AUBURN It is often difficult for a coach to point to just one or two reasons that his team didnt win. However, Auburn boys basketball coach Al Giannone was able to narrow his teams defeat down to a couple of factors after the Maroons fell to Oswego 59-51 in an OHSL contest Thursday night.

We had some key turnovers in the fourth (quarter), he said. And we didnt convert from the free throw line down the stretch.

The game statistics only reinforced Giannones assessment. The Maroons were only 4-for-10 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and 7-for-16 in the game. Two of those fourth-quarter misses came on the front end of one-and-ones that the Maroons could not capitalize on. Conversely, Oswego made nine of their 15 free throws in the fourth, and 15-of-22 in the game.

To compound their difficulties, the Maroons also missed a number of uncontested and close-range shots in the paint.

We missed some easy shots tonight, Giannone said. But we also did a lot of things really well.

Despite his teams fourth-quarter miscues, Giannone was pleased with his teams ball control. The Maroons only had eight turnovers in the game, a marked improvement from their earlier games.

When the game began, Auburn was not playing like a 1-4 team. Zack Foster nailed a three right out of the gates and Andrew Hoercher followed with a two for an early 5-0 lead. The lead was short-lived however, as the Buccaneers hit four threes in the opening period and took a 22-11 lead after the first quarter.

Oswegos Nate Fadden drained two consecutive threes to start the second quarter, pushing the Bucs lead to 17. The Maroons buckled down, however, thanks to some advice from assistant coach Andy Kalet.

Andy noticed that we werent pressing them from long range, Giannone said. We made the adjustment and shut them down from out there for the rest of the game.

The strategy worked, and the Bucs only scored four more points in the quarter. Offensive rebounds and strong inside play from Dan Schmidt and Brandon Mitchell brought the Maroons back to within five at the half.

The Bucs got two quick threes from Travis Nelson to open the third, but the Maroons clawed their way back with some sound fundamental play, first on a pick-and-roll with Andrew Hoercher and Mike Daum and then on a penetration and kickout from Hoercher to Kevin McCormick.

The Maroons lost their drive in the fourth quarter, however. They began by making only one of their first six free throws, and at the 1:12 mark, they had only netted two field goals.

Oswego, on the other hand, converted its free throws and steadily began to pull away.

We didnt play well in the fourth, Giannone said. But weve come a long way since the beginning of the season. These guys are showing great improvement, and even though our record doesnt reflect it, were getting better with every game.