The Thunderbolts face a must-win clash against the Lithgow Lazers at the Dome on the weekend after an 18-point away loss to the Sutherland Sharks on Saturday night in the first week of the play-offs.
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Bolts coach John Ireland said his side needed to improve their offence to beat a “dangerous” Lazers outfit and advance to the final four.
He described the clash against the Sharks at Sutherland Basketball Stadium “as a game of runs” and said the 82-64 scoreline was not a true reflection of the contest.
“They [Lithgow] jumped out of the box pretty hard pretty early and the guys weathered the storm early,” he said, adding: “They came out in the third [quarter] and sort of blow us out of the water early.
“They shot the ball well and their defensive pressure was outstanding. We just couldn’t go with them. And in the end we probably let the scoreline blow out more than what the game showed.”
Rashanti Harris top-scored for Tamworth with 20 points.
Ireland said Lithgow would be a “tough ask” on Saturday night.
He said: “They’re a side we’ve faced probably three or four times, I think, in the last five or six years in these playoff cross-over games … They’ve got some really talented, young guys.”