It wasn't a start they were hoping for, but the basketball teams at Algoma University College will look to build on their games against Fanshawe College on Saturday afternoon.
For the Men's team, it will be back to the drawing board as they dropped a 90-55 decision to the Fanshawe Falcons in Ontario Colleges Athletic Association play.
Thunderbirds coach Enzo Torcaso said there was very little positive to take from the game and they will likely start over again on Monday at practice.
"We're starting out again Monday morning," Torcaso said. "Back to basic basketball fundamentals."
Although there weren't many positives in the loss, Torcaso was happy with the play of guard Kellan Stilin and forward John Kasch.
Stilin picked up six points in the game while Kasch was Algoma's second leading scorer in the game with 12 points.
Jason Trinier of Algoma led all scorers with 23 points in the game. Josh Braby and Andrew Jones led Fanshawe with 17 points each in the win.
Prior to the Men's game, the women took to the court and, despite a spirited effort, Algoma dropped a 73-57 decision to the Falcons.
Algoma was led by Roberta Reid and Jessica King who each picked up 11 points in the loss. Both didn't make it to the final buzzer as they fouled out during the second half, but Algoma managed to stay close for most of the game, even with King and Reid on the bench.
Algoma Women's coach Dave Bourgeault acknowledged the fact following the game saying that "With Roberta and Jess out, it was tough."
Bourgeault hopes to have his team cut down on fouls and talk more on the defensive end of the court.
"We did a decent job of getting our offence going," Bourgeault said. "We need to box out and talk on defence. We gotta talk."
Offensively, Algoma got six points from their top three scorers in the second half. Reid picked up all of her points in the opening half while King had 4 points and Stella Viotto, who also fouled out, picked up two of her 8 points in the second half.
"I'm disappointed we didn't win," Bourgeault went on to say. "We had a much better spread in the second half. Our three big scorers had six points in the second half."
The game was kept close for the most part and saw Algoma at one point tied with the Falcons.
With Viotto, Reid and King, all starters, out of the game after fouling out, the Thunderbirds managed to show that they could keep up with some of the OCAA's top talent.
For Fanshawe, Kristen Conway, a Sault Ste. Marie native, led the way with 18 points.