RAY Evans was left puzzled after the Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers started slowly in Saturday night’s 77-84 loss against the Cockburn Cougars.

On the night when Greg Brown’s number 13 Buccaneer’s singlet was retired the Cougars opened the game with a 16-four run in the opening four minutes of the game.

Coach Evans said the opening four minutes of the game cost his side the win.

“I do not think our defence was up to it in the opening quarter of the game and once again that came back to cost us the game,” he said.

“It was disappointing to come out in front of our home crowd and especially on a special night for Greg and start flat.

“All credit to them though, they came out and shot the ball really well.”

Geraldton went on to outscore the visitors 61-56 after quarter-time following a 26-18 quarter-time deficit.

Todd Brown played his best game in a Buccaneers uniform as he kept the home side in the contest with 24 points and 13 rebounds.

Michael Lay scored 19 points for the game while Ben Pepper chimed in with 16 points and 17 rebounds.

The home side rallied in the second half after being down by as much as ten points.

They reduced the margin to 58-56 in the second half.

With 30 seconds remaining in the game there was just five points separating the sides before Cockburn’s Ty Harrelson iced the game from the free-throw line.

Evans said ball movement was the key in the game.

“Our ball movement and crisp passing was not there,” he said.

“They moved the ball really well, hit the open guy and knocked down there shots.”

Cockburn took 45 three-point shots in the game and connected with 16 of them.

In contrast the Buccs only managed to net three of 22 long bombs.

Article by Taylor COurtland (Geraldton Guardian)
Photo by Mick Cronin