It was lights out for the Southland Sharks on Saturday night - literally.
After suffering a 109-94 loss to the Wellington Saints in Wellington on Friday night the Sharks travelled to Te Awamutu to play the Super City Rangers on Saturday night looking to respond with a win.
However, it was the Rangers who banked an 112-82 victory on the back of a second half blitz.
The Sharks led by one at the end of the first quarter, but the Rangers came back in the second quarter to lead by five at halftime at 56-51.
But Southland were limited to just 31 second half points while giving up 56 points.
Bizarrely the game was delayed at the start of the fourth quarter for 15 minutes when the lights above the crowd went out.
Sharks coach Judd Flavell said both teams felt it was fine to keep playing but the referees opted to wait until all the lights were back up and running.
The Rangers responded the best following the unexpected break winning the fourth quarter 33-16.
Flavell said the unique situation wasn't an excuse for their disappointing performance but it added to what had already been a frustrating night.
He said it was an edgy contest which involved some minor scuffles as a result of that frustration.
Flavell said traditionally when the Sharks lost the rebounding stat they also lost the game and that was the case against the Rangers as they picked off 45 rebounds to Southland's 35.
"We gave up a lot of easy points. They are a team that are driven by confidence and we gave them a lot to be confidence," Flavell said.
"With two losses you look at what you are doing a bit deeper. I know our guys will respond."
Southland's next outing is against the Canterbury Rams in Christchurch on Saturday night.
Super City Rangers 112 (Nnanna Egwu 26, Earnest Ross Jr 23, Mitch McCarron 23) Southland Sharks 82 (Nick Kay 18)
1Q: 23-24, HT: 56-51, 3Q: 79-66
Image and article courtesy of The Southland Times