Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers coach Ray Evans has praised the performances of youngsters Luke Wrensted and Jordan Myers on their final road-trip of a disappointing 2011 season.

With Matt Wundenberg unavailable for the gallant losses against Lakeside Lightning and Total Connections Perry Lakes Hawks and fellow big man Ben Pepper missing Sunday's match against the Hawks, Evans was forced to give Wrensted and Myers large roles in both games.

Nineteen-year-old Wrensted was Geraldton's starting point guard in both games and held his own, with six points from 29 minutes in the 113-90 loss to Lakeside and five points and four assists in the 103-98 overtime loss to Perry Lakes.

And fellow 19-year-old Myers chipped in with 10 points of the bench in both games, to help 11th-placed Geraldton stay competitive against its two top four opponents.

Evans said although he was disappointed to lose both games, the performances of the pair showed they have bright futures.

"They really stepped up for us on this road-trip," the coach said.

"Luke over the past month has been getting a lot more court time and he has really impressed us and has been playing well, while Jordy really played well (against the Hawks).

"It was probably just that little bit of inexperience that cost us a little bit, but that will come.

"They've got to get better over the off-season and continue to work hard.

"They're our future. Hopefully if they can continue to work hard they can be starters in this league and I think they will."

Despite the depleted line-up, Geraldton produced some of its most encouraging basketball of the season on the road-trip.

Against the Lightning, the Buccaneers trailed by just five points late in the third quarter before the league leaders overran them, while it was even closer against Perry Lakes.

Even though star forward Aaron Ralph fouled out with eight minutes left in regulation, the visitors led the Hawks for most of the match and were up by four with 74 seconds remaining.

But Michael Lay was called for a contentious unsportsmanlike foul, which allowed the Hawks to tie the score. The import guard then missed a two-pointer to win the game in the final seconds and Perry Lakes got the tight win in overtime.

But Evans was pleased his side came so close to victory despite finishing the game without three members of its regular starting five.

"The boys have showed great character all season and they really did so again against a good Perry Lakes team," he said.

"We've probably been a little bit underdone all season and playing catch-up a little bit of the time but one thing I can't deny is the fight that the guys have.

"They'll be disappointed, because I think they played well enough to win the game."

Article by Jacob Kagi at the WA Basketball Centre
Photo by Anni Fordham (Fordham Creative)

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