AN emphatic performance from De’Sean Parsons was the spark that helped the Goldfield Giants defeat the Eastern Suns by eight points as the two sides went head to head at Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.

Round 15 of the 2024 National Basketball League (NBL)1 West Men’s season took place over the weekend, and with just two weeks remaining in the fixture, the race for the finals is far from decided and plenty of sides are leaving it all out on the court in a bid to keep their championship quest alive.

While the Suns will fall short of a finals appearance, they still had the opportunity to play disruptors as the Giants looked to solidify a top six spot. Coming into the match, several sides were vying for fifth and sixth spots in the standings, and Goldfields was in danger of slipping down the ladder on the eve of the finals with a loss here.

Despite a brave challenge from Eastern for the first three quarters, with the Suns even leading by two at the final change, the Giants found their groove in the fourth, outscoring the opposition 18-8 to storm home and snag a 94-86 win.

Parsons was everywhere for the victors, with the forward completely dominant across the entirety of the match, which was important in Goldfields’ season.

Goldfields Giants (94) def. Eastern Suns (86)

De’Sean Parsons – 36 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block

Parsons chimed in to impact the game in every possible area, proving too much for the Suns to handle defensively and overcoming every tactic thrown at him by the opposition.

He was the game’s leading scorer with 36 points on 15/21 shooting from the field and 6/7 from the free throw line.

The forward was instrumental in the final term, securing several crucial baskets to help lead the Giants to victory. He had two and-one conversions in the fourth period alone, with the first giving his side the lead and the second helping stretch the margin to five points at a crucial time.

On the glass, he was tremendous as well, posting a double-double with 12 rebounds for the match, and a bunch came in the decisive final term. He had a big offensive board late in the piece that resulted in a basket to teammate Kon Anguik to stretch the Giants’ lead out to five points with just a couple of minutes remaining.

Although the focal point for Goldfields on the scoring front, he was also a solid playmaker, creating baskets for his teammates with excellent exit passes. Parsons was able to draw the defence in before dishing out to someone in a better position.

Recording two steals for the match, his second came in the dying stages of the match, and although he missed the transition lay-up, it was a particularly disruptive play for the opposition as the Suns were looking to stay in the match.

Overall, Parsons was everywhere for the Giants, proving just about unstoppable and playing a vital role in a key result for Goldfields.