willetton put up 35 points with 9/18 shooting from the field and 7/9 from downtown while East Perth still had 30 themselves on 11/19 shooting with 7/12 from the outside.

But the Tigers went on to win by 13 points and keep their season alive and now set up yet another finals battle with the Geraldton Buccaneers in a semi-final this Friday night at Active West Stadium.

Taeshon Cherry played at his passionate best for Willetton and delivered 29 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks with 5/9 shooting from the outside.

Tom Gerovich added 12 points, five rebounds and two assists, Damien Scott 12 points, eight boards and eight assists in his 398th SBL/NBL1 West game, and Zac Gattorna nine points and three assists including a monster alley-oop dunk on the on-point pass from Scott.

The season is now over for East Perth after a third straight finals appearance with De'Sean Parsons delivering 25 points, five rebounds, five steals and three assists on 10/17 field goal shooting.

Nick Filpo added 16 points and four assists with 4/8 shooting from the outside, Lee Roberts 14 points and two boards, David Okwera 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks, and Ioannis Dimakopoulos nine points and three boards.

NBL1 WEST 2026 SEASON | ELIMINATION FINAL

WILLETTON TIGERS 96 (Cherry 29, Gerovich 12, Scott 12)

EAST PERTH EAGLES 83 (Parsons 25, Filpo 16, Roberts 14)