Tara Murray
Keilor Thunder stood up big defensively late to come away with its first National Basketball League 1 South women’s finals win.
The Thunder, which made finals for the first time this season, hosted the Dandenong Rangers on Saturday night in a qualifying final.
The Rangers had beaten the Thunder the last time the two teams had played, in what was the Thunder’s most disappointing performance of the season.
Thunder coach Kristi Harrower was relieved to have gotten over the line and sealed a home preliminary final.
“It was a really tough game,” she said. “Both teams struggled in the last quarter to score.
“We were really good defensively in the last quarter and we wore them down and got over the time.”
Harrower said they had done a lot of work since the last time the two teams had played and looked at ways they could improve.
She said they wanted to redeem themselves from the last time they played.
The Thunder got out to a double digit lead throughout the match, before the Rangers hit the lead in the last quarter.
The margin was one point with about six minutes left on the clock.
The next four minutes neither team was able to score. The Thunder was able to break that deadlock and score the last eight points of the game, winning 68-59.
Harrower said it was really pleasing that even when they weren’t able to score, they were able to step up defensively.
“We both had opportunities,” she said. “We were able to continue to go ahead when we went stale as we held strong defensively.
“We’ve had moments where we’re struggled to score and they have continued to score. Our defence held strong and it’s a credit to the girls who’ve done a lot of work since the Dandenong game.”
Captain Maddy Rocci led the way with 20 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists.
Harrower said having the star point guard back in the side makes a massive difference.
“She brings that experience from big time games and we love having her in our system,” she said.
“She is a big time player in WNBL finals and she brings that leadership to the group.”
The other standout late in the game was Lily Carmody.
The guard scored 10 points in the final quarter while also coming up with some defensive stops.
She finished with 16 points for the game.
“People forget that she is only 18 years old,” Harrower said. “There’s so much upside in her.
“She’s an elite defender and she can get out on the break and get some points for us.
“She had a huge second half. We wanted to get out and run as much as we could.
“Rocci was able to do that with the Lilys’ (Lily Carmody and Lilly Rotunno] running beside her.”
The Thunder now get a week off before a home preliminary final the following week
Harrower said they could continue to train three times a week as they work on things they need to.
“We’ll probably have Saturday off, but we’ll head to Keilor to watch the youth league girls and make sure we’re there for them.
“They train with us week in, week out.”
