Keilor Thunder’s women’s side started the National Basketball League 1 South season with a win, but the men couldn’t do the same.
The new-look Thunder women were able to hold off the Frankston Blues on Friday night to kick off its season.
The Thunder led by three points at quarter time before the Blues levelled the scores heading into the main break.
The Thunder was able to get the margin back out to four points heading into the final team.
That would be the final margin with the Thunder winning, 80-76.
Maddy Rocci showed no rust after a short break after the Women’s National Basketball League season, playing all 40 minutes and scoring 33 points.
Isabelle Bourne also played the whole game, scoring 25 points.
The men’s team then jumped on the court at Frankston but found the going a bit tougher.
It was just about game over at quarter time, with the Thunder trailing 38-21.
The Thunder showed some fight in the second quarter to reduce the margin to six points at the main break,
Just like the first quarter, the Blues controlled the game and were able to blow the margin back out, leading by 22 points at the final break.
The Thunder won the final quarter, but it was too little too late, as it lost 115-98.
Jalen Gibbs, in his first game for the Thunder, top scored with 30 points while Kyle Zunic scored 27 points.
One positive out of the result was every Thunder player getting court time.
The Thunder has a massive round in round two, with three matches.
After not playing a midweek game last season, the Thunder face the Diamond Valley Eagles on Tuesday night and then the Kilsyth Cobras on Thursday night.
The Thunder finish round two at home for the first time this season against Geelong United.
