Buccs win home opener
A RESEMBLANCE of the Sun City Plumbing Buccaneers of old showed up at Activewest Stadium on Saturday night to win their opening home game of the SBL season.
A physical style of defence was the catalyst for the Buccs’ thrilling 82-80 win over the Willetton Tigers, who are also tipped to be one of the big improvers this year.
Michael Lay top scored for the game with 29 points while Daniel Thomas chimed in with 21.
Willetton’s Robert Kampman top scored for the Tigers with 24 points.
Coach Ray Evans was pleased with the result but said there was still improvements to be made.
“Being up by 15 or so, then letting them back in the game was a little disappointing,” he said.
“We take too long to get into our offence sometimes when the pressure is really on.
“We need to get better at that because the good teams will punish us.”
The match started at a fast pace and the Tigers jumped out to a 22-20 quarter time lead.
By half-time the Buccs had a well-deserved 46-37 lead.
Forward Aaron Ralph (15 points for the game) put the home side up 64-49 with a two-point basket midway through the third term.
Willetton responded by putting together a 19-6 run either side of the three-quarter time break.
The Tigers continued to put on the pressure late in the game and with two minutes and 50 seconds on the clock, had reduced the margin to just one point.
A packed Activewest Stadium then reached fever pitch as Michael Lay hit a three-pointer to restore a four-point lead. Thomas sealed the victory from the free throw line.
A sour note for the Buccaneers was injury of centre, Ben Pepper.
The veteran left the game in the second quarter after playing five minutes.
He returned from the change room with a heavily strapped knee but did not return to the court.
Evans said Pepper likely faces a few weeks on the sidelines.
“It was sore going into the game and he obviously hurt it again so we may need to get another scan so we can find out what is exactly wrong with it,” he said.
“He is suffering from a bit of arthritis on the kneecap so that might mean he just needs a few weeks on the sidelines to get it right.”
Article by Taylor Courtland (Geraldton Guardian)
Photo from South West Times
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