Double defeat frustrates coach Lewis (From Echo)

Double defeat frustrates Essex Pirates coach Tim Lewis

4:28pm Tuesday 12th April 2011 in Basketball By Chris Phillips

ESSEX Pirates head coach Tim Lewis was left downhearted after his side ended a disappointing season with two more defeats.

Pirates were seen off 110-104 at MK Lions on Friday night before being thrashed 109-74 at home to Guildford Heat 24 hours later.

And that annoyed Lewis.

“I was disappointed with our performances in the last couple of games,” said Lewis.

“Some of us have lost focus, maybe taken a couple of days off and not come to play hard.

“At the end of the day we’ve had two winnable games but we didn’t play hard.

“It’s maybe a lack of experience and their age in not knowing how to deal with that.”

Pirates initially impressed against the Lions with Adrien Sturt in fine form and they led 16-15 at the end of the first quarter. However, by half-time, the gritty Lions had fought back to be leading 40-35.

That became 77-68 by the end of the third period before they held on in the final 10 minutes to win.

Sturt top scored for Pirates with 25 points while Dan Briglia added 23 and Colin Sing 20 as Pirates reached 100 points in a game for the first time this season and just the second time ever.

It was a different story against Heat at the Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre on Saturday night though as the visitors dominated right from the start of the game.

Heat led 35-10 at the end of the first quarter and 59-34 at half-time.

That became 84-57 by the end of the third period before easily holding on in the final stanza.

Briglia top scored for Pirates with 21 while Zach Gachette added 16 and Sam Toluwase 11.