A SLOW start cost the Port Macquarie Dolphins dearly in their last game of the regular Waratah State League season on Saturday.
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The Dolphins went down at the hands of the Newcastle Hunters, 73-66, to ensure they must travel to play their semi final this weekend.
Travelling teams have struggled in the league this season, and it was no different on Saturday, as the Dolphins took time to warm to the task at Broadmeadow.
Meanwhile, the Hunters were hitting all their shots.
"We couldn't keep the pace," Dolphins coach Mark Champion said.
It was 22-15 at the end of the first quarter but the Hunters extended the lead to 41-29 at the main break.
By the third, the Dolphins had fought back to 56-48 but they just couldn't get over the line.
The closest the Port team got was "four or five" points at a couple of times in the game.
Champion was full of praise for his opposition.
"It was a good, well-rounded performance from them," he said.
Canadian import Alex Desroches was the best on court for the visitors, bagging 41 points.
Lance Guild was next best with eight.
"They were all relatively even after that," Champion said of the other Dolphins scorers.
The loss means the Port team must travel to Sutherland to take on the Sharks in the semis this weekend.
It will be a tough ask for Champion and co. The travelling factor adds an extra and unwanted element.
"Nobody in this division travels well," Champion said.
"It's hard to put a finger on why."
Read more about the Dolphins, and their trip to Sutherland for finals, in Friday's Port News.
