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Malik Meunier, Zac Gattorna lead the way as Geraldton Buccaneers maintain home record

Headshot of Jake Santa Maria
Jake Santa MariaGeraldton Guardian
Fletcher Klasztorny blocks Dequan Abrom
Camera IconFletcher Klasztorny blocks Dequan Abrom Credit: Arctic Moon Photography

The Geraldton Buccaneers kept their hopes of a top-two finish alive and maintained their record at home with a comfortable win over the Mandurah Magic on Saturday night.

The Buccs led from start to finish in the 94-82 win as Zac Gattorna and Malik Meunier once again led the way for the home side.

It was third against last and with the struggling Magic sending away their two big imports, Isaac Abergut and CJ Bobbitt, they were never expected to trouble the Buccs’ unbeaten record at home this season.

Meunier would hit a two-point jumper in the opening seconds and picked up another point from the foul for good measure, with the Buccs never giving up the lead from then on.

Meunier would have 10 points by the end of the opening quarter while Gattorna picked up where he left off last weekend, hitting his first three of the night as they jumped to an 11-point lead by the first break.

To Mandurah’s credit, they never gave up the fight as the second quarter was dominated by defence from both sides, but the Buccs continued to edge away despite shooting below 30 per cent.

Gattorna would keep the Magic at arm’s length in the third with eight of the Buccs first 10 points of the quarter but Mandurah’s Dequan Abrom led a late charge to send a scare through the home side as the Magic closed the gap to just five points late in the quarter.

But the Buccs scored 12 points to six in the opening exchanges of the last quarter to open up some breathing room.

Back-to-back threes to Meunier and Gattorna effectively sealed the match as the Buccs were made to work but ultimately always had the game on their terms.

Gattorna continued his hot form, backing up his 39 points last week against East Perth with another 26 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals on 4/11 three-point shooting.

Meunier added 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists with Shaun Stewart doing most of his work inside the paint for 16 points.

Abrom did everything he could to lift Mandurah over the line with 27 points, 14 rebounds and three assists despite going just 1/11 from behind the three-point line.

The Buccs stay in third and make it 9-0 on their home court but will need to improve their away record next round with a double road trip against Lakeside Lightning and the Perth Redbacks.

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