Finding a way to turn fits and starts into consistent, good quality basketball will be the off-season challenge for Taranaki Mountain Airs coach Daryn Shaw after his side concluded their home programme with a heavy 81-64 loss to the Bay Hawks yesterday.

Like so many other National Basketball League games this season, the Good Home Mountain Airs found periods when they could match the Hawks, they just were not long enough.

Things are never easy, either, when you come out cold and the Mountain Airs were more than chilly as they fell behind 15-3 midway through the opening quarter.

The character and spirit they have shown through what can only be described as a learning season for the largely rookie squad was evident again but the league leaders were simply too classy right across the court.

It didn't stop the Mountain Airs coming back from that deficit to post a 24-19 first quarter lead, however, although that was gone by halftime.

Mountain Airs import Suleiman Braimoh was again the go-to man for the home side and he deserved the ovation he received late in the fourth quarter when Shaw opted to give him a well earned rest with the game gone.

Braimoh scored a game high 27 points, pulled down a game high 12 rebounds and was a constant threat.

He just did not get enough support.

Brad Anderson tried hard, scored 19 points and provided some nice moments, but the side was short another significant contributor.

They were not helped by captain Aaron Bailey-Nowell having an off night, as he landed just two from eight from the field, while Derek Albertsen could only manage two from nine.

Without a higher percentage from those guys, the Mountain Airs usually struggle and yesterday was another example.

Not that Shaw was in any mood to be critical of his players, despite being disappointed with the result.

''It's a learning curve and that's part of the experience,'' he said.

''We're hoping next year we'll be better and more polished but I'm proud of the boys and how they played. I'm also proud of our culture and the way we are developing what we have.''

Shaw stood by the club's decision to attempt to develop more local talent than going to the market and buying guys they are likely to only see for a year.

The Mountain Airs finish their season away to the Saints on Friday.

BAY HAWKS 81 (Marco Alexander 19, Kareem Johnson 19)

TARANAKI MOUNTAIN AIRS 64 (Suleiman Braimoh 27, Brad Anderson 19). 1Q: 19-24; 2Q 39-41; 3Q: 60-54