THE Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants delivered an outstanding second half of the SBL regular season to quality for the playoffs for the first time in three years and now coach Michael Haney is excited at the challenge ahead in the form of the S & K Electrical Geraldton Buccaneers.

Coming off missing the playoffs in the men's SBL the past two years, the Giants started 2015 slowly losing the first eight games of the season but things soon came together nicely in Haney's first year in charge.

The addition of Mathiang Muo to strong imports Jacob Holmen and Jay Bowie gave the Giants one of, if not the best three-prong attack in the SBL and the result was a stunning run to book in their playoff appearance.

After starting with eight straight losses, Goldfields was able to win four straight games and then following another run of three losses in four matches, the Giants won another five on the trot before losing to the Perry Lakes Hawks and then winning the last four of the season to lock in seventh spot.

The challenge now ahead of the Giants is last year's minor premiers and grand finalists, and this year's second placed finisher the Buccaneers in the battle of the SBL regional powers starting in Kalgoorlie this Saturday night at Neils Hansen Basketball Stadium.

With plenty of stars on either side with the Giants led by Holmen, Bowie and Muo, and the Buccs by Bennie Lewis, Carter Cook, Aaron Ralph, Cory Cooperwood and Mat Wundenberg, it should be a series to behold.

Then added in with the tremendous home court advantage both teams hold with terrific crowds, it's something that Haney is excited to be part of as he leads a Giants team into playoffs that he's basically built up from scratch this year in his first season in charge.

"We're just excited to be playing in August. We are for the most part healthy and ready for the huge challenge of facing the Buccs," Haney said.

"This Gero team has been in a lot of these games over the past few seasons so with our young group we have had to remind to boys it's just another game and relish this opportunity to play in what will be the most intense series of the quarters. Both home crowds will be rowdy and loud!

"I'm proud of my team and what they have become over the last three months since our slow start! They have bought in to what us coaches have demanded and we don't want this ride to end in two weeks!"

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin