After a run of close losses Shepparton Gators suffered a bitter defeat on Sunday.
Coming into the match against the last-placed Wallan Panthers, the Gators had produced an impressive start to the Country Basketball League’s North East competition.
In the first four matches of the season, the Gators defeated Mansfield and only lost to Seymour (third place) and Echuca (first) by four and five points, respectively.
On Sunday afternoon at Shepparton Sports Stadium, the Gators would have been hoping to secure their second victory of the season against a winless Wallan.
However, it was the Panthers who secured the fast start, outscoring the Gators 22-8 in the first quarter.
Shepparton responded well in the second, cutting the margin to four points at half-time.
Image 1 of 9
Shepparton Gators' Dylan Wayman pauses and thinks. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 9
Shepparton Gators' Dylan Wayman goes for a jump shot. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 9
Shepparton Gators' Cooper O'Neill is the real deal. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 9
Shepparton Gators' Dylan Wayman addresses the troops at the end of a quarter. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 9
Shepparton Gators' Cooper O'Neill looks to zip instead of zag. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 9
Shepparton Gators' Dylan Wayman looks to score. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 7 of 9
Shepparton Gators' Jordan Birch was on a heater for the home side. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 8 of 9
Shepparton Gators' Cooper O'Neill hunts for a teammate. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 9 of 9
Shepparton Gators' Cooper O'Neill flicks his wrist. Photo by Rechelle ZammitUnfortunately, the Panthers then made the most of the seemingly-scoring end in the third.
Wallan blitzed its opponents 36-11 to effectively put the game to bed with a quarter remaining.
The Gators couldn’t find the magic beans required for a miracle comeback win in the last, instead going down by 34 points (56-90).
Shepparton's Jordan Birch was the most prolific scorer on the court for the home side, finishing with 15 points, while Cooper O'Neill shot 12.
This weekend the Gators have the bye before returning to the court on November 10 in a rematch against Wallan.