The Seahawks bowed out of the playoffs race with a 97-71 defeat to Western Port Steelers on the road on Saturday night.

They were without coach Tim Gainey, who is in America following his brother Greg’s death in a truck accident, and NBL-listed guard Nathan Sobey.

“I said to them (the players) that it was disappointing (to lose) but I was a little bit philosophical given what’s happened to Tim and other stuff during the season,” Brooks said.

Brooks said the Seahawks would “look forward rather than backwards”.

“Despite everything that’s happened, it’s been a relatively successful season,” he said.

“It’s been up and down but there’s been highlights particularly with Nathan (Sobey) playing and the crowd involvement he brings to the game. We’ll sit back and reflect and figure out what’s needed because we weren’t that far away.

“There were a few young players around this season who will be better next season and hopefully a guard like Damian Gray, who kept getting injured, will play. If we’d had him it would have made a big difference to the game plan.”

American import Xavier Johnson-Blount finished his three seasons on Australian soil with a 44-point game.

“He shot at a fairly high percentage too which was pleasing,” Brooks said.

“We needed points out of the other guys.”