DAYTON — The Preble Shawnee girls’ basketball team was upset by Dunbar on Monday, Dec. 19, 37-34.

Preble Shawnee head coach Kevin Schaeffer summed it up by saying, “(We) couldn’t fix panic tonight.”

The Arrows (2-6, 2-3 Southwestern Buckeye League) were killed by many of the things hampering the entire season. Tonight, however, everything was amplified.

“We lost to a very sloppy team,” Schaeffer said. “Unacceptable.”

In the fourth quarter the Arrows started playing like an inexperienced team. They forced multiple shots that weren’t needed, didn’t show desire to ice the clock, and played themselves out of a win.

It was a nine point lead entering the quarter.

Adding to the team’s inability to kill the clock was an early trip to the double bonus only 90 seconds into the fourth. That put extra pressure on the defense and allowed Dunbar to loosen up.

The Arrows only shot 10-for-21 from the free throw line, the worst the team has shot all season.

Schaeffer sees one of the biggest problems being in the leadership department — an area that normally sees a senior step up. On a team that is so young, that can – and has in Shawnee’s case – become a problem.

“No one wants to step up and put the team on their shoulders when needed. The lack of leadership is killing us,” Schaeffer said. “We have players that can and should (lead), but we aren’t getting it.”

The Arrows will now enter a crucial point in the season. Early on, Schaeffer addressed the late start as a major negative for this team. Now, with eight games in and an extended break, the team has the time to work on a lot of things in practice. The biggest question will be how does the team respond? That will shape the second half of the season.

“No more am I accepting the excuse of ‘three or four minutes of bad basketball and we could’ve won,” Schaeffer said. “From here on out, nothing but focus and work are acceptable.”