Officials called out after Nelson Giants lose again

Nelson Giants Assistant Coach Phill Jones isn’t one to criticise basketball match officials but didn’t hold back after his side slumped to its sixth straight loss 85-81 in Sal’s NBL.

The Giants blew a 10 point lead early in the third quarter and then in the frantic final minutes could only convert one of five free throws against the Tauranga Whai.

“There were some very dubious calls towards the end of the game. We are not getting the rub of the green and we are just having to try and play through it. In the last quarter we got nothing,” fumes a frustrated Phill after losing their fourth home game of the season on Saturday night.

Australian import Callum Dalton reckons the officiating went both ways.

“We were called for three technical fouls but we can’t shoot ourselves in the foot at the same time,” says the big Queenslander.

For the first time this season, the Giants led at half-time and then back to back three pointers from Callum fired them out to a 10 point buffer.

“But we just have lapses. It is the story of our season so far. I feel like we should have won at least two or three matches,” declares the 24-year-old centre who had a game and season high 22 points in his penultimate appearance for the side.

New American import Alex Robinson Junior, who replaced the ineffectual Jaelyn Forbes, brought real energy to the Nelson outfit after arriving from the equally winless Indian Panthers.

The Texan scored 14 points in his 30 minutes but was battling cramps.

After receiving physio, the 29-year-old came back on with two and a half minutes to play and drove to the basket.

But he was fouled and crashed into the hoardings and was carried off.

“I play so hard, I end up cramping a lot. I couldn’t move earlier in the game but I had to give it another shot. I was pretty frustrated and I thought I could have made a difference at the end,” says the well-travelled guard who has always wanted to play in the New Zealand league.

His countryman Brice Johnson fouled out with just over seven minutes to play but as usual he had failed to impose himself on the opposition, making only three of his 13 field goal attempts.

The Giants then lost the lead and needed late free throws to try and win or least force overtime.

Down by two points and with just eight seconds to play, Hayden Jones spun and drove to the hoop. He was fouled and his shot just failed to drop.

After his first free throw went astray, the guard deliberately missed with his second to try and regain possession and set up a two pointer. The move proved unsuccessful and the Whai went on to notch its fifth win of the season.

“We talk about free throws winning close games and if you are not going to make them, you aren’t going to win those games,” rues Phill.

The Giants converted less than 50 percent of their 17 free throws.

“The only way we are going to win is if we keep a positive attitude. I don’t think we are out of the play-off race,” says Alex after his Nelson debut.

“We need to get away from here and give the fans a little break. These guys need to get on the road and work on their chemistry together,” concludes Phill.

They won’t lack for opportunity as it will be five weeks before their next game at the Hangar.

It doesn’t get any easier with the first of their six away matches against the top of the table Wellington Saints on Monday.