West Spotlight | Buccs overrun Johny-less Cougars

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The most anticipated match up of NBL1 West in 2026 again didn’t eventuate with Johny Narkle not suiting up for Cockburn Cougars and reigning champion Geraldton Buccaneers took advantage for the 94-84 road win.

Narkle turned himself into a Buccaneers legend as a two-time Grand Final MVP in the 2023 and 2025 championship triumphs to earn himself an NBL opportunity at the Illawarra Hawks, and then joining the Cougars for 2026.

He was not yet cleared to play earlier this season when Cockburn visited Geraldton and then come Saturday night, he wasn’t available to play either having left Friday night's win over the South West Slammers at quarter-time and didn’t return on the back of starring for the Indigenous Basketball Australia All Stars in Cairns back on Tuesday night.

Even without that match up of Narkle against his old side not eventuating, the Cougars were on top most of the first three quarters leading by as much as 16, but the Buccs took control in the fourth quarter with 25 points to 14 for the 10-point win.

The win improves the Buccaneers to a 15-3 record while the Cougars are now 13-6 having split their double header weekend.

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The match up everyone was looking forward with Narkle facing the Buccaneers might not have happened, but it was still a fascinating match up of top four teams and by the finish, Geraldton shot the ball at 49 per cent to 43 from Cockburn who did go 15/39 from the outside to 9/29.

But the Buccs went 21/26 to 9/12 at the foul line and trailed most of the night but dominated the fourth quarter for the 10-point win with Verle Williams Jr delivering 21 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Devondrick Walker also delivered 20 points, five assists and three rebounds, Josh Keyes 16 points, nine boards and three assists, Liam Hunt 14 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, and Cooper Creek 11 points and five boards.

There was a lot to like from what the Cougars did especially without Narkle and to lead most of the night with Akeem Springs producing 21 points and four steals against the team he won a championship with in 2025.

Rowan Mackenzie added 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals, Seva Chan 15 points and four assists with 5/7 shooting from the outside, and Joe Bradshaw 15 points and five rebounds while also going 4/8 from downtown.

Even with Johny Narkle not there for Cockburn taking away some of the juice from the match up, it was a still a battle of two on fire and top four teams, and it was the Cougars starting on fire on their home floor.

Rowan Mackenzie, Joe Bradshaw and Buccs championship winner Akeem Springs combined for 25 points in the first term along and Cockburn were leading 32-21 by quarter-time with shooting 57 per cent with 5/10 from the outside to 41 per cent and 2/7 from Geraldton.

That lead for Cockburn blew out to 16 points in the second quarter before Geraldton fired back with 11 straight points and by half-time the Cougars were juts holding the most slender of leads at 46-45.

Mackenzie was up to 14 points for the Cougars at the half while the Buccs had 12 free-throw attempts to five and got a combined 26 points from Devondrick Walker and Verle Williams Jr.

Cockburn again opened up an eight-point lead in the third frame but once more Geraldton was able to respond and it was still just a one-point edge the way of the home team by three quarter-time.

It was then all the Buccaneers as is so often the case with them in the fourth quarter as they asserted themselves on the contest with 24 points to 14 with 7/13 shooting from the field and 10/12 at the foul line to secure the 10-point win to consolidate a top two spot.

The Buccaneers now back up on Sunday to complete their road double in a Grand Final rematch with the Warwick Senators with the Cougars

NBL1 WEST 2026 SEASON | FIRST NATIONS ROUND

COCKBURN COUGARS 84 (Springs 21, Mackenzie 16, Chan 15, Bradshaw 15)

GERALDTON BUCCANEERS 94 (Williams 21, Walker 20, Keyes 16)