Geraldton Buccaneers call for support as they play a rare double-header at home this weekend

The Buccaneers are at home for a rare double-header this weekend, and are calling for support for their young squad as they face two teams below them on the form table.

Buccs’ Dayle Joseph said a squad depleted by injury and player departures was presenting an opportunity for younger players coming through the ranks to test themselves against State-level opposition, and he was hoping people would turn out to watch.

“All the support helps,” Joseph said.

“Get out and support the team (and) you’ll get to see some of the local talent.”

Buccs face Cockburn Cougars on Saturday and Kalamunda Eastern Suns on Sunday.

The Cougars are two spots above the Buccs on the ladder, in eighth, while the Eastern Suns are two below them. Both sides have a win and four losses in their last five games, while the Buccs have had two and three.

A young Buccs side went toe-to-toe with Warwick Senators at home last Saturday.

They eventually lost, 62-90, after the Senators ran away following a quickfire patch of scoring, but put up a fight against a side coached by 1980s/90s Perth Wildcats legend Mike Ellis and featuring Ellis’ son, Cody.

South Sudanese international and ex-Perth Wildcat Mathiang Muo left Geraldton on Thursday for international duty.

Veterans Aaron Ralph, Mat Wundenberg and Liam Hunt all have long-term injuries while Kiwi import Taine Wattie left last month as the trans-Tasman bubble was affected. Youngsters and squad players have stepped up as the side thinned.

Teenagers Harry Evans, Tom Dobson, development player Jackson Patten and WA under-16s captain Robert Griechen all turned out for the Buccs at ActiveWest Stadium last round.

Dobson played over 15 minutes and scored three points and grabbed four rebounds. Evans got a point in seven minutes on court, Patten got a point in just under two minutes, and Griechen played over two minutes and had two points.

Geordie Murray put in a solid effort alongside imports Elijah Barbour and Mathiang Muo, grabbing five points in just over seven minutes on court, shooting an encouraging 50 per cent from outside the three-point line and making all of his free throws in an eye-catching display.

Will Galvin brought down 11 boards while playing 40 minutes, the most of anyone in the squad.

New signing Brandon Holloway played 30min. 56sec. in an encouraging sign as he comes back from injury, topping the assist chart with four and grabbing three rebounds as well as scoring six points.