Geraldton Buccaneers looking to take wins while down with injuries when they host Perry Lakes

The Geraldton Buccaneers are on to their next game after their first loss of the season and working through injuries in preparation for the Perry Lakes Hawks on Saturday. The Buccs failed to defend their home fortress for the first time since July 2022 when they fell 72-87 to the East Perth Eagles last week at Activewest Stadium. They are now third on the NBL1 West ladder with a 7-1 record and this Saturday will go up against Perry Lakes who are eighth (5-5). With their streak over, the Geraldton side will look to restart it this Saturday while they are still at home and dealing with a significant injury toll. Grand final MVP Johny Narkle has been sidelined for nearly a month with a wrist injury, Josh Braun was scratched from the Eagles’ loss and Bob Griechen has been away from the team in the US. Despite the injuries, coach Dayle Joseph said they were working through the execution side of things and hoped to be back in form for when the team was at full strength. “We had a bit of a hit out on Tuesday, went back through a few things and went through a few of the finer points that we needed to be a bit better, just more on the execution side of things than anything,” he said. “If we can pinch a couple of wins while we’re sort of men down, I think it’d be helpful for later on.” The game on the weekend will be number 200 for Buccaneer Ryan Blanchett, who Joseph said had been a great team player since coming to Geraldton from Kalamunda three years ago. “It was a real bonus getting Ryan to Geraldton; he’s a bit of a everything sort of player, do anything for the team,” he said. “If it means sitting and watching he does, if it means playing the big he does, if it means playing small he does. He’s just a real good team guy and he’s good to have around the club. “His fiance that came with him is big on the community as well; having her around the club, it’s been really cool.” With all the injuries the Buccs have taken, it has meant their floor plan has been constantly shifting. Import Josh Keyes had a solid performance on the weekend, but Joseph understands it had been a tough start for him with the job they were asking him to do. “He’s going along nicely; he hasn’t been able to get any consistency,” he said. “We’ve sort of been playing him in all sorts of spots, as a four then a three, now more recently with the lack of guards he’s trying to play the two spot. “Lack a little bit of consistency for him, which is not making it easy for him to help us with that execution side of things that we’ve been talking about.” In preparation for taking on Perry Lakes, Geraldton will work on getting their own game plan right first before scouting the opposition. The hopeful addition of Braun back into the side will be a major bonus. “We’ll do a bit of a scout on Perry Lakes and have a bit of an idea on the things we run, but I think it’s more important that we get some of our stuff in tune first,” Joseph said. “(Braun) should be good; he didn’t train Tuesday but just being cautious, put him through his paces a little bit on Thursday then do a fitness test Saturday to be totally sure.” The Buccs host the Hawks at Activewest Stadium on Saturday, May 18, with tipoff at 7pm.