Miners captain Ryan Barnes earned praise from his coach.
POWERFUL interior player Brandon Polk’s dominant first half caused trouble for Ballarat Miners last night.
The American carved up a lacklustre Miners’ defence with 17 points to half-time.
He had strong support from fellow import Jordan Gregg (16 points, 11 rebounds) and their shooting guards in setting up the eight-point win for Hobart in the South East Australian Basketball League clash.
Ballarat Holden Miners coach Guy Molloy said the Miners were concerned about applying too much interior defensive pressure, in fear of allowing too much space for the accurate Chargers to unleash from the perimetre.
But overall, it was a poor defensive half and the Miners were 17 points down at the main break.
Molloy said it was a game in which the Miners had to find a little something different and special – and did not.
“At half-time we decided to do what we could to get Polk out of the game and we kept him to four points in the second half,” Molloy said.
“We rallied well but we shot poorly.”
Miners captain Ryan Barnes and forward Jared Scoines impressed with their relentless, high work rate.
They make the journey north to Ulverstone today to face NW Tasmania.
While not ideal in preparation and recovery, the Miners won this leg last year and will be out to do so again.
HOBART 31 50 61 80
BALLARAT 22 33 53 72
POINTS - Hobart: Polk 21, George 16 (4 three-pointers), Gregg 16, Armstrong 13 (3), Masunda 6 (2), Nash 6 (2), Osborn 2. Ballarat: Coenraad 19, Scoines 18, Joyce 16, Barnes 7, Bruce 6, Fisher 3, White 2, McCallum 2.
REBOUNDS - Hobart 39 (Gregg 11, Polk 10, Nash 9), Ballarat 30 (Coenraad 8, Barnes 7, Scoines 6)
ASSISTS - Hobart 19 (George 8), Ballarat 18 (Coenraad 5)
STEALS - Hobart 4, Ballarat 9
BLOCKS - Hobart 4, Ballarat 4
TURNOVERS - Hobart 16, Ballarat 8
FOULS - Hobart 13, Ballarat 10
SHOOTING - field goals, Hobart 31/66 (47%), Ballarat 30/74 (41%); three-pointers, Hobart 12/29 (41%), Ballarat 7/29 (24%); free throws, Hobart 6/7 (86%), Ballarat 5/10 (50%).
