Redbacks survive late Buccs challenge
Perth Redbacks’ Men’s State Basketball League team had a strong 96 to 78 home-game win in a dour encounter against the Geraldton Buccaneers.
The Redbacks got away to a flying start with a 34-point first quarter, establishing an early 17-point lead.
A change in defensive structure by the Buccaneers to a zone defence in the second-quarter proved successful in limiting the Redbacks scoring opportunities and reducing the half-time gap to 11, at 51 to 40.
The third quarter was evenly matched with both teams scoring 24 and the score ending at 75 to 64.
The gap was reduced to just eight after the Buccaneers’ forward Aaron Ralph hit three points with the first shot of the final term.
However, the Redbacks regained momentum following a successful three-point shot from shooting guard Ryan Neill and were never headed with the winning margin ending up at 18 points.
A key to the Redbacks’ win was their ability to maintain constant defensive pressure on the Buccaneers, reflected on the scoreboard through the comparative successful field goal shooting percentages of 44 to 34.
Redbacks’ forward Adrian Majstrovich was the game-high scorer with 32 at 46% along with 21 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots.
Perth Wildcat’s development player and Redbacks’ centre Michael Vigor was their next highest scorer on 27 at 57% along with 15 rebounds, seven assists and three blocked shots.
Neill had 14 at 33% while point guard Joel Wagner had eight assists.
Point-guard Michael Lay was the Buccaneers highest scorer with 22 at 50% along with 11 rebounds and four steals.
Forward Aaron Ralph was their next highest scorer on 20 from 32 shots at a relatively low 28%, while tenacious point guard Daniel Thomas had 18 at 36% along with eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.
The Redbacks’ men now have seven wins and two losses and are second in the 14-team competition.
Their next game is against the Goldfield Giants this Saturday at 7.30 PM in Kalgoorlie.
The Redbacks’ women’s team is in the middle of a two-week bye and is currently fourth out of 12-teams with six wins and two losses.
Article by Gary Prior (Perth Redbacks)
Photo by Marg Prior
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