By Tara Murray
Bacchus Marsh Lions were made to pay for a below par performance in their Country Basketball League north-west clash on Saturday night.
Having claimed their first win the previous week, the Lions were hoping to make it two in a row against the winless Kyneton Tigers.
The Lions got an early lead, but scores were level at quarter-time.
The Tigers skipped ahead in the second quarter and were able to stay in front the rest of the night.
While the Lions were able to reduce the lead, it wasn’t enough, with Kyneton winning 81-73.
Bacchus Marsh coach Jeff Feben said it was a tough night on the court.
“We weren’t as ready to play as they were,” he said.
“We couldn’t find our game, we had low energy and our intensity was off.
“We got the lead early and they kept coming at us. It was never substantial.
“It’s a disappointing performance that’s for sure.”
Just two players scored double figures for the Lions.
Billy Feben top scored with 29 points, but his father said it wasn’t one of his best games.
Max Beaumont, who scored 16 points, was the only other player in double figures.
The loss compounded a bad week for the side injury-wise.
Jordan Kirk hurt his ankle at training, while Jason Christian has spent half the week in bed sick.
PHOTO GALLERY: Kyneton Tigers vs Bacchus Marsh Lions
Matt Parker missed the game after hurting his ankle, with Sam Byron coming into the side to replace him.
Byron scored eight points on debut.
It’s been a mixed start to the season for the Lions in a new division.
They sit 1-2 and are yet to be convincing in any of their games.
“I said to the boys after the game that we’re not a team that gets up and about in warm-up,” Jeff Feben said.
“We don’t know what to expect when they step onto the court.”
The Lions travel to Bendigo this weekend, looking for their first road win of the season.
Bendigo has been one of the form teams in the early rounds.
Feben said they would love to enter their first bye at 2-2, with the week off to come at a good time with all their injuries.
“We would have liked to have locked that away [Kyneton] before we played Bendigo,” Feben said. “We have things to work through and hopefully we’ll hit the training track hard on Thursday.
“Hopefully we’ll be better against Bendigo.
“We need to beat Bendigo to be 2-2 at the break. Bendigo lost to Maryborough and they will be looking to get the win back.
“It should be a good game.
“It would be nice to get back on the winners’ list before the break.”
