It was a brilliant weekend for Keilor Thunder in Big V basketball, with the men’s and women’s teams combining for three wins between them.
The men’s side got things off to an ideal start with a six-point road win against the ladder-leading Shepparton Gators on Saturday night.
Nothing could separate the two sides early in the contest, with scores level 20-20 at quarter-time.
The Thunder emerged from the break in better shape and started to control the play.
Keilor dominated the next two quarters offensively and defensively, restricting the Gators to just 18 points while scoring 38 at the other end.
The match looked over, with Keilor enjoying a 20-point lead going into the final term, but the Gators weren’t about to go away quietly.
Shepparton launched a late fightback, restricting Keilor to just 13 final-quarter points while adding 27 of its own.
But the margin was always going to be tough to reel in, and the Thunder was able to hold on for a 71-65 win.
Sam Loccisano was Keilor’s leading scorer for the night, putting up 18 points.
He was well supported by Mitchell Lukey and Brooklyn Carey, who both finished in double figures.
The defeat was the first home loss for Shepparton this division 2 season.
The Thunder men’s good run continued on Sunday, with Keilor making it two wins in two days with a win against the North East Bushrangers.
Keilor recovered from a one-point half-time deficit to fight its way to the top in the second half at the Wodonga Leisure Centre.
The Thunder won the half by seven points to secure an 80-74 win.
Also on Sunday, Keilor’s division 1 women’s team beat Hawthorn by three points, 71-68.
