Keilor Thunder will be better for the run after a first up loss in the National Basketball League 1 South finals.
After an interrupted few weeks with injuries and unavailabilities, the Thunder was thrown into the biggest challenge in the first week of finals, facing an undefeated Geelong United.
The performance was one that Thunder coach Kristi Harrower would like to forget with United winning, 84-69.
“It was disappointing and we played terribly,” she said. “It is OK as we need some more games under our belts.
“We’ve had such a disrupted season, especially the last month with [Maddy] Rocci out, Kasey Burton out, Issy Bourne at Asia Cup.
“It was a good thing for us to get a game under our belt. It does mean it’s all do or die now but we’re better off that we get to play another game.”
Harrower returned to coaching the side after missing the last six games with Australian Opal commitments.
Bourne also missed those six games with the Opals, while Rocci, who was meant to be away with the Opals, missed those games with injury.
The pair returned to the Thunder on Saturday night. Tayah Burrows and Madi Puli have been ruled out for the season which has had impact on the Thunder.
“Rocci has been injured and she needs time to get back into it,” Harrower said. “Issy hopped off a plane on Tuesday.
“She didn’t play a heap of minutes.”
Harrower said there’s a reason why Geelong is the team to beat this season and they really got after them defensively.
She said they didn’t handle the physicality and they weren’t able to stop the momentum.
Geelong jumped out of the blocks and led by 11 points at quarter time, before extending the lead to 14 points at the main break.
The Thunder got the margin back to eight points at the final break, but couldn’t find a way in the final quarter.
“That was the worst game I’ve seen us play,” Harrower said. “It wasn’t Keilor basketball and we can only get better this week.
“We only lost by 15 points and had moments to get it back. I look at it as a positive.”
Bourne top scored with 25 points, while Jasmine Dickey had 22 points.
Harrower said they would continue to soldier on for the rest of the finals, knowing that there are challenges no matter who they play.
It will be a grand final rematch against the Waverley Falcons on Saturday night at Keilor Basketball Stadium.
The Thunder’s Big V youth championship women’s side kept its season alive with victory against the Altona Gators on Sunday.
A 25-11 first quarter set up the win and they were able to extend the lead the next two quarters.
The Gators won the final quarter, but the damage had been done as the Thunder won 85-64.
Hayley Courts top scored with 26 points for the Thunder.
