Tara Murray
It was a mixed weekend for the Keilor Thunder as it hit the road for the first time in the National Basketball League 1 South season.
Both the women’s and men’s team travelled down to Tasmania as they played back-to-back matches against the two Tasmanian teams.
On Friday night, the women’s team won their first match of the season beating the Hobart Chargers.
The Thunder were still missing both of their imports.
The Chargers started the better of the two teams and led by eight points at the first break.
The margin was reduced to three points at half time.
The Thunder stepped up the defence in the third quarter and took control of the game with an 18-7 quarter.
They finished it off in the last quarter, to win 68-55.
Maddie Garrick and Monique Andriuolo top scored with 23 points each.
In the second of their back-to-back matches, the Thunder found the going much tougher against the Launceston Tornadoes.
The Tornadoes jumped out of the blocks and led by 22 points at half time. The second half was much closer, but the damage had been done.
The Thunder lost 93-69.
Garrick top scored with 19 points.
After a first up win, the men’s side found the going a bit tougher on the road.
On Friday night, the Thunder lost to the Chargers.
After an even first quarter, the Thunder shot away to a nine point lead at the main break.
The Chargers reduced that to three points at the final break.
A 24-15 final quarter sealed the 89-83 win for the Chargers.
Kian Dennis top scored with 19 points, while Jacob Lampkin chipped in with 18 points.
The Thunder was hoping to bounce back against North West Tasmania Thunder on Saturday night.
The Thunder was slow out of the blocks and trailed at half time by 11 points.
It was an even third quarter with the Thunder able to reduce the margin by two points, but they weren’t able to get any closer with the Tasmanian team winning 77-62.
Lampkin top scored with 16 points.
