Keilor Thunder suffered an agonising 80-77 defeat to Hume City Broncos in Big V women’s state championship at Broadmeadows Basketball Stadium on Sunday.
The Thunder’s play-off hopes were all but extinguished by the nail-biting overtime loss.
It was a bitter pill for the Thunder players to swallow after they had seemed in command when leading the game by nine points after the third quarter.
But Hume City finished much the stronger, out-scoring the Thunder 23-14 in the fourth and 10-7 in overtime.
It was a great team effort that had taken Keilor to a winning position.
Six of the eight Thunder players reached double-figure scoring.
Imports Erin Bollmann and Kailyn Williams registered double doubles.
Bollman had 14 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and a massive six blocks, while Williams scored 12 points to go with 13 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Thunder captain Alexandra McKellar was outstanding off the bench with 14 points, while Briana Babic offered direction with 14 points and six assists. Aneta Bandilovski was the Thunder’s main three-point threat, finishing with 13 points, including three threes.
Keilor remains a mathematical chance to reach the finals, but cannot afford a blemish in the final five games and will need help from other teams.
The Thunder will be hoping to snap a two-game losing streak when they face Knox Raiders at the State Basketball Centre this Sunday.
In the men’s state championship, Keilor Thunder’s focus is on survival rather than finals.
The Thunder slumped to a fourth consecutive loss in its 75-65 defeat to Waverley Falcons, leaving it six games out of the top six with six games to go.
It was an offensive struggle for the Thunder, with BJ Symons its only player to break free, scoring 22 points.
Chuck Long had a solid all-round game for the Thunder with 11 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, while Joel Bellman was a spark off the bench with 12 points and six rebounds.
Keilor will entertain ladder leaders Ringwood Hawks at Keilor Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.
