Warrnambool Seahawks coach Tim Gainey is looking forward to getting some experienced players back on court to help his young team.
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Gainey was proud of his side's effort despite two losses from the weekend's Big V division one double-header.
The Seahawks went down to the Melbourne University Black Angels in the cruelest of circumstances on Saturday night.
The Black Angels hit a three-point buzzer beater to break the deadlock and take a 104-101 victory at Melbourne University Sports Centre.
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To make matters worse the Seahawks lost star player Alex Gynes to illness for Sunday's away game against Coburg Giants.
Gynes had contributed 22 points against the Black Angels.
With a player in foul trouble, Gainey's team went down to six men and couldn't stop the Giants from claiming a 79-72 win.
Gainey was proud of the way his players fought but realised it was a missed chance.
"It was a big opportunity to try to solidify that spot (sixth) for a couple of weeks but it didn't happen," he said.
The Seahawks dropped to eighth in a competition where the top-six sides play finals.
They have just seven games left to try and reclaim sixth spot.
Xavier Johnson-Blount hit the Seahawks' most buckets in both games with 47 and 25 points.
The Seahawks are missing a wealth of experience including Josh Dean (hamstring), Ollie Bidmade (ankle) and James Mitchell (knee) who are not expected for this weekend's game against Shepparton Gators.
Gianey was pleased with youngsters Adam Lawson, Liam Osborne, Matt Rea and Michael Barnes who all saw minutes.
The Warrnambool Mermaids suffered a 109-40 at the hands of Keilor Thunder on Sunday at Keilor Basketball Stadium.
Coach Louise Brown said her team was rattled in the first half of the Big V championship encounter.
"Their pressure was so good, we had too many turnovers," she said.
"We didn't look after the ball as well as I would have liked."
But she said the young Mermaids showed fight in the second half.
"We struggled to score in the first half, their pressure was fantastic," she said.
"With the second half we adjusted a few things and the girls responded well.
"The second half, offensively, was much better for us."
Brown said consistency is something the young group is working towards.
"If we'd just play consistent basketball for four quarters, we'd be a lot of more competitive," she said.
The Mermaids mentor said young forward Grace Rodgers was good off the bench and played well in the second half against the Thunder.
"She rebounded well and played some really good defence," she said.
Rogers has had an interrupted season with an ankle injury and through unavailability.
The Mermaids host the Hume City Broncos on Saturday night.
The Seahawks have a huge road trip to Shepparton Sports Stadium to face the Gators on Saturday night.
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