The Canterbury Rams have all but fallen out of National Basketball League playoffs race following their 103-94 loss to the Nelson Giants in Christchurch on Sunday, with the team now requiring a mathematical miracle to progress.
Rams top scorer Ethan Rusbatch said his team would "hold their heads high" following the performance and lamented some calls from the officials that he felt cost the side dearly late in the game at Cowles Stadium.
"Unfortunately we didn't get a few calls that we needed in that last stretch of the game - and that's all the Giants needed to pull the win out at the end."
The Giants punished the Rams in the first quarter with their defence and accuracy from within and outside the three-point line. In contrast the Rams struggled to find the hoop and frequently made turnovers.
Behind 27-22 after the first quarter, the Rams' defence was forced to work overtime in the second stanza and rash challenges proved costly. As Richie Edwards shot and missed for three points, the Rams trailed 50-38 at halftime.
The home side looked a changed team after the break, increasing their intensity, looking for turnovers and steering clear of foul trouble.
An Edwards' three-pointer pushed them ahead for the first time in the third quarter, followed swiftly by a Taylor Britt steal to increase the margin.
As Ethan Rusbatch continued to raise his points tally, going 6/6 and scoring 17 in the quarter alone, the guard clenched both fists and looked untouchable down the left side of the court and the Rams ended the third quarter 78-72 ahead.
With three minutes remaining, however, Giants playmaker DeRonn Scott led the charge as the vistors surged ahead to pile on the pressure.
Canterbury Rams 94 (Ethan Rusbatch 31, Jermaine Taylor 15, Marques Whippy 15, Richie Edwards 13) Nelson Giants 103 (McKenzie Moore 27, Sam Dempster 22, Mika Vukona 21, DeRonn Scott 19). 1Q: 22-27, HT: 38-50, 3Q: 78-72
