After Jamaica’s tough loss against The Bahamas on Friday in FIBA World Cup qualifying, Head Coach Rick Turner believes the local fans deserved better after witnessing major international basketball on the island for the first time.

The national men’s team blew a nine-point lead late on to go down 96-99 to the Bahamians on Thursday at the National Indoor Sports Centre to suffer their first loss in group stage play of the Americas qualifiers. They were on their way to automatically advancing to the final round after surging into a 80-71 lead with under 12 minutes to go in the encounter.

The efforts of Chase Audige, 27 points, and Kofi Cockburn, 18 points and 12 rebounds, went in vain for Jamaica as The Bahamas, led by a 32-point performance by Franco Miller, clawed their way back with three minutes to go in the fourth quarter and held on for the win.

It was a disappointing result for the team, who made their debut on home soil in front of a packed Indoor Sports Centre. Turner says the players needed to finish the job to reward the home support.

“It’s an incredible missed opportunity for us. We worked really hard to put ourselves in a position to bring big-time basketball to Jamaica and then to go out there and not really put our best foot forward is just super disappointing,” he said.

“Our opponent was a really good basketball team and we knew that coming into the game. We had a really good idea of what they were going to do, they did it, and we didn’t answer the call. It’s basketball and there’s ups and down, but just the fact that we blew this opportunity in front of so many people is just a real disappointment.”

The Bahamas Head Coach Moses Johnson, who was aware of the historic moment for Jamaica, was happy his team fought back in difficult conditions.

“Tough game, tough environment. We know this means a lot for Jamaica, having the World Cup here for the first time, so we know we’re coming into a heavy environment. But I want to give my hats off to these guys,” he said.

“With 15 lead changes, the game could have gone either way, but the ball bounced our way, made a little, a few turnovers down the stretch that cost us a bit, but we were able to pull it off and that’s what counts.”

Jamaica remain second in Group B on five points, but they will need a win against leaders Canada on Sunday, with 6 points, if they are to book their spot in the next round as one of the top three teams. The Bahamas remain in third, but move to four points and could overtake Jamaica with a win against Puerto Rico.

Turner believes the team needs to re-embrace its underdog mentality if they’re to be successful going forward.

“I think we just got to get back to who we are,” he said. “When we were in Puerto Rico, we had a real bunker mentality, like us against the world sort of thing. I mentioned this to everybody pre-game, at half-time, and before the game, for whatever reason, we just had a weird vibe that it never felt like us.”

“We played with a togetherness that allows us to overcome some of those mistakes, and one of the things in Puerto Rico that was really good was that communication. And it just, it wasn’t there [against The Bahamas]. And it was really hard to try to find how to push the right buttons. So I don’t know, I can’t tell you why, but we need to get it figured out before the fifth-ranked team in the world comes in.”

(From left) Jamaica head Coach Rick Turner and players Kentan Facey, Tyran de Lattibeaudiere, Chase Audige, Joel Bailey and Andrew Thelwell look on after the 96-99 defeat to The Bahamas in the FIBA World Cup Qualifier at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

The Bahamas forward Tavario Miller (left) attempts a lay up over Jamaica forwards Kentan Facey (centre) and Tyran de lattibeaudiere during the FIBA World Cup Qualifier at the National Indoor Sports Centre on Thursday. (Photos: Naphtali Junior)

Jamaica forward Kentan Facey (centre) tries to secure the ball under pressure from The Bahamas guard Garvin Clarke (left) and forward Tavario Miller during the FIBA World Cup Qualifier at the National Indoor Sports Centre on Thursday.

The Jamaican flag is on full display during the Basketball World Cup Qualifier between Jamaica and The Bahamas.

Full time scoreboard in the match between Jamaica and The Bahamas

A section of the crowd during the Basketball World Cup Qualifier between Jamaica and The Bahamas at the National Indoor Sports Centre.