INDIANA Faithfull is the first to admit last week’s ejection in Bendigo Braves’ loss to Dandenong Rangers last Sunday was not his finest moment this SEABL season.
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But like any professional basketballer, he knows there is an always an early opportunity to atone.
For the 27-year-old point guard, who was ejected in the opening quarter of the Rangers clash following his second technical foul, that moment comes this Friday night in Bendigo against Sandringham Sabres.
And what a stage it will be to make amends, with the Braves playing their first game on Bendigo Stadium’s new show court and before a potential crowd of 4000.
The long-awaited opening arrives at a compelling moment in the Braves’ season following three straight losses, including two last weekend.
Those losses have seen the Braves slip to 5-4, after starting the season 4-0.
Coach Ben Harvey earlier this week challenged his players to lift their intensity on defence and called for greater consistency in performance.
Faithfull was confident the message had gotten through.
“I think we need to have a little bit more trust in the team as a whole – at times, offensively, the ball sticks a little bit and we don’t move it through hands a lot,” he said.
“And at times, defensively, we get quiet, are not talking and are not helping each other out.
“Having said that, there is a lot of times we do the right thing and move the ball quickly and get great shots, and defensively we are all alert and helping each other out.
“We are close, but we need to put it together for 40 minutes and not 25 or 30.
“The third quarter has let us down lately. I think we have won only on third quarter this whole season, so something has to change after the break.”
The Braves will enter the game with two of the league’s top seven scorers in imports Jeremy Kendle (24.3 points per game) and Ray Turner (24).
Turner is also ranked fourth in the league in rebounds with 11.4 ppg.
For Sandringham, Alister MacDonald leads the way with 17.4 ppg, while import Anthony Odunsi is averaging 15.5 ppg and 4.8 rpg.
Perilously placed at 2-8, Faithfull warned the Sabres would be hungry for a win.
“It should be a tough game and factor in that it is opening night, hopefully the stadium is rocking,” he said.
“I’ve been lucky to sneak myself into the new court and get some extra shots up and get a little bit familiar with the place.
“We’ve been lucky to train here the last couple of weeks, so we’re very comfortable and extremely excited to get the opportunity to be here for an opening night.
“What happened (last week) – it is what it is – we all have to move on and I’m hungry to get the next game happening.”
