Geraldton Buccaneers prepare to counter the Magic as the pointy end of the season approaches

The Geraldton Buccaneers will enjoy another home game as they look for a consistent four-quarter performance against the last-placed Mandurah Magic on Saturday.
The Buccs were back to the winning ways at home against the Eagles last weekend, as Zac Gattorna produced his best game of the season, with 39 points, including hitting his first seven attempts from the three-point line.
But elsewhere the Buccs looked below their best, particularly on the defensive end as they coughed up 97 points to a team averaging 10 points below that mark this season.
Fletcher Klasztorny was out and Liam Hunt was still away, but the Buccs have let healthy leads slip at times throughout this season, including against the Senators the week prior which saw their winning streak come to an end.
Coach Dayle Joseph said he believed the defensive lapses lied between the ears of the Buccs’ playing group.
“We spoke about this training during the week just asking for input from the players and we couldn’t really put a finger on it,” he said.
“Whether it’s taking our mind off the end result, and maybe taking it easy a bit at times, and then trying to wrestle back the I think that’s probably more the thing that’s caught us out.
“Momentum plays a bit of a part and if you give a team a little a bit of a sniff things change really quickly, so we’re trying to just change our mentality and play at the same level for a consistent 40 minutes and, and hopefully that makes a difference.”
A meeting at home against the bottom-placed Magic could provide the perfect platform for a four-quarter effort though Joseph knows no team is to be taken lightly.
“I’m just expecting a team that comes here with nothing to lose that if they play their hardest and they play their best they can put us in uncomfortable positions,” he said.
“We’ll be preparing for a team that’s undermanned a little bit, but there’ll still be five players on the court so anything can happen in that scenario.”
The Buccs have a busy end to the regular season with six games in their last four rounds, including two double-header away trips. With a top-two spot on the line Joseph knows every win is important.
“Our last home game against Perry Lakes in two weeks could be a pretty integral game and a defining moment of where we finish up for the season,” he said.
“So I’m bearing in mind things sort of get a bit tight and close at this time of year. and we know the opportunity is there for the second spot if we continue to win.
“But a few losses could throw a spanner in the works so we know how important every game is in this stretch home.”
The Buccs will tip off against the Magic at Activewest Stadium at 7pm.
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