Keilor Thunder crashed to a disappointing 83-73 defeat to McKinnon Cougars in the Big V Basketball men’s state championship at Keilor Basketball Stadium on Sunday.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for the Thunder, which led by 10 points after three periods.
It fizzled out late, out-scored 31-11 in the final quarter to bring the Thunder’s brief time on top of the ladder to an end.
Keilor started promisingly, moving out to a seven-point lead at half-time.
The Thunder appeared to be in control of the game as it extended the lead in the third
period.
Thunder import Jordan Coleman had an interesting offensive outing, landing just one-from-seven in two-point range, but hitting five-from-seven from three-point land to finish with a team-high 25 points.
Hanner Mosquera-Perea was busy with 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Sammy Gazzo hit two three-pointers off the bench to finish with eight points. Jayce Beasley added six.
The Thunder players will look to re-load when they travel to play the Casey Cavaliers at the Casey Stadium on Saturday night.
In the women’s state championship, Keilor Thunder never got going against Southern Peninsula Sharks, losing 85-60 at Hillview Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Thunder was 10 down by the end of the first period and never mounted a serious challenge thereafter.
Genna Anderson tried to spark the Thunder off the bench with 17 points and eight rebounds, but to no avail.
The Thunder has tumbled to third-last on the ladder with a difficult home game against third-placed Hume City Broncos to come at the Keilor Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.
