Leske regrets missed chances

Goldfields Giants captain Matt Leske conceded his side lost an opportunity to gain valuable ground on their SBL rivals after Saturday night's 18-point road loss to the Geraldton Buccaneers.

Entering the clash in 11th place, the Giants were presented with a great chance to improve on their 2-5 win-loss record ahead of consecutive home matches.

The Giants started the better to hold a four-point quarter-time lead before being outplayed and overrun in the final three terms - eventually losing, 102-84.

"It was definitely a good opportunity to steal a win against a high-ranking team," Leske said.

"I guess it is a lost opportunity, considering we were in the game most of the time.

"Even in the last quarter we were in reach, but they had too much firepower."

Leske said back-to-back three-pointers from Bennie Lewis helped the Buccaneers wrestle back the momentum in the second term as a boisterous Geraldton crowd found voice.

The veteran believed his side's inability to follow coach Marcus Taylor's game plan contributed to the loss and said the club's bench players needed to have a greater impact on-court. The Giants' bench hit just six points while the Buccaneers' second-tier players added a valuable 19 points.

"We probably went away from what was working for us," he said.

"I don't think we panicked, but we just went away from what was working for us.

"It is critical that they (the bench players) deliver more to the team.

"Their role is to come on to get a few points and give our starting five a rest - but they are also young and developing."

The Giants were successful in containing the talented Lewis, Carter Crook and Aaron Ralph - the trio all noticeably down on their season averages.

But Odartey Blankson filled the void, hitting 37 points and grabbing 16 rebounds to easily be the game's dominant player.

"We kept Lewis, Crook and Ralph down and we did a good job on them," he said.

"But Odartey is just a really smart player who executed really well.

"He got into space, knocked down the shots and he was the difference."