Coach looks to Crawford
Perry Lakes and the Geraldton Buccaneers went head to head two weeks ago with the Buccs prevailing 113-99 as Crawford watched on.
He is set to return to the line up for the best-of-three series and Dagostino said Crawford would make the difference.
“It is about right that we lost by 14-points without Crawford in the line-up,” Dagostino said.
“Crawford has been huge for us all year and leads from the front.”
The sides met twice throughout the regular season with both sides taking one victory.
Neither side were at full strength for both clashes.
Dagostino is eager to see the sides match up at full strength.
“It will be good for both sides to be at full strength,” he said.
“It is going to be a good hard and fair series I think.”
In their round 18 clash with the Buccs the Hawks gave up 13 offensive rebounds.
Dagostino has placed emphasis on blocking out to restrict the Buccs’ second chance opportunities.
“We let them get too many offensive boards which they kicked out and hit threes,” he said.
“We need to get back to basics.”
Dagostino is expecting the Buccs to do the same.
“They have no tricks, they just play big solid basketball,” he said when referring to the Buccs game style.
“I do not think either side will try and pull out any gimmicks.”
The Hawks enter the finals on the back of a hard fought 103-101 victory over the Mandurah Magic.
Dagostino was disappointed with the result but said it was good to return to the winners list.
“It was a bit disappointing that it was that close against Mandurah but it is always good to win close games,” he said.
“The attitude of winning is underrated.
“Which ever team gets through this series has a good shot at making a deep run into the play-offs.”
Article by Taylor Courtland (Geraldton Guardian)
Photo by Travis Hayto (Outerbounds Photography)
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