Canberra Gunners coach Shawn McEachin says the potential game-winning play his team ran was ''not even close'' to what he drew up and players have to stop being ''selfish'' in clutch situations.
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The Gunners rallied from 16 points down midway through the third quarter to tie the scores up with 33 seconds left, but went down 79-75 to the Mount Gambier Pioneers at the Belconnen Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.
After the Pioneers hit the front again, the Gunners had one last chance to snatch their first win of the South East Australian Basketball League season.
Out of the timeout, Garlon Green missed a two-point attempt, but grabbed his own rebound and found fellow American import Matt Staff, who's long-range bomb was off target.
"It was disappointing, our last possession to potentially win the game or tie it up, we went out there and guys went selfish,'' McEachin said.
"We've really got to do a better job of understanding that everyone wants to take the game-winning shot, but at the end of the day it's my call to determine who gets it.
''The boys have got to execute that.''
Asked if the play was what he drew up, McEachin said, ''Not even close.
"It comes back to being a young group, it's a learning thing.
"If we're in the same situation the next time we know what not to do, we know how to address it.''
Green again led the Gunners in scoring with 30 points, but took 28 attempts on 39 per cent shooting.
Staff (13 points and 16 rebounds) was the only other player in double figures, while the Pioneers had four players with 10 or more points in a balanced performance.
"[Green is] not taking too many bad shots; we've got to find better shots for other guys,'' McEachin said.
The Gunners are back in action on Saturday night when they host Kilsyth.
