Pepper leads Buccs towards Grand Final
A 34-point haul by dominant centre Ben Pepper led the Sun City Plumbing Buccaneers to a 112-82 pounding of Willetton Tigers in game one of the semifinal series.
Pepper sprang into life in the third quarter and the Buccs outscored the Tigers 37 to 12.
The Buccs led 92-57 at the start of the fourth and capped off their final home game for 2010 in style.
The focus now shifts to Willetton on Saturday.
A win for the Buccs there will ensure a grand final shot for the first time since 2003. Should the Tigers even the score, the series will go to a decider on Sunday. Pepper labelled Saturday night’s win as “vital”, but said the Buccs should expect another hard fought contest against the Tigers this weekend.
“They’re (Willetton) going to hit back now,” Pepper said.
“When you beat a team like that they’re going to hit back pretty, hard so we have to be ready for game two.”
The Tigers led by one point at the end of the first term, courtesy of two threes from their highest scorer Cameron Tovey (22 points).
A number of individual battles were played out as the two sides continued to grapple for ascendancy in the second quarter.
NBL rising talent Daniel Johnson and Buccs captain Matt Wundenberg pushed their bodies to the limit off the boards.
Buccs import Ryan Zamroz and Ian Callaghen played cat and mouse around the arc, while Pepper and the explosive Ty Shaw traded blows underneath the hoop.
A three-pointer from Zamroz helped set up a 10 point lead for the Buccs athalf-time.
Brian Connelly continued to shine in the finals limelight.
The American laid down three consecutive baskets early in the third and the Buccs’ lead blew out to 20 points, 68 to 48.
The stage was then set for Pepper to unleash his firepower.
Like a sniper in the grass, Pepper hurt the visitors from range with the next four baskets.
Faced with a 35-point mountain at the final change, the series opener was out of the Tigers’ grasp and the Buccs’ bench made the result a formality.
The winner next weekend will have a showdown with either Lakeside Lightning or Perth Redbacks. Lakeside edged closer to a title defence when it overcame the Redbacks 114-92 in game one on Friday.
Article by Thomas Davis (Geraldton Guardian)
Photo by Geraldton Guardian
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