AARON Ralph almost leapt into the crowd after nailing the winning three-pointer in Saturday’s 77-74 victory over reigning SBL champion Willetton Tigers.

Scores were level with three seconds to play when the Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers forward elevated above two defenders from a foot behind the three-point line to score.

“As soon as I let it go I turned and started running down the court,” Ralph said.

“I wanted to jump into the crowd.

“It did not look like missing from the moment it left my hand.

“Hitting the game winning shot is something that every kid dreams of.”

Earlier in the fourth quarter Willetton hit the lead for the first time in the game with just over eight minutes remaining.

Michael Lay then gave the Buccs a two-point lead after netting one of two free throws with 17 seconds left on the clock.

Willetton hit back with an easy lay-up with 10 seconds remaining in the game but Ralph had the last laugh.

Buccaneers coach Ray Evans described Ralph’s shot as a miracle.

“I was just praying it would go in,” Evans said.

“I think if we had of played a game like this two weeks ago we would have lost but I was impressed that the guys fought it out.”

All five of the Buccs’ starters scored double figures, with Lay topping the list with 23 points.

Tigers’ Mark Jones scored 16 for Willetton and secured 17 rebounds while Robert Kampman and Adam Nener chimed in with 15 and 14 points respectively.

The Buccs now have two wins and four losses through the first five weeks of the 2011 season but Evans hopes Saturday’s win will kick start their season.

“We are just struggling with confidence at the moment but hopefully a game like this will change that,” he said.

“All our guys can play and make shots but as everyone saw tonight our offence was really bad. We have no fluency and are real stagnant.”

Article by Taylor Courtland (Geraldton Guardian)
Photo by Geraldton Guardian