If the South West Slammers men’s team are able to play four quarters of their best basketball, their fortunes for the remainder of the NBL1 West season will likely improve.

Unfortunately, inconsistency again bit the Slammers on the backside, after they coughed up a 10-point quarter time lead during Friday night’s 94-77 loss against the Willetton Tigers.

In previous weeks, the Slammers had been blown away by superior three-point shooting or poor ball retention — in this game it was something else entirely — being bombarded on the defensive glass.

Like a rodent gnawing away at food stored in a wooden cabinet, the Tigers constantly penetrated their way to the basket, which resulted in generating multiple inside shots and free-throw line trips.

This issue, coupled by silly turnovers during critical junctures, compounded a frustrating night for the Slammers, which had started so promisingly.

The only people likely left more frustrated than Slammers supporters were punters who had bet on the Tigers to win by more than 17.5 points, which was the official margin line by oddsmakers prior to tip-off.

Leading by 17 points with less than five seconds to play, the Tigers appeared to certain to jack up one more shot before time expired — however they instead elected to dribble and run the clock out.

Field goals (Tigers 32/61, Slammers 25/43); three-point attempts (Tigers 8/31, Slammers 6/21); total rebounds (Tigers 57-39 Slammers); assists (Tigers 21-13 Slammers); steals (Tigers 7-7 Slammers); turnovers (Slammers 17-13 Tigers).