Buccaneers boss keeps powder dry as finals approach

The calendar says it’s finals time — but it’s irrelevant to Buccs boss Dayle Joseph.

“Nothing’s changed here, just the same routine pre any game,” Joseph said while his team fine-tuned for their first-of-three (if needed) clash with the Warwick Senators tomorrow night.

The Buccs came from behind the Senators last Sunday afternoon at the spacious Warwick Basketball Stadium to win by nine points.

Marcus Alipate and Deangelo Isby weren’t in the side, but may be suited up come the first whistle tomorrow night.

Though their week has concentrated on themselves — last week much planning was put into the Senators — the Buccs are preparing for the return of the giant-sized Caleb Davis to the Senators side.

Davis was away at a wedding — his own — in Bali last weekend.

“He was on NBL roster last year and is good. We’re expecting him to play,” Joseph said.

“Sure, it would be nice to be playing at home, but it would be very nice to come home next weekend a win up in the series.

“We won down there last weekend, so there’s no reason why we cannot do it again.

“Same routine, down Saturday morning and home Sunday afternoon.”

The Buccs have lost six of their past seven away finals, the last win, by two points over Rockingham, was on August 7, 2016.

The man plotting to continue that disastrous record is one of the biggest names in Australian basketball.

The Senators are coached by Mike Ellis, who started playing for the club aged 17 in 1974, when it was known as Stirling.