West Recap | Semi Finals Friday

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Geraldton Buccaneers (93) defeated Goldfields Giants (70)

Geraldton Buccaneers did suffer an early scare but Illawarra Hawks signing Johny Narkle steadied the ship for 93-70 NBL1 West semi-final win over Goldfields Giants to set up a rematch with Willetton Tigers.

The pressure was on the Buccs to avoid seeing their season end for the second straight year on their home floor as they played host to the Giants in the battle of the regional powers with a spot in the preliminary final against the Willetton Tigers in Perth on the line.

The Buccaneers entered the finals in stunning form having won their last 11 matches by an average of 28 points and while scoring more than 113 points a game, but last Saturday night didn’t go to plan.

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The Warwick Senators came to Geraldton and left with the 115-84 victory leaving the Buccs to lick their wounds while staying at home at Active West Stadium to play host to a Goldfields team in their best form of 2025.

The Giants had won their last three games of the regular season to earn a home elimination final which ultimately saw them knock out the defending champion Mandurah Magic to set up their trip to Geraldton for the semi finals.

The night also marked the return of Giants captain Shaun Stewart to Geraldton for the first time since helping the Buccs to the 2023 championship, and he did help Goldfields to a good start with the visitors clinging to a 19-18 lead by quarter-time.

However, it was in the second quarter that the Buccs sprung to life with their season on the line. With Johny Narkle leading the charge, they put up 30 points to 14 on the back of knocking down 5/9 from downtown to 1/7 from the Giants.

As a result, Geraldton went into the half-time break leading 48-33 and the Buccaneers remained in control through the second half to bid farewell to their loud and loyal home fan base in winning style for 2025.

The lead for the Buccs grew to 22 points in the third quarter and 24 in the fourth before they ended up scoring the 23-point victory to book in a preliminary final rematch with Willetton from last year, only this time it will be at Willetton Basketball Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

It was Willetton who pulled off the stunning upset in Geraldton last year on the way to the first ever grand final at RAC Arena and now the stage is set on Sunday with the Tigers trying to get a shot at redemption in the decider with the Buccs also on a mission to get there and get one back on Willetton.

Having now signed with the Illawarra Hawks for the upcoming NBL season as a development player, Johny Narkle starred in the win for the Buccaneers with 30 points, six rebounds, six assists and two blocked shots with 11/18 field goal shooting and going 5/12 from downtown.

He had plenty of help too with Joshua Keyes finishing with 18 points, nine rebounds and two assists with Akeem Springs contributing 16 points, seven boards, three steals and two assists, Verle Williams 12 points, six assists and four rebounds, and Nik DeSantis 11 points, three boards, three assists and two steals.

In the end, the Giants did well to make it back to the semi finals for a second straight season with De'Sean Parsons finishing with another 21 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Joshua Duach also scored 19 points and six rebounds with 5/13 three-point shooting with Shaun Stewart finishing with 18 points, five boards, five assists and three steals, and former captain Jerome Reid five points and two steals.

GERALDTON BUCCANEERS 93 (Narkle 30, Keyes 18, Springs 16)

GOLDFIELDS GIANTS 70 (Parsons 21, Duach 19, Stewart 18)