Lakeside Lightning coach David Olley said the reigning SBL champions would not fear coming to Geraldton one-game down in their semifinals series with the Buccaneers.

The Lightning will host the Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers on Saturday night before the three-game series moves to Geraldton the following weekend.

The Lightning took a massive confidence boost from beating Stirling twice in 24 hours last weekend, after falling behind by a game.

Game three of the Lightning’s series went to triple overtime, and Olley said the Lightning was nursing some sore bodies.

“Jarrad Prue played one hour and five seconds, ” he said.

“We would obviously prefer to go to Geraldton a game up, but we have had some good wins in Geraldton over the past few years when being undermanned.

“It is a very tough crowd up there, but we know, even though during the last series we did it on our home floor, we can win two must-win games on the same weekend.”

Olley said there was not much to read into the Lightning’s two losses to Geraldton this season.

Odartey Blankson played in the side’s first meeting and Prue, the league’s best rebounder, did not.

In the second meeting, Geraldton won by seven points despite having 36 less field goal attempts and being beaten 72-46 in rebounding.

“Both sides have changed a bit since then and are doing some things differently, ” Olley said.

“We lost by seven points and shot terribly that night, so if we had made one or two extra shots we could have won.

“We have to concentrate on not letting the role players get going and score.” 

Photo by Mick Cronin