South West Slammers coach Jason Chalk admits he was left ‘shell-shocked’ after 59-point season-opening loss

South West Slammers women’s coach Jason Chalk has admitted he was left “shellshocked” by his side’s 59-point season-opening loss. The Slammers started their NBL1 West campaign with a 103-44 road defeat at the hands of the championship-chasing Rockingham Flames, who feature Australian Opals Sami Whitcomb — whose short-term signing before her WNBA commitments resume was announced only hours before the opening tip — and Alex Sharp. After his first game in the senior role, Chalk said his team would need to go to a “whole new level” to be competitive. “We felt we were really well prepared, but we just lost our way,” he said. “Our first half was acceptable, and our second half was not acceptable. We weren’t aggressive enough, we went away from our game-plan. “A lot of the errors we made were of our own doing. “The way I put it to the girls is that we were a ‘metre off’, we were a metre off getting the rebound, we were a metre off getting the loose ball, and we were a metre off setting the screen in the right spot. “We’ve just got to learn from it and get better because it won’t get any easier.” Chalk said he was confident his team could be competitive but would need to overcome mental hurdles after winning only one game in their past four seasons. “I think the girls just doubted themselves a little bit and their ability to compete,” he said. “It’s my job and (assistant Paul Craig’s) job as coaches to get them to believe in their own ability. “We’ve got to learn how to win, but we’ve got to learn how to take small wins from a game and build confidence from there.” Young gun Bree Chalk, who made an early exit from the season opener due to a back complaint, is considered doubtful for this weekend’s fixtures.