THE BALLARAT Miners returned from Mildura yesterday licking their wounds, but still in the hunt for a play-off berth in the South East Australian Basketball League south conference.
The Miners pushed the Mildura Mavericks - the form team of the SEABL - to within five points on Saturday night.
Once again though the Telstra Country Wide-Telstra Shop Miners were left to rue a sluggish start in the 109-104 defeat.
Not only did what might have been a season-defining victory slip through their fingers, comeback shooting guard Damien Chapman dislocated a shoulder.
Having played just a handful of games since returning, Chapman was in great touch before getting in a tangle with Mildura's Jermaine Williams late in the game.
Chapman, who shot 18 points including three three-pointers, was taken by ambulance to hospital in Mildura for treatment.
Miners coach Paul Tudorovic said yesterday that he was still to learn the extent of the injury and how long it might sideline Chapman.
With Mt Gambier losing to the Australian Institute of Sport and Canberra at the weekend and dropping from fourth position, Ballarat remains in the thick of an intense battle for fourth with five games to go.
Mildura left Ballarat standing in the opening quarter and Tudorovic said it was to the Miners' credit that they clawed back the deficit to 13 points by quarter time.
It took another two quarters to bring the game back to all square, but going into the last quarter there was nothing separating the teams.
Ballarat edged past the Mavericks early in the last quarter, but with Williams regularly getting to the free-throw line (11-15) and Rodey James hot Mildura found itself in front at the right time.
Cameron Rigby again made a flier for the Mavericks before Eric Hayes shut him down in the second half to limit him to 22 points.
Paul Larmand and Chapman kept Williams (21) quiet from the field, but it was to be James (23) and Joe Hurst (24) who slipped away from the Miners' grip.
Larmand again displayed his offensive potency with 30 points, including five three-pointers.
Graeme Anstey chimed in with 13 points after starting the second half.
Tudorovic said he could hardly have asked for more from his players.
"They (Mildura) are the form team and we've almost beaten them.
"It's disappointing (to lose), but we can hold our head high.
"You just can't give teams starts in this competition," Tudorovic lamented.
The Miners now prepare to meet Canberra in Ballarat on Sunday in another game which must be treated as a must-win.