Bennie Lewis will get the credit for hitting the final shot of the game, but Carter Cook was by far the best player on the court Saturday night at Activewest Stadium.

Cook finished with 42 points in the Sun City Plumbing Buccaneers’ 92-90 win over the Mandurah Magic.

The former college basketballer who has travelled the world playing said the atmosphere at Activewest was unbelieveable.

“That is probably the best atmosphere I have ever played in front of,” he said.

The American import kept the Buccs in the game during the first half as the team struggled to shake Mandurah.

The see-sawing battle went down to the wire.

A long, long bomb from Paul Hafford tied the game with 18 seconds to play.

Lewis then took the ball at the top of the key, blew past his defender and connected on a jumpshot from the low blockto win the game with 2.7 seconds left.

The victory sent Geraldton to the top of the SBL ladder.

The Buccs outscored Mandurah 28-18 in the third quarter to get back in the game after trailing by 10 points half-way through the term.

Geraldton pulled off the win with Odartey Blankson playing little part in the second half after a second technical foul had him ejected from the game and stadium.

Captain Mat Wundenberg fouled out in the last quarter.

“It was the best win I have been a part of as a Buccaneer,” Cook said.

“We struggled a little bit, but we stayed in it and it was just an awesome game.”

Cook connected on 17 of 29 shots throughout the game and grabbed nine rebounds.

Wundenberg was huge on the board snaring 16 rebounds, including eight offensive.

Cook said his attitude was to credit for his performance.

“It is probably up there (with some of the best games I have played),” he said.

“I played well against Lakeside last year, but this game was definitely up there.

“I was just being aggressive from the start and when Odartey (Blankson) got in foul trouble I knew I had to be really aggressive.

“We were very emotionally involved and I think it cost us a little bit.

“That is just awesome basketball, I would be happy if I was just watching but it was awesome to be playing.”

The Buccs play Mandurah again next Saturday at the Magic’s home court before facing the Perth Redbacks on Sunday.

Article by Taylor Courtland: Geraldton Newspapers

Photo by Mick Cronin: Geraldton Buccaneers star Bennie Lewis