The Otago Nuggets' sportsmanship has been criticised after the team failed to attend the trophy presentation following their massive 115-67 loss to the Southland Sharks in Invercargill on Friday night.
Sharks supporter Dion Cameron wrote to the Otago Daily Times to express his disappointment at the behaviour.
''I realise any loss is a difficult one and any loss to a local rival is an even bigger pill to swallow, but I must say I was appalled at the response of your team's players,'' Cameron wrote.
''Your table-topping Otago Nuggets did not even stick around for the presentation of the silverware to the deserved victor.''
Basketball Otago general manager Markham Brown acknowledged the Nuggets' absence was a poor look.
But he also said the etiquette surrounding the presentation of the ILT Challenge Shield had never been formalised and the players had not understood what was expected of them.
''We probably have not made a big enough deal of the presentation in the past,'' Brown said.
''When the presentation has been here, we have never really involved the opposition in it. I think maybe we need to organise a proper presentation.''
Brown said the Nuggets had informed the Sharks they would be skipping the after-match function. With all the rough weather in the region that week, there was genuine concern about the safety of the roads and the team was eager to depart as early as possible.
