PICTURES: Mikayla Haupt
Mikayla Haupt
The intensity of the match between the Bundaberg Bulls and Port City Power was felt around the packed Autobarn Arena.
With about a minute on the clock the score was 83-a-piece, as mere seconds remained the score was 87-86 to Gladstone and then finally 89-86 the scoreboard was in favour of the visitors.
The Bulls hustled until the final buzzer sounded, but couldn’t add to their tally in time for the win.
Coach Andrew Bainbridge said it’s unfortunate to lose when it’s that close but he couldn’t fault the effort on display by the Bulls, particularly against bigger opponents.
“They kept going and going, so we did pretty good that way,” he said.
Bainbridge said they had to work on their defence, giving up to many layups throughout the match.
“Guys are too keen to get on the ball and letting them get up for a layup or a dish-off – that big guy, he’s really hard to stop, he’s a good player,” he said.
Bainbridge said Gladstone was a good team, they’re big and hard to stop.
“You need someone that same height, same weight to do all that, so when you look at that it’s pretty good really,” he said.
He said they probably need to be a little bit smarter at certain times in the game, but that comes with playing high level basketball.
“We go driving into guys 6’5 and very athletic and big, we don’t have that in Bundaberg local comp, so the guys aren’t used to you drive in and he’s blocking shots or rebounds,” he said.
“They’re just not used to playing against someone that size.”
With a bye this weekend, they were assessing whether they have a few players they need to rest up, “set us up for a second season so to speak” and then get ready for the three-game road trip next week.
Bainbridge said a bit of time off might be a good thing for them.
“A lot of these blokes haven’t played a three-game road trip before so that’ll be different in itself,” Bainbridge said.
There will be more of a focus on recovery to handle the three games.
Managing three back-to-back games on the road is no easy feat.
Bainbridge said they would probably have to play some of the other players.
With about eight players running a lot of minutes, he said they might have to find ways to give them a rest or see how the first game goes and if they get a win potentially slide other players in the next one.
He said there were a few aspects to play with, but if you get into foul trouble that “throws it out the window”.
The Bulls are currently ranked third on the ladder with 12 points.
Logan Thunder are also on 12 points in fourth position.
The Bulls have won three from six games and have two of the competition’s top five total point scorers at this stage of the season.
Aiden Potter is ranked fourth with 100 points and Jesse Lomax is in fifth on 97 points – Moreton Bay Suns Fire’ A. Phythian is in the lead with 160 points thus far.
In Round 7, the Bulls take on Logan Thunder on 26 May, RedCity Roar on 27 May and Southern District Spartans on 28 May.