Savannah Steel falter late in Game 3 loss to Jacksonville Waves

SAVANNAH, Ga. —

The Savannah Steel squandered a late lead Sunday and fell 69-57 to the Jacksonville Waves at Enmarket Arena, giving Jacksonville a 3-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Savannah led 45-42 entering the fourth quarter after a strong defensive effort, including a second quarter in which it held Jacksonville to nine points for a 30-23 halftime advantage. But the Waves took control in the final 10 minutes, outscoring the Steel 27-12.

The Steel struggled offensively, shooting 38.1% from the field and 1 for 20 from 3-point range. Savannah also committed 22 turnovers.

“I think our execution was good, but we just missed shots,” guard Lasha Petree said. “A lot of the fourth-quarter points we got were from good looks and good shots, but we missed them, and then they pushed in transition, and that’s where they killed us.”

Savannah forced 14 steals, including five by Petree, and kept Jacksonville below its season scoring average through three quarters. But the Steel could not maintain that defensive pressure late.

“It’s a combination of us not getting stops,” interim coach Tocarra Ross said. “Basketball is a game of runs … we gotta be able to convert at the end of the day.”

Ross is leading the team while head coach Coretta Brown attends to a private family matter. She said injuries and roster changes have required the Steel to adjust offensively on the fly.

“They got new sets, so they got to learn what those angles look like … we’re just trying to be patient with each other,” Ross said.

Despite the deficit, Savannah said it is focused on improving.

“Right now, we’re just sticking together,” Cochran said. “We’re not looking at the game as a loss. It’s just a learning lesson. We win together; we lose together.”

The Steel will travel to Jacksonville for the remaining games in the series. Savannah returns to action Friday, July 17, with tipoff set for 7 p.m.