Loud cheers as Geraldton Buccaneers triumph

After Buccaneers MC Brett Giles yelled Geraldton’s 107-68 downing of Cockburn into a microphone after the final buzzer, we searched the exploding crowd for the Binnu Primary School children who predicted the outcome.

With hoarse voices and red cheeks, the excited cohort screamed: “It was terrific, it was awesome, Marcus was so great, the Buccs are the best.”

Geraldton guard Marcus Alipate, probably with burning ears, joined the throng to see if his protégés enjoyed the game too.

Alipate has been visiting Binnu, a school of just 21 students about 75 minutes out of Geraldton, to teach basketball and good character.

Students were able to see him in top form from the outset, after he treated Buccs fans to the first basket of the game, within 30 seconds of the first buzzer.

The Cougars responded in kind and the game remained tight for the entire first quarter, with each team rarely able to extend the gap by more than two points.

Despite a competitive first term, the Cougars failed to match the Buccs’ intensity in the second quarter.

The second half saw Geraldton moves that could have been styled by Hollywood – including Chicago import Willie Conner’s rejection of a would-be Cougars basket at the rim, slapping the ball down to thunderous applause.

Other cheer-inducing moves included Brayden Inger running the full length of the court unchecked, slamming the ball into the hoop and then doing it again after seizing a rebound minutes later.

The Buccs will play Perth Redbacks on Saturday, April 13, in another home game. Tip-off at 7.30pm.