If Maitland needs any reassurance that they can play a small team and have success they need look no further than last weekend's opponent Manly.
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Manly sit on top of the Waratah Champions League table unbeaten and have done it with one of the smallest rosters in the competition.
The Mustangs lost 72-85 but matched Manly in most key statistics apart from turnovers. They turned the ball over 20 times for the third week in a row and again struggled in the half-court when their running game was halted.
Maitland face another tough test on Saturday at home against second-placed Hills Hornets, whose only loss of the season was a 81-73 defeat by Manly.
“I think the real positive from last week’s loss was that we realised we can persevere with a smaller line-up and have success,” Mustangs coach Luke Boyle said.
“We came up against the masters of that game and stuck with them in most stats apart from our turnovers.”
Maitland matched Manly in rebounds, was shaded in shooting percentage but turned the ball over five more times, denying themselves a shot and generally giving their opponents an easy basket.
“There’s no doubt we are undersized in comparison with most teams in the competitions and were so even when (US import) Karl Moore was playing,” Boyle said.
“But Manly showed us quick transition and speed can overcome size.
“We had a poor start and got ourselves back into the game with a terrific effort in the third quarter to outscored them 25-16, but it told on us and we tired in the end.
“We just didn’t have the energy to push on and bridge the gap.”
The Mustangs trailed 29-18 at the first break and 53-34 at half-time. In a positive they lifted their field-goal shooting percent to 40 per cent from the previous week’s disastrous 33 per cent in their loss to Central Coast.
Boyle said they will need to lift the shooting percentage again and cut turnovers to beat the Hornets.
“When we are playing a running quick transition game we tend to score freely and make good decisions with the ball,” he said.
“Once again it’s when we are slowed down at the half-court that we are struggling. We try to force passes which aren’t there and we turn the ball over.
“We also seem to lack confidence in our individual shooting ability and instead of taking the shot are passing it to someone else.
“Too often that person is in a worse position and the shots are missing. We’ve been working on shooting under pressure at training and need to have the confidence to take our shots in the game.”
Tip off is 6pm at the Maitland Federation Centre.
