Keilor Thunder has proven to be mere mortals in the Big V basketball men’s division 1.
The Thunder’s nine-game winning run came to an end on Sunday when it blew a six-point, three-quarter time lead in a 79-76 loss to Geelong Supercats at The Geelong Arena.
Even after the loss, Keilor is still way out in its conference, three games clear on top of the ladder.
Keilor made a fine start, winning both the first and second quarters to go into half-time leading by six.
It was a margin that remained at the end of the third period, but the Supercats had slowly turned the momentum by restricting the Thunder’s scoring.
Keilor’s lead was immediately erased by a 6-0 Supercats run to start the fourth quarter and it was game on.
The Thunder could not halt the home side’s momentum and wound up on the losers’ list for the first time this season.
Keilor’s inability to land shots from long range hurt. It converted just five of 23 shots from beyond the arc.
The Thunder dominated inside the paint, thanks largely to captain Charleston Long, who had a massive 17 points and 23 rebounds.
Long has averaged a double-double in points and rebounds this season.
Matt Spencer, the leading assist player in the league, had an off day for Keilor with just one assist and seven turnovers to go with nine points.
The general struggles of the Thunder starting five ensured plenty of minutes for the bench, including B.J. Symons, who was superb with 18 points and six rebounds.
Keilor will re-load for a clash with the Warrnambool Seahawks at the Keilor Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.
In women’s division 1, Keilor Thunder was no match for the title-hunting Geelong Supercats, going down 75-51 at The Geelong Arena on Sunday.
Amy Smith, with 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals, and Aneta Bandilovski, (12 points, four rebounds and four assists), were the stand outs for the Thunder, who are 4-6 for the season.
The Thunder, who have won three of their past four games, have a chance to make up some ground on the leaders when they face Western Port Steelers and Camberwell Dragons in a double header this weekend.
