NBL1 West Recap | Men's Saturday Round 18

Joel Wagner got the perfect end to his career at home on Saturday while the Geraldton Buccaneers geared up for their championship assault with another big win in the only two games on Saturday.

There were just two matches on Saturday afternoon to close the regular season for the NBL1 West Men's competition with wins for the Perth Redbacks and the Geraldton Buccaneers.

Things got underway on Saturday afternoon at Herb Graham Recreation Centre with the Geraldton Buccaneers putting a hammering on the East Perth Eagles, 121-66.

The Buccs had already wrapped up top spot and the regular season championship, but they weren’t in a charitable mood on Saturday setting up the eventual 55-point win with a 42-point opening quarter.

Cameron Coleman ended up scoring 26 points, Shaun Stewart 20, Malik Meunier 15, Ryan Blanchett 15 and Mathiang Muo 14.

It was a rough finish to the season for the Eagles with Lee Roberts putting up 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Justin King 20 points.

The Perth Redbacks then gave their championship winning captain and games record holder Joel Wagner a fitting end to his glittering career with the 98-89 win at home to the Goldfields Giants.

It might have been the Giants getting ready for the playoffs and not the Redbacks, but Perth wasn’t going to let their retiring great bow out with anything but a win even in the absence of Tevin Jackson and Zac Gattorna.

Wagner put on a show too with the league's all-time assists leader dishing out another 10 dimes for the game with Jerami Grace scoring 31 points, Louis Timms 28 and Ben Smith 24.

Goldfields will now turn their attention to a playoff run after getting 21 points and 15 rebounds from Lafonzo Smith, and 22 points, five rebounds and four assists from the returning Jesse Ghee.

All the other final round matches took place on Friday night with the Cockburn Cougars beating the Willetton Tigers 88-72, the Joondalup Wolves defeating the East Perth Eagles 90-84, and the Rockingham Flames downing the Lakeside Lightning 117-81.

The Mandurah Magic also defeated the South West Slammers 86-71 while the Perry Lakes Hawks locked in their playoff berth beating the Kalamunda Eastern Suns 117-81, and the Warwick Senators defeated the Perth Redbacks 94-85.

What that all means is that next week's elimination finals on Saturday night will see the Warwick Senators play the Perry Lakes Hawks, and the Goldfields Giants take on the Mandurah Magic.

The qualifying finals see the Geraldton Buccaneers host the Cockburn Cougars, and the Rockingham Flames face the Joondalup Wolves.

NBL1 WEST – 2022 MEN'S SEASON
ROUND 18 – SATURDAY

PERTH REDBACKS 98 defeated GOLDFIELDS GIANTS 89

EAST PERTH EAGLES 66 lost to GERALDTON BUCCANEERS 121