SKILLED Goldfields Giants coach Wayne Creek has paid tribute to milestone man Todd Earle in the wake of Saturday night’s thrilling threepoint win over State Basketball League rivals the Geraldton Buccaneers.

One of the most parochial home crowds of the season was on hand to witness Earle’s 250th Giants appearance and the local side rose to the occasion in a gutsy 82-79 triumph.

Creek praised a typically-industrious performance from Earle, who emerged with nine points, five rebounds and three assists. “Todd’s really stepped up lately and he’s playing like a 250-game veteran should,” Creek said.

“So all credit to him – he’s doing a great job and this was a special night for him and the guys.

“It was a hard-fought game right to the end and from a crowd perspective, it was very exciting and obviously pretty intense. “To the guys’ credit, they fought it out all the way to the end and they didn’t want to lose.”

The occasion clearly had the home side fired up early as they streaked to a 15-point lead midway through the opening period. American guard Matt Rosinski was quickly into stride and had already amassed 12 points, three rebounds and two steals by quarter-time.

The Giants’ defence was causing all sorts of problems for Buccs coach Ray Evans, who could only watch as his side was closed down and continually forced to shoot from outside the arc.

The 11th-placed Buccs eventually found their range in the second period, but still trailed by seven at the main break.

The Giants looked every bit a side entrenched in the top-four during the third period and raced to a 19-point lead on the back of some solid work under the basket from Dwayne Radcliffe and Darnell Dialls.

Leading by 12 at the final change, Creek’s men could not shake a dogged Geraldton outfit, who surged back into contention courtesy of three-pointers from Aaron Ralph and Michael Edwards.

Buccs guard Michael Lay was also beginning to have an influence from inside the paint and closed the gap to just four points when he weaved his way through a crowded keyway.

Rosinski steadied the ship when he claimed a defensive rebound and was fouled, before draining the free throws. However, Geraldton would not lie down and reduced the margin to a single point following two successful free throws from American Todd Brown.

With a fourth consecutive win beckoning, Rosinski again showed nerves of steel from the line, before Lay missed a three-point attempt which would have sent the match into overtime.

Somewhat fittingly, the ball finished in the hands of Earle as the home crowd erupted at the final buzzer.

The victory lifts the Giants’ winloss record to 7-3 ahead of next weekend’s double-header against the Cockburn Cougars and Lakeside Lightning in Perth.

Article by Dean Steacy (Kalgoorlie Miner)
Photo by Travis Anderson(Kalgoorlie Miner)

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