Orange Eagles continued their struggle in the Spalding Waratah League Division 1 Men's competition on Saturday night, going down 95-65 to the visiting Lithgow Lazers.
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With just two rounds to go in the season, the Eagles are second bottom of the ladder with two wins, but matched the visitors on Saturday point-for-point until half-time and were only seven points down at the main break.
It sort of slipped away, the endurance and fatigue meant we made mistakes and easier turnovers.
- Eagles coach Jamahl Zegzula
Sharpshooter Kobe Mansell hit 19 points and was backed up by Andrew Manios (16) and Mitch Selwood (15), with coach Jamahl Zegzula saying the latter played "out of his skin" despite only running at 70 per cent fitness due to niggles.
Zegzula said he was impressed with the way his charges were able to ensure the Lazers' imports weren't able to break free of the chain and pile on the points, but the final-quarter blow-out wasn't ideal.
"It sort of slipped away, the endurance and fatigue meant we made mistakes and easier turnovers," Zegzula said.
Justin Parish, playing out of position and marking some of the Lazers' bigger men, was excellent for the Eagles, and Mansell continued leading the side on the scoreboard.
He said his side were "really aggressive" early and showed promise well above their ladder position, and will continue to build in their final two games against Queanbeyan and Shoalhaven.
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Max Stainkamph
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
