KEILOR Thunder is on the verge of a major boilover in the Victorian Basketball League Big V women’s division 2 playoffs.
The underdog Thunder took out game one, 73-65, in a best-of-three semi-final series to leave minor premier Werribee Devils shell-shocked at Keilor Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.
PICTURE GALLERY: Keilor Thunder v Werribee Devils
The Thunder moved to within one game of the season decider – a scenario that would have been a pipedream six games into the season when it held a 2-4 record.
Trailing by as many as nine points early in the second period, the Thunder was rewarded for its persistence, getting the game back on an almost-even keel at half time with the Devils’ lead trimmed to four.
The Thunder produced a performance from the top shelf in the second half.
It quickly wiped out the deficit before compiling a healthy seven-point lead entering the fourth. The margin grew to as much as 13 before the Devils were out of the rear vision mirror.
The Thunder will hit the road with confidence, knowing one win out of games two and three will advance it to the grand final. In the lead up, Thunder coach Carey Paps promised a surprise or two in the playoffs, and Amy Smith was to prove the wildcard of game one.
Smith finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in easily her best game of the season after averaging only 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game in eight regular-season games.
Jodi Impey had 10 points and eight rebounds, Jessica Francke reeled in 11 rebounds and Sally Braybon came off the bench for 16 points.
The Thunder won the rebounds (+10), assists (+9) and steals (+1) and put the icing on a sweet cake with nine three-pointers, including four to the sharpshooting Braybon.
Meanwhile, Keilor Thunder moved a step closer to the Big V basketball men’s division 2 grand final.
The Thunder returned home after a solid 81-64 win over a lacklustre Pakenham Warriors in game one of a best-of-three semi-final series at The Coliseum in Pakenham on Saturday night.
It will have two games on its home court at the Keilor Basketball Stadium this weekend to secure a passage through to the grand final.
