Geraldton Buccaneers handed 31-point loss in first home qualifying final against the Warwick Senators

The Geraldton Buccaneers’ 11-game winning streak came to a brutal end during the first round of finals on Saturday night at the hands of the Warwick Senators, losing by a bruising 31 points at home. In a shock for the sell-out crowd at Activewest Stadium, the Senators got off to a fast start in the quarter final, catching the Buccs off guard. The Buccs didn’t have an answer for the Senators’ star player Elijah Pepper who shone bright for the visitors with a stunning 31 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists. Fellow Senator Cooper Creek was a standout for the visitors with 25 points, 12 rebounds and two assists. Creek was on fire from beyond the arc, shooting the lights out with 78 per cent from deep. Akeem Springs led the way for the Buccs in the scoring department, chalking up 17 points, five rebounds and one assist while Verle Williams proved to be a live wire after coming on early in the first period, finishing his night with 14 points, one rebound and two assists. The Senators put a fair bit of attention on Johny Narkle who was double-teamed almost every time the ball was in the Buccs star’s hands. Narkle finished with a double-double consisting of 15 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Narkle went down with a knee injury, but to the crowd’s delight he came back on the court after receiving some treatment. Warwick scored seven early points before Nik DeSantis got the Buccs on the board, responding with a quickfire five unanswered points to his name, getting the Buccs’ night underway. The Buccs found themselves down by six points at the close of the first period, 20-26. WIlliams got the second term off to a flyer for the Buccs with a three before Warwick quickly reigned it back in. The Senators held the momentum for the majority of the night and controlled the game quarter by quarter. The Buccs held the lead for a short time in the second term, but went into half time down by four points. The home side looked to jump out of the blocks early in the third to get the contest back on their terms. Liam Hunt fought hard through contact and got sent to the free throw line as the Senators made the Buccs earn their opportunities at the rim. The Buccs were sent to the line on four occasions in the third period, forcing the home side to fight through a heavy Senators defence. The Buccs made the most of their opportunities through free throws shooting at 71 per cent from the line compared to the Senators’ 53 per cent. The Senators impressed from their field all night shooting at a neat 57 per cent from the field and 50 per cent from beyond the arc. The Buccs only managed 29 per cent from beyond the arc while only shooting at a less than desirable 43 per cent from the field. The Buccs tried their best to work their way back into the contest but it was too late as the Senators went on a charge led by Pepper who exploded in the last quarter, leading the visitors to an easy victory. The Buccs had the best of the Senators in their previous two clashes this season but were far from their best all night, with the final scoreboard reading 84-115. Thanks to finishing the regular season in second place, the Buccs’ season remains alive and they have another bite of the cherry when they face the Goldfields Giants at Activewest Stadium in a do-or-die semi-final on Friday, August 15. Tip-off is at 7pm.