Huskies coach looking for fighting response

SOUTHERN Huskies coach Anthony Stewart will get a true indication of his team’s character as it searches to unlock Canterbury’s defensive stranglehold in Launceston tonight.

The Rams landed a psychological blow on Thursday night when they defeated the Huskies 81-70 at the DEC in the first of three consecutive NZNBL clashes between the two sides.

It not only leaves the hosts scrambling for answers to overturn the result just 48 hours later, but also fighting to keep their playoff aspirations alive with the Southland Sharks waiting to pounce on any slip-ups.

Stewart described the performance as the worst of the season while branding his players selfish.

Now he is desperate for a response against a Rams squad that is one of the most organised in the league.

“This is where we will find out about our team’s character,” Stewart said.

“They are well drilled, they are happy to take one or two shots a game — a few of our guys aren’t.

“That was probably worst game as a team.

“You aren’t going to win it on the back of individuals, you have to work together.

“Some nights will be your night and others aren’t, but if your night isn’t happening you have to get other people into the game.

“That’s our tween being professional and being mediocre.”

Rams coach Mick Downer remains on high alert of what the Huskies can produce, despite his men successfully blanketing the home outfit’s offensive weapons. The Huskies were held to under 35 per cent from the floor overall, and hit just three of 22 attempts from long range — two from captain Craig Moller.

“It is a bit of a unique thing, in an 18-game season where it is just a final-four weekend at the end of the season that all the teams are working towards, they are just one-off games,” Downer said of landing the first blow.

“So to have a three-game series is a bit of a unique thing, but our process has been … we want to win the series and the next game both teams will look at the tape for adjustments.

“They are a good team, they have had stuff where Marcel [Jones] came in late and they did start behind the eight-ball with that tough road trip, it is not excuses, that is the reality.

“They are starting to get into a bit of rhythm, and they are a lot to deal with.”