OVER the weekend, the National Basketball League (NBL)1 organisation held another round of play across its five leagues around Australia. There was a lot of action for fans to enjoy, as each competition found itself well underway for season 2022. In the NBL1 West, some of WA’s finest talents hit the court for another batch of games, with the fixture hosting a fair few games across the men’s and women’s competitions.

One of the most exciting matchups for Round 8 in the NBL1 West was the game between the Geraldton Buccaneers and the Rockingham Flames at Active West Stadium on Saturday night. Both sides have started the year in pretty decent fashion, and the two clubs are looking likely to make an appearance in the postseason later in 2022. It was a contest that lived up to the hype, with the game going right down to the wire in some fast-paced and frantic play. After the Buccaneers got off to a magnificent start in the first half, the Flames fought back to bring themselves right back into the game and even take the lead late in the fourth. Devondrick Walker was almost the hero for Rockingham, nailing a three late in the game, but his side was sent home with a two-point defeat.

Geraldton Buccaneers (88) def. Rockingham Flames (86)

It was a very proactive start to the game from the two teams, with both Geraldton and Rockingham wasting no time on the offensive end and putting up a shot early in the shot clock. It meant scoring was pretty high in the opening quarter, as the Buccaneers took a five-point lead into the first break. The story was pretty similar in the second term, as Geraldton remained a step ahead of its opponents, and that was reflected on the scoreboard. Jonny Narkle and Liam Hunt both led the way, as the Buccaneers continued to find buckets from inside the arc. At the conclusion of the second term, the home side held a 10-point lead, which was slightly down from what it could have been if not for some late baskets to the Flames.

The start of the second half saw the Flames begin to fight their way back into the contest, going on a bit of a run in the third term. Every time the Buccaneers could conjure a basket, their opponents would produce two more down the other end. Despite these efforts, Rockingham still trailed by seven heading into the final term, with a lot to do in the last 10 minutes. The Flames gave it their all, drawing within two points thanks to a massive play from Walker as he nailed a big three and drew a foul. However, the free throw attempt was wayward, and the Buccaneers managed to hold on in the dying seconds to claim a thrilling triumph.

There were a few contributors for the winning side, with Shaun Stuart, Cameron Coleman and Narkle the main suspects. Stuart was excellent with a team-high 24 points and six dimes, while Coleman punished the defence with 20 points and Narkle’s 16 points were vital as well. Walker did as much as he could for the Flames, finishing with a game-high 37 points and one of the biggest shots of the game.