LANCASHIRE Spinners coach Neal Hopkins was left frustrated following his team’s 78-64 loss to Northumbria in Division One of the National Basketball League on Sunday.

For the third straight game, the Bury-based basketball club left themselves with a mountain to climb after going behind in the opening stages.

“Guys need to start making sacrifices because we dropped this game as individuals,” Hopkins said.

“Today was one of those (games) where I walked away utterly disappointed.

“We need to take a deep look at ourselves and hold each other accountable for what we’re doing on the court.”

The Spinners, who fell to eighth in the standings, trailed 22-11 at the end of the first quarter before Northumbria went on a further scoring spree.

Mark Rangeley’s three-pointer with five minutes remaining in the first half time sparked a response and the Spinners closed the gap to 36-31 at the break.

Rangeley finished a rebound shy of a double-double and tied for a game-high 14 points with Northumbria’s Chuck Duru and Jack Preston.

Duru scored nine of his tally in the fourth quarter while Preston had eight boards.

“We need to play for each other – we can’t be chasing games,” said Rangeley.

The Spinners have won just four of six games when they have been behind after the first quarter, but have won six of eight when they have ended the opening period in front.

The Spinners never led by more than a point despite shooting a marginally higher percentage from the field (39.7 to 38.7 per cent) and out-rebounding their opponents 43-40.

Separated by just three points at the start of the fourth quarter, Northumbria scored on seven of their first eight possessions to take a 66-52 lead and they never looked back.

The Spinners host Westminster Warriors at Castle Leisure Centre on Saturday, tip-off 5.45pm.