It may be as simple as a loss in concentration, but the Noel Jones Ringwood Hawks let another game slip from them on Saturday night, falling to the Knox Raiders by just 6 points at the State Basketball Centre.

The match up was first against second, the Game of the Round and it was the visiting Hawks who were the first team to build themselves an early lead. Mike McCahey (22 points) and Jacob Gibson (19 points) that got the scoreboard ticking over and the reigning Champs looked like they were firing. But in the final three minutes of the first quarter, the Hawks made some costly errors and allowed the Raiders to score some easy baskets. The lead went from 8 down to just one at quarter time.

With the change in momentum, the Raiders increased their on ball pressure defence and the Hawks offence dried up in the second quarter. The Hawks turned the ball over regularly and unquestionably had their worst quarter of basketball for the season. At half time the Raiders enjoyed an 11 point lead.

“I think we just went back in our shells.” Hawks Centre Shaun Clarke said.

“We let outside influences effect us (like refereeing) and we lost concentration for about a ten minute period.”

After half time the Hawks managed to start clawing their way back in to the game. Matt Snowball (7 assists) and Matt Fennell (15 points and 13 rebounds) increased the speed of the game, generating to pressure back on the Raiders. Slowly the game tightened up and with 3 minutes left in the game, the Hawks Mike McCahey nailed a three pointer that would have tied the game. Unfortunately the Hawks import was called for a travel and the basket was cancelled. Ringwood battled bravely but just could not get their noses in front, eventually falling 85 to 79.

“We simply cannot have mental lapses against quality teams like Knox.” Hawks Assistant Coach Willie Weimer said.

“The good news is that these are all easy fixes and hopefully next week you will see a better, more focused Hawks team.”

With four wins and 2 losses so far, the Hawks will need to get themselves going as soon as next week with an important double header weekend. On Saturday night the Hawks will host the Corio Bay Stingrays in a must win game and then travel to Diamond Valley to face a dangerous Eagles team.

“Our team is a pretty proud team and losing two in a row does not sit well with them.” Weimer said.

“I look forward to seeing what the boys bring next week. I think they will be very hungry again.”

RINGWOOD HAWKS 79 (McCahey 22, Gibson 19, Fennell 15, Latham 10, Snowball 6, Clarke 5, Truman 2 ) Lost to KNOX RAIDERS 85 (Thoseby 22) at the State Basketball Centre. Crowd 450.

 

Meawhile in the curtain raiser, import Tori Jarosz notched up another double double (17 points, 16 rebounds) in the Lady Hawks 61 - 50 win over the Knox Raiders.