Fox said coach Kirstin Daly-Taylor told her gutted players they had toiled but miscommunications and rebounds needed to be aligned with the rest of the facets of their systems.
"She was in a positive mood in the locker room so that was good for us," he said.
The three losses on the trot for the Taylor Corp-sponsored Hawks this season come on the heels of another cliff-hangar of a clash against the Canterbury Rams here the previous Sunday when the visitors celebrated in extra time.
While Fox's mishap was perhaps the defining moment of the game, the Bartlett and Jarrod Kenny co-skippered Hawks made some elementary mistakes despite maintaining their lead in three quarters - 23-20, 48-44 (25-24) and 67-61 (19-17).
Air shots, gifting baskets after a mix up between US import Lamar Roberson and Fox and defensive lapses that allowed Mountainairs foragers to strut through like slinky models on a catwalk were glaringly obvious.
The lack of urgency in collecting rebounds also barked like a rabid dog as players looked at each other as if to ask who should have whipped out the ladder at the orchards there, lads?
Kenny's presence as the little general set the rhythm and mood on the court, something the Hawks lacked in the previous games although it isn't a slight on talented teenage point guard Mataeus Marsh.
Fox said: "It came down to a couple of plays, a couple of things we should have done better, they got a couple of offensive rebounds from miscommunications but we're heading in the right direction so we need to stay positive and it's too early to choke down."
Just going off the boil a little offensively in the final spell, which they lost 15-8, he said the Mountainairs swooped on their errors to find momentum.
"I take my hat to them, they played well and came back to fight hard."
With Kenny in the mix for three days, he said, the incremental improvement on the floor was evident but once the players start to become comfortable with each other in training the chemistry would surface.
"Things are looking good for us at the moment," said Fox who scored 10 points.
Asked if he had anything else to add, he replied: "Love my mother."
South Africa power forward Greg Fiorentinos again showed why Daly-Taylor should rethink her roster after a double-double 12 points and 13 rebounds, matching Taranaki import forward Daniel Gomis' 13 points and as many rebounds.
Roberson still seems to be adjusting to the game plan after stating pre-season he was the type of player who showed his prowess where coaches gave him a licence to be a swingman who could deliver on the outside and inside.
With American centre Amir Williams arriving on April 3 Fiorentinos will be hoping another NBL franchise picks him up or he'll put his feelers out in the second-tier SEABL in Australia.
A player who wears his heart on his sleeves, Fiorentinos also has the ability to engage with the fans at pivotal times from the bench.
Bartlett had a match-high equal 21 points with Taranaki import Tylor Ongwae as the pair picked up six rebounds each. The former made five assists and the latter four blocks.
Bay-raised Alonzo Burton, with retired NBL great/father Willie and mum Suzanne watching from the sidelines, scored 13 points.
Burton, who played for the defunct Manawatu Jets before returning to the Hawks, has foot in both camps.
"I was born there [Taranaki] 22 years ago and I moved here when I was one [year old] so I grew up in Hawke's Bay.
"A win is always good, especially on the road so it feels really good," said last season's Hawk shooting guard as Taranaki posted two wins from three outings.
He said the team chemistry in the Trent Adams and Dave Bublitz-coached side was good to be a part of.
The flogging boys of past seasons, the Mountainairs have had the wood on the Bay in the past five rounds.
Reflecting on keeping the faith despite trailing in three quarters, he said: "We've done our fitness in the off season and worked really hard so we back ourselves when our backs are against the wall so to come away with a one-point win and you're not at home is pretty awesome."
A beaming Burton said it was hard to block everything out on the court and appreciated the support from pockets of fans in the PG Arena for captain Aaron Bailey-Nowell and his troops.
The visitors' imports were team players and he flatted with them.
So why did he switch allegiances?
"Oh no reason at all, just to make a change. Taranaki gave me an opportunity so I jumped at it," he said.
It doesn't become any easier for the Hawks who host defending champions Wellington Saints in a 7pm tip off at the PG Arena this Saturday.
They lost 107-84 to the Saints in the capital in their opening round, albeit with key signings who were trickling in from abroad.
Result: Taylor Corp Hawks 75 (Everard Bartlett 21pts, 6 reb, 5 ast; Greg Fiorentinos 12pts, 13 reb; Darryl Jones 10pts, 4 reb; Joshua Fox 10pts, 3 reb, 3 ast) Taranaki Mountainairs 76 (Tylor Ongwae 21pts, 6 reb, 4 blocks; Daniel Gomis 13pts, 13 reb; Alonzo Burton 13pts, 3 reb; Huston O'Riley 11pts, 6 ast).
Quarters (Hawks first), 1st: 23-20. 2nd: 48-44 (25-24). 3rd: 67-61 (19-17). Final: 75-76 (15-8).
