Keilor Thunder players are maintaining a state of togetherness in a difficult Big V Basketball women’s division 1 season.
The Thunder is on a three-game losing streak and holds a dismal 4-9 record that has all but extinguished its finals hopes.
Yet Thunder coach Carey Paps has been encouraged by his team’s ability to stay positive in a season that hasn’t gone to plan.
“The team is still hanging in there,” Paps told Star Weekly. “Usually, when you’re losing a fair bit, you see cracks appearing, but there hasn’t seemed to be any for us.
“We’re sticking together, we’re still training hard and striving to get the next win.”
While the Thunder’s results have left a lot to be desired, there has been a lot to like from individual standpoints.
Paps had the honour of coaching the Vic Metro Origin All Stars last weekend where youth leaguers Amy Smith and Alexandra McKellar featured in the game. Having gone back to youth league for a year, Smith has played only twice in Thunder’s senior program this season. That means the young guard will be like a new recruit next season.
“When she came on board, she was probably 13 years old, so it’s good for her to go back and play with her friends and hang around with people her own age,” Paps said. “It takes a bit of pressure off her. She’s got a lot going for her – pace, skills, she can shoot and drive.
“She’s playing really well at the moment and even had a quadruple double about a month ago made up of points, rebounds, assists and steals – a rare commodity.”
McKellar is another up-and-coming youth league player.
The guard-forward is averaging 13 points and nine rebounds a game and should make the step up to senior level next season.
McKellar was a three-point shoot-out contestant on All Stars weekend, but is far from one-dimensional.
“She’s got the height, she can shoot the ball, plays inside and runs the floor,” Paps said.
Jessica Scannell has been the main weapon for the Thunder’s top team.
The Irish import is the fourth-ranked scorer in the competition with 19.9 points a game. She’s averaging six rebounds and 3.8 assists.
Amy Mitchener continues to be a high- volume scorer for the Thunder and has averaged 17 points and five rebounds a game.
Katrina Vogelezang has worked hard inside the paint to offer a presence against the opposition bigs.
The Thunder crew is looking to end the season on a high note, but Paps says the players need to clean up some aspects of their performance.
“We’ve just got to get our shooting percentage a lot better – and our defence,” Paps said.
“People keep propping up every week, so if we can put it all together on the same night, I think we’ll do alright.”
