The 23-year-old joined the Miners squad late, playing his best game to date in their round six two-point win over Mount Gambier, posting 27 points, nine rebounds, two assists and hitting five three-pointers.

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Considering the good form the Miners had been in recently, being unable to train and play is frustrating for Short and his teammates.

"We probably had just played our best game against Mount Gambier, even the week before against Ringwood we were pretty good," he told The Courier.

"We were just starting to come together with some chemistry, we got some good trainings together, a bit of consistency for a couple of weeks straight.

"We were looking forward to the double header on the weekend but we'll have to re-set and start again."

The Miners sit 12th on the ladder with a 3-4 record, their average losing margin just 5.8 points and their average winning margin 4.3 points.

The fact they have been in every game is a positive according to Short, but consistent wins are ultimately what the side needs once play resumes.

"It's never great losing close ones and it always feels great winning close ones," he said.

"You want to stretch those margins out, we've had chances in games to push leads of four to six out to 10 to 12 points, but haven't really been able to capitalise on that.

"I think it just comes down to consistency of training with each other and playing games and getting to know each other.

"It's such a new group that haven't played much basketball together, so I think it'll come ... I think we're gelling quite well."

Not helping Short's rhythm is the fact that he is not with his National Basketball League side, Melbourne United, in Sydney.

The team flew to Queensland to play Brisbane on Sunday, May 23, the day after the Miners' victory over Mount Gambier.

They haven't returned, meaning Short is stuck in his house like the rest of us.

It's his first break in some time, one that he's enjoying, but he said he's keen to get back sooner rather than later.

"The first couple of days it's a nice little break because you're just full on for so long," he said.

"Now I'm starting to want to do a little bit of exercise and get back into the gym so hopefully we get some exemptions if the lockdown continues."

If all goes to plan and the lockdown ends at 11:59pm on Thursday, June 3, Short and the Miners will turn their attention to Kilsyth at home on Saturday, June 5.

It's an important clash for the side, the Cobras sitting one spot above the Miners on the ladder with a 4-3 record.

"It would be our first home win. We want to win in front of our home fans, we've won all our games away from home at the minute," Short said.

"Kilsyth are a young team as well, if we can play the right way I think we'll have a lot of confidence going into that game."

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