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THE Geraldton Buccaneers and Goldfields Giants took their Men’s SBL show to Kalgoorlie on Sunday evening but once again it was the Buccs prevailing by 17 points for a seventh consecutive victory.

For the second time over the WA Day long weekend, the regional SBL powers did battle and after Geraldton won big at home on Saturday evening by 52 points, it was a determined Giants outfit that returned home on Sunday.

The end result was still a Buccs win with a final score of 95-78 but it was a significantly more competitive showing from the Giants at Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium.

Round 12 in the Men’s SBL began back on Friday night with the Rockingham Flames beating the Cockburn Cougars 77-75 without Greg Hire and Curtis Washington. The South West Slammers also beat the Mandurah Magic 101-78 and the Perry Lakes Hawks defeated the East Perth Eagles 100-92.

Then as well as the Buccs beating the Giants 129-77 at Active West Stadium on Saturday night, the Joondalup Wolves defeated the Stirling Senators 97-92, the Lakeside Lightning downed the Willetton Tigers 96-81 and the Kalamunda Eastern Suns beat the Perth Redbacks 109-103.

That all leads into the All-Star Games at Bendat Basketball Centre on the WA Day Monday public holiday. The Women’s contest begins at 12pm and the Men’s at 2pm.

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After playing one another in Geraldton on Saturday night, the Giants and Buccs did it all again on Sunday evening and Goldfields with the job to do to try and turn around that 52-point defeat to Geraldton.

The Buccs started strongly again with 27 points to 17 in the opening quarter but the Giants stemmed the bleeding to limit their deficit to 12 at half-time.

Goldfields then played well in the third period to get back into the contest and be just eight points down heading into the fourth period. But Geraldton responded in the last quarter 18 points to nine to score the 17-point win.

Earnest Ross finished with 28 points and eight rebounds on 13/22 shooting from the field.

Gokul Natesan added 23 points, 11 assists, sevens steals and seven rebounds for the Buccaneers while Colter Lasher contributed 18 points and seven boards.

Marcus Alipate also finished with eight points and four assists, Liam Hunt eight points and nine rebounds, and Mat Wundenberg seven points and six boards.

Kyle Sovine top-scored for the Giants with 24 points and 10 rebounds with Jeylyn Sharpe contributing 21 points, 13 boards and six assists, and Jake Martin 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Brandon Holloway battled hard also for Goldfields finishing the evening on Sunday with six points, 11 assists, two steals and two rebounds.

WEEK 12 MEN’S SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Cockburn Cougars 75 lost to Rockingham Flames 77
Mandurah Magic 78 lost to South West Slammers 101
East Perth Eagles 92 lost to Perry Lakes Hawks 100

SATURDAY
Geraldton Buccaneers 129 defeated Goldfields Giants 77
Joondalup Wolves 97 defeated Stirling Senators 92
Lakeside Lightning 96 defeated Willetton Tigers 81
Kalamunda Eastern Suns 109 defeated Perth Redbacks 103

SUNDAY
Goldfields Giants 78 lost to Geraldton Buccaneers 95

MONDAY
Men’s All-Star Game
North v South – Bendat Basketball Centre 2pm