Slammers fall short of upset win

The Geraldton Buccaneers survived a furious fourth-quarter rally by the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers to earn a 99-88 victory in game one of the quarterfinal play-off series at the Eaton Recreation Centre on Saturday night.

The Slammers entered the game having won their last meeting with the Buccaneers in a tight affair but after losing a crucial home play-off game, they now face the daunting task of winning the next two games in Geraldton to advance to the next round.

The home side jumped out to an early lead behind the stellar play of forward Trent Worthington and guard Wade Hitchcock in the opening term, but the visitors kept it close with a 4-10 performance from beyond the arc and finished with a 25-22 lead as the Slammers came undone with a series of turnovers.

South West big man Clive Weeden had a rough time scoring throughout the game, with Geraldton defenders collapsing on him whenever he caught the ball in the post, resulting in eight turnovers, but he made his presence felt by attacking the offensive boards and finished the game with 13.

The game got away from the Slammers in the second quarter as they made only one of seven three-point attempts, while on the other end the hot-shooting from deep continued as the Buccaneers drained five of nine triples en route to a 54-43 lead at the half.

Geraldton import Carter Cook was a match-up nightmare for the Slammers, using his strength in the post and his agility on the perimeter to punish Slammers defenders and finishing with 32 points, including 16-18 free throws.

The Slammers dug themselves into an 18-point hole in the third term after going nearly five minutes without a basket and shooting an abysmal five for 27 in the period.

South West import Markus Monroe provided a highlight in the term with a brilliant block against the taller Bennie Lewis.

The Slammers tightened the clamps on Geraldton’s perimeter shooters to start the fourth and had cut the lead to eight points when Monroe was sent crashing to the floor by Mat Wundenberg on a drive to the basket in an incident similar to the blow the South West guard endured the last time these teams met.

The foul fired up the crowd and the home side cut the lead to two points with five minutes to play after putting together a 21-5 run to start the quarter, but the Buccaneers were able to withstand the push and finish with a comfortable win behind the strong play of Cook and Lewis.

Game two of the play-offs is in Geraldton on Saturday.

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