Geraldton Buccaneers secure top four with classy win over the Joondalup Wolves

Geraldton Buccaneers dominated the Joondalup Wolves to secure a top-four spot and put one hand on the minor premiership.

In a rematch of the 2019 Grand Final on Saturday night the Buccs repeated the result with the 24-point win over the Wolves.

The two teams had met just two weeks ago in Joondalup and Geraldton won that game on the road 91-78 but the Buccs were looking for a response after a tough loss against the Hawks last week.

They got it early as they started on fire putting up 30 points to 19 in the first quarter as their shooting woes from last week were a distant memory as they went over 70 per cent from the three-point line as Mathiang Muo got the hot hand.

Geraldton stretched that lead out to 16 points during the second term before going into the half-time break leading 45-34.

The Wolves had worked themselves into the contest but the Buccs had their measure and after the early onslaught could control the match.

The Buccs continued the charge with another 20 points in the third quarter as their offensive pressure was matched by their defence keeping the Wolves to just 10 points as they shot below 17 per cent with no easy way to the basket.

With the game well in hand the Buccs still didn’t let up winning the final term 18 to 15 as they won 83-59 in emphatic fashion against a Wolfpack team in the third spot on the table.

The win sees Geraldton bounce back from their first home loss of the season last week to maintain their hold on top spot at 17-3. The Wolfpack are now 14-5 after the defeat.

With only two games left in the regular season a win in either of those will most likely see them take first place as they currently sit with a one win and 7 per cent advantage of the second-placed Rockingham Flames.

Muo delivered 23 points and eight rebounds for Geraldton while hitting 6/9 from three-point range with Malik Meunier adding 18 points, three rebounds and three steals and Shaun Stewart 13 points, five boards and three assists.

The Buccs will next play the fifth-placed Warwick Senators in their last home game of the regular season on Saturday night.