Redbacks Stun League-Leaders
The Perth Redbacks’ men’s State Basketball League team had a stunning 106 to 96 away-game win against league-leaders the Geraldton Buccaneers.
The early part of the game was a tight affair with the Buccaneers taking the lead out to seven points midway through the second quarter.
However a late volley of points from Redbacks’ shooting guard Jarrad Prior, in which he slotted three three-point shots in a row, along with five points from power-forward Lee Roberts, saw the Redbacks go into the second half with a 57 to 52 lead.
The Redbacks took the lead out to 11 points midway through the third-term, but the Buccaneers steadily worked their way back into the game to take a one-point lead with seven minutes to go in the last quarter.
The Redbacks then showed real resolve in front of the loud Geraldton crowd in bouncing back with points from small-forward Stan Okoye and centre Zak Makavilitagia to regain the lead.
Roberts then put in six points and Prior eight points in the last five minutes to steady the ship and see the Redbacks secure the 10-point win.
Prior was the Redbacks top-scorer with 26 at a field goal percentage of 67 along with seven rebounds.
Roberts scored 24 along with 14 rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots while Okoye had 21 points, 15 rebounds and three steals.
Point guard Joel Wagner played a key defensive role against the dangerous Buccaneers forward Bennie Lewis in holding him to 12 points at a field goal percentage of 25 while scoring 11 and making 10 assists himself.
Small forward Aaron Ralph was the Buccaneers and game high scorer with 35 while point-guard Shamus Ballantyne had 17.
The win sees the Redbacks with 13 wins and nine losses and in fourth-place in the 14-team competition.
The action continues this Saturday when the Redbacks takes on the Bunbury Slammers at Belmont Oasis with the women’s game starting at 6PM and the men’s game at 8PM.
The Redbacks are opening the doors with free-entry to all spectators for this game as part of their 50th Anniversary celebrations as a basketball club.
Article by Redbacks Media
Photo by Sebastian Komatsu: Sebpix
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