Giants fall at home but interim coach still optimistic

Goldfields Giants interim coach Sharni Winter insists that the squad is down but not out after last Saturday’s 107-94 defeat at home against Mandurah Magic pushed them two games outside the top-eight in the men’s NBL1 standings.

In an all-too-familiar scenario, the Giants began well but fell away as Mandurah controlled each of the remaining three quarters.

The loss, the Giants’ fifth in eight games, was no fault of De’Sean Parsons and Randy Bell who continue to make solid contributions.

Parsons racked-up a team-high 33 points with 12 rebounds and Bell had 29 points, six rebounds, nine assists and two steals.

But it was offset by Mandurah star Joel Murray’s 42 points and Michael Durr complemented an 18-point game with 22 rebounds.

Jarrod Molnar was also impressive for the visitors with 22 points.

The Giants are ninth — two games behind the eight-placed Perry Lakes Hawks.

But with 14 games left, Winter said there was no need for panic.

“This weekend (against South-West and Mandurah on the road) is going to be crucial for us,” she said.

“Road trips are always hard, but these are two winnable games and the boys need to band together.

“We talk about how we’re family and that we stick together — we need to make that a point of emphasis this week with some good sessions and then bounce back strongly on the road.

“Protecting home court is always a priority and Saturday night was not one of those nights for us.

“There was lots of things gong on, including the truck rollover (on Great Eastern Highway) that pushed the game (starting time) back and throws out our routine and all of those little things .

“We just couldn’t get over those speed bumps.”

Winter, who is leading the squad in the absence of Matt Van Pelt who is on personal leave, said it was frustrating they were unable to string together consistent performances.

“Consistency would be great and playing for a full 40 minutes would also be great,” she said.

“We have lapses and they’re at crucial times.

“It doesn’t help when we have players being technical fouled either (because) we speak regularly about controlling what we can control.

“We need to focus on that (discipline) as well, but we definitely have the team to do it (make the playoffs) this year.

“We’re ironing out those little kinks and it hasn’t necessarily been a smooth ride for this group.

“There’s been quite a lot going on (and) some adversity that we’re pushing through .

“Once we get some stability, it will be good for us — then it’s stringing together 40 minutes of basketball, not 20.”

Joondalup (7-0) lead the standings after last weekend’s round from Willetton (8-1), Geraldton (7-1) and Rockingham (7-2).

Warwick (6-5), East Perth (4-4), Mandurah (5-5) and Perry Lakes (5-5) round out the top-eight.