By Lance Jenkinson
Keilor Thunder has missed out on the Big V basketball men’s state championship playoffs by the finest of margins.
The Thunder’s fade-out 116-105 loss to McKinnon Cougars in the final round at the Keilor Basketball Stadium on Sunday consigned them to a fifth-placed finish.
Last year, finishing fifth would have sent the Thunder to the playoffs, but fewer teams this season cut the playoff spots from six to four, so luck was not on their side.
The Thunder finished one game outside the top four.
It was an arm-wrestle for three quarters between Keilor and McKinnon on Sunday but the Cougars held a slender two-point lead at three-quarter time.
However, the Cougars proved too strong in the last period, out-scoring the hosts 29 to 20.
Mike Anderson finished his first season as Keilor import on a high note with 37 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Anderson was a stat machine for the Thunder, averaging 24.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.
B.J. Symons had a superb game with 25 points and seven rebounds, while Daniaell Herbert provided 15 points.
In the women’s state championship, Keilor Thunder defeated Casey Cavaliers 80-70 at Keilor Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.
Genna Anderson was the key for the Thunder with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Erin Bollmann, Ellen Kett and Aneta Bandilovski all reached double figures in points.
