FINAL SCORE
Fenix Geraldton Buccaneers (97) v Willetton Tigers (64)
GAME REVIEW
The Willetton Tigers were on their home floor hunting a first win of the 2022 season, but it wasn’t to be against the Geraldton Buccaneers on Saturday night.
After finishing last season in third position at the end of the regular season, the Tigers opened 2022 by losing to the Joondalup Wolves by nine points in Round 1 and then the Cockburn Cougars by eight points on Easter Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Buccs have started the new season impressively with Round 1 road wins over the South West Slammers and Mandurah Magic.
So the Tigers were looking for their first win of the season on Saturday night at Willetton Basketball Stadium while the Buccaneers were out to make it a third consecutive win.
Geraldton started strongly even with Willetton regaining the services of Michael Vigor for the first time this season. The Buccs led 24-14 by quarter-time but the Tigers were able to make a game of it in the second quarter with 25 points to 19 to cut Geraldton’s lead to 43-39 at the major break.
The Buccaneers were able to dominate the second half, though, with another 54 points to just 25 from Willetton to see Geraldton run out 97-64 winners to improve to 3-0 on the season while sending the Tigers to 0-3.
Geraldton dominated the glass with 49 rebounds to 35 including 16 offensive boards to nine. The Buccs also shot 50 per cent from the field opposed to just 37.3 per cent from the home team.
There were plenty of impressive performances in the win again for the Buccs with Shaun Stewart putting up 26 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
Fellow import Cameron Coleman finished with 20 points with Malik Meunier contributing 13 points, three rebounds and three steals, Mathiang Muo 12 points, five boards and four assists, and Fletcher Klasztorny nine points, four rebounds and two steals.
Michael Vigor made an immediate impact in his first game of the season for Willetton with the big man delivering 20 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Travis Fee added 11 points and six rebounds for the Tigers, Josh Ibukunoluwa 15 points, six boards and three blocked shots, and Hunter Clarke four points, six rebounds and three assists. Review by Chris Pike
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