By Lance Jenkinson
Keilor Thunder has earned the respect of the Big V basketball women’s state championship.
It was a tough task for the Thunder to convince headquarters to be part of the top-flight competition, but they eventually got the green light and proved they belong.
The Thunder rounded out the campaign with a 77-69 loss to playoffs-bound Southern Peninsula Sharks at Keilor Basketball Stadium on Saturday.
Keilor was slow out of the blocks to trail Southern Peninsula by 11 at quarter-time, but fought back to get within three points at half-time. In an arm wrestle in the third, the Thunder edged closer, trailing by just one point at three-quarter time, but the Sharks finished the game stronger to win by eight.
Erin Bollmann completed a dazzling first season as Keilor import with a huge 21-point, 16-rebound game.
Briana Babic (11 points) and import Kailyn Williams (10 points, six assists) were also influential for the Thunder.
Meanwhile, respect is a word that could also be associated with Keilor Thunder after its first season in the men’s state championship.
The Thunder had a disappointing final weekend, going down twice in a double header, but with an 8-14 record, they were certainly no pushover this season.
On Saturday night, Keilor travelled to Werribee and could not get going offensively.
The Thunder lost 61-50 at Eagle Stadium with imports Jordan Coleman (19 points, six rebounds) and Hanner Mosquera-Perea (14 points) the only real offensive threats.
In their home closer on Sunday, Keilor was beaten 92-80 in by the Hawthorn Magic.
The Magic won in the overtime period 16-4 to run out 12-point victors.
Coleman was again at the forefront for the Thunder with 24 points and eight rebounds, while Jeff Crowe had 16 points and seven rebounds.
