Geraldton Buccaneers to play historic NBL1 game in Karratha as fixtures revealed for 2023 season

The NBL1 West fixtures for next season have been revealed with the Buccs set to play the first-ever game in the top end of the State as they take on the Perth Redbacks in Karratha in round two.

Next year’s qualifying series remains at 22 games, with the Buccs opening the season on April 1 at home against the South West Slammers.

They will then make a historic trip to the north of the state to face the Perth Redbacks in a special Easter weekend clash at the Karratha Leisureplex on April 8 — the only game to be played at a neutral venue.

It is the first time an NBL1 game will be played in the Pilbara region and NBL1 West League Manager Brighton Pass said it was a Buccs-led effort that made the game happen.

“The Buccs approached us with the idea of taking a home game up north to a big basketball population up in Karratha,” he said.

“We were fully supportive of the idea and we surveyed clubs which were scheduled to play Geraldton and credit to the Perth Redbacks who jumped on board to put their hand up to make the travel up North.”

Pass said should this prove successful and he could see more NBL1 games played in other regions.

“I would love to see NBL1 games go out to as many places as possible and who knows with future expansion where teams could pop up, so we’d love to get as much exposure to the regions as possible,” he said.

The Buccs will also have five double-header weekends all away from home including two in the final three weeks of the season.

Buccs fans will want to circle May 20 on their calendar when the Rockingham Flames come to town in the first meeting between the two and the Buccs will be hoping for revenge after their heartbreaking loss in this year’s grand final.

The Buccs had one of their best season’s ever on record last season finishing with a 19-3 record before going down in the final 91-79 and will be hoping they can go one step further this year.