THIS week’s game against the Lakeside Lightning is a statement match for the Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers according to forward Aaron Ralph.

Lakeside is undefeated this season and last year’s minor premiers.

They own wins over Kalamunda, Rockingham and East Perth by an average margin of 31 points to start the 2012 campaign.

Ralph said beating the competition’s benchmark will send a message to the rest of the SBL.

“These guys are a good team, and if we beat them without Morgan (Sabia) here, which I think we can do, shows everyone we mean business this year,” he said.

Coach Ray Evans will be eager to find the secret to shutting down Lightning import Luke Payne.

He is the third highest scorer in the competition after two rounds of the 2012 season.

Payne is averaging 29.7 points while Ryan Sofoulis of the Lightning is leading the league is assists with 8.3 per game.

Ralph said the Buccs need to slow down the sharp-shooting Payne.

“Luke Payne is always one of their main scorers, you can not really stop him, you just have slow him down,” he said.

“We just need to stop one of their other guys scoring big numbers.”

Ralph also said that the new-look fast paced Buccs side are better equipped then previous seasons to beat the Lightning.

“They are guard heavy but they do not stop, they just keep going and keep going,” he said.

“We are better equipped to stop them this time round best of our three guards starting line up.”

Ralph is averaging 23 points this season with a shooting percentage of 44, he has also hit 11 three-pointers from 23 attempts.

He said he is enjoying his new role as a power forward this season.

“It is going to get harder but I like it,” he said.

“It also helps having the three guards, they create space and I can get a bit more room to shoot it.”

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