Buccs most important win
RAY Evans has hailed Saturday’s 82- 65 victory over Mandurah Magic as the Sun City Plumbing Buccaneers’ most important this season.
While it brought an end to a five game losing streak, the victory handed a lifeline to the Buccs in their quest to make the finals.
Mandurah got to within two points of the home side in the first quarter, but their cause was dented when star import Taylor Mullenax left the court in the second with a suspected foot injury.
Ben Pepper top scored with 25 points and 16 rebounds for the Buccs, who overtook Mandurah to 11th on the SBL table.
Evans said his players did everything asked of them to secure their first win in over a month.
“Our defence held up well all night — we really limited all their players,” the Buccs coach said.
“Over the last month we’ve had trouble stopping certain individuals and tonight was a good team effort,” he said.
“It was the biggest game we’ve played all year.
“If we would have lost it, making the finals from there would have been very remote.”
Import Michael Lay put in a sensational performance for the home side as he netted 21 points and 11 assists. Fellow American Todd Brown also stepped up with 18 points and nine rebounds.
The Buccs built a steady lead in the second term, thanks to four three-point shots, en route to a 47-34 score at the main interval.
Captain Mat Wundenberg inspired with 17 rebounds and the victors dominated the boards 59-41.
The Buccs face a triple-header over the Foundation Day weekend. The tough road test begins against defending champions Willetton Tigers on Saturday.
Evans urged his team to maintain their work rate at both ends of the court.
“The fact the way we got the win with our defence and offence was really promising. We’ve got to continue that.”
He said the victory over the Magic helped lift the mood of the players, admitting their confidence had been wearing thin.
“They’ve been working hard and the morale’s been so good, but they’ve been so disappointed with losing each game,” he said.
“It just showed the stuff we’re doing, we are getting better.
Hopefully next week we can go away and get three on the road as well.”
Article by Thomas Davis (Geraldton Guardian)
Photo from Geraldton Guardian
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