Two losses on road but home stretch awaits

The Geraldton Buccaneers lost their final two away games of the season, but go into the home leg with a chance to end with a winning percentage. Oceania import Brayden Inger, from New Zealand, said playing the next six games at ActiveWest Stadium would give younger players like Johny Narkle a chance to experience the Geraldton home support up close. “We’re all pretty excited and relieved to just have home games left and just play in front of everyone back home,” he said. “For Johny Narkle I think it will be his first time playing for the Buccs (senior) side at home. “That’ll be pretty big for him, and I’m sure he’ll have a lot of family that’ll come out and support him.” He said the team were also looking forward to Joseph Iaria rejoining after an injury. The Buccs went down to the Perth Redbacks by a point on Saturday, 84-85, after Geraldton had controlled the action up until the final minute. Coach Dayle Joseph said the Redbacks shooting helped their comeback. “We were in control for most of the game and it is probably one we should have won. “It was a good game, they played to their strengths, and we tried to play to ours but their quickness and three-point shooting got them there in the end.” In the weekend’s other match, the Buccs lost 75-85 to the Kalamunda Eastern Suns. They will play the final six matches of the West Coast Classic tournament at home, and go into the home stretch with a win-loss record of one-five. Joseph has said the season isn’t a State Basketball League title defence.