Geraldton Buccaneers gear up for double-header on the road against Lakeside and Willetton
Coming off a massive win against league leaders Warwick at home last Saturday, the Geraldton Buccaneers are now gearing up for a double-header road trip against Lakeside and Willetton.
After handing the Warwick Senators their first loss of the season, the vibes are up in the Buccs' camp, with the squad now preparing for their next challenge as they travel to Perth this weekend in round nine of the NBL1 West season.
Local star Johny Narkle has been the Buccs' best player so far this season, shining bright in the Buccs' last game against the Senators.
The star guard put on a show with 30 points, 11 rebounds and two steals and was named player of the round in the NBL1 West. Arguably in career best form, Narkle said preparation had been the key for his performances.
'Preparation for me is a big part of it,' he said.
'Both the physical and mental side of the preparation are equally important.'
After the win against Warwick, Narkle said coach Dayle Joseph got the best out of his side, with new inclusions this season in Verle Williams and Akeem Springs slotting perfectly into the side.
'For me I felt good going into the game obviously they're (Warwick) the top team but as Dayle said we're rarely the underdogs going into a home game so obviously winning felt great because it shows us what we're capable of,' he said.
'With the addition of Verle and Akeem I feel like we're starting to gel real good after that loss to East Perth. It was like a wakeup call but since then we're starting to understand how each other play.'
The Buccs now face a road trip to Perth where they will first play Lakeside Lightning on Saturday night. Lakeside sit 12th on the league ladder and are coming off three straight losses.
The Buccs will be looking to walk away with a win on Saturday before their other game on Sunday against sixth-placed Willetton Tigers. The Buccs are yet to play the Tigers this season. The last time the two met Willetton knocked the Buccs out of the finals in 2024.
Currently sitting fourth on the ladder, the Buccs will be looking to get one back on Willetton as they aim to go two-from-two on the road.
Narkle said the squad was rearing to go with confidence high after last round's win.
'We're feeling good, it's a great opportunity to come away with two wins especially knowing what we can do as a team and how we performed the last week,' he said.
The Buccs play Lakeside on Saturday from 7pm at Lakeside Rec before their clash against Willetton on Sunday from 12pm at Willetton Basketball Stadium.
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