Perth Lynx coach Ryan Petrik wishes more desperation from his team after losing the WNBL to Southside Flyers
Perth Lynx manager Ryan Petrik has bemoaned his team’s lack of desperation during Sunday’s 19-point loss to Southside and said their performances must start to reflect the urgency of the season.
The Lynx first jumped into the top four when Bendigo lost to Townsville on Saturday night, but their chances of staying there vanished as they trailed 24 points in the first quarter. That lead grew to 30 points throughout the day, and the Flyers won 102-83.
With only three games left, Petrik said everyone needed to show more urgency.
“My biggest concern after the game was how much more desperate Southside were because there really wasn’t anything at stake for them. Yes, they can take the first two or the first places, but they are in the finals. That’s guaranteed,” said Petrik.
“We could have made the top four if we won today, lost next week and then got the other results right. Now we have no room for mistakes. We had more at stake than Southside, but clearly Southside wanted it more than we did. There was no clear level of desperation at first.
“This is the best first half by an opponent I’ve seen all season. They were electric. They hit everything and when they didn’t hit it, they got a rebound and left. They bullied us. They were bigger than us and stronger than us and more focused than us and more desperate than us. They were elite.”
The Lynx are now back up to fifth and know their season will be at stake when they host Bendigo on Saturday night.
Sami Whitcomb scored 18 points for Perth and Robbi Ryan’s 12 points in the first half kept the result from looking worse, but Southside had winners everywhere. Six flyers achieved double-digit results. Former Lynx forward Carley Ernst came off the bench and scored 21 points, including nine in the first quarter.
Petrik said the starts of the game needed improvement as they were 10 points behind against Adelaide after just five minutes on Thursday.
“We slept against Adelaide and we slept again,” said Petrik.
“Sometimes you have to give the opposition credit. Adelaide scored everything in the first five minutes, as did Southside.
“Part of it is on us. We have to get better. But you also have to take your hat off to your opponent when they’re really good. But we have to address it.”
