The Waratah State League table-toppers wasted little time putting their stamp on the game – in the very first scoring play – as they cruised to an 88-47 victory.

An alley-oop and then a slam dunk showed the Dolphins that the Saints weren’t interested in making their Port Macquarie visit a weekend getaway.

Dolphins coach Mark Champion admitted the opening play was more than just two-points – it was a hit to an already fragile mindset.

“The boys looked like a deer in the headlights for the first quarter and a half,” he said.

Saints surged to a 42-12 lead by the end of the first quarter before they extended their advantage to 61-17 at half-time.

Port Macquarie were significantly better in the second half once they warmed into the match, winning the third quarter 16-13 before a 14-all final term.

They won the second half 30-27, but the damage had been done.

“There’s still a long way to go, but we’re starting to make progress,” Champion said.

“When you beat the top team in the competition in a half of basketball … I’ll take that any day.”

The reward for an improved second-half performance was a clash with second-placed Hills Hornets barely 18 hours later on Sunday.

Port Macquarie were without four players who were away for school basketball trials and the Hornets were rarely troubled in an 86-51 victory.

Despite the loss, the Dolphins coach remained positive.

“This year isn’t about winning for me, it’s about getting better every game,” he said.

“There have been a couple of games where we haven’t left our best effort out on the court and that’s been disappointing.

“They boys are not quitting, but there will be those quarters when they’re up and down because that happens with young players.”

Champion said it had been a long process getting back into the top half of the competition already, but it was an important one for the future of the sport in the Hastings.

“We want to keep state league basketball alive here in Port Macquarie,” he said.

“We can only do that by fielding a team in the competition so that when these players do get older they will be good enough.

“It’s a lot harder to try and get back into the competition if you throw your hands in the air and say there’s no point having a team.”

The coach remained positive about their chances of registering that elusive first victory in a challenging season.

“It’s all very promising and we’re not about making excuses, but it is tough for them,” he said.

“It’s all part of the process and hopefully it won’t be like this for every game of the year.

“Five of the boys are still in high school, but they’re all getting better and they’re starting to look like they belong out there.”