Tara Murray
It’s a case of close, but not close enough for the Keilor Thunder in the National Basketball League 1 South competition.
The Thunder has won just one match this season, but had an averaging losing margin of just five points, showing how close they are.
Thunder coach Liam Glascott said it had been one of those seasons so far. He said lack of experience at this level was showing through.
“We just can’t get over the line,” he said.
“Once the boys see they can get a win and they are capable of doing it, they will be fine.
“We’re a new team and have not played at this level. We’ve got 14 or 15 players who have rolled through, but only three had played at this level before.
“It’s a small portion and we don’t have that experience down the stretch.”
Glascott said it was frustrating for the players and the coaches, that they haven’t been able to turn them into wins.
He said the key was not only to have composure in the final minutes, but play their basketball for the full 40 minutes.
“We have little patches where we don’t play the brand we are after,” he said. “We are very capable.
“When the opposition takes the lead in the last quarter, it’s hard to get it back. It’s that inexperienced stuff at this level.”
Glascott said injuries hadn’t helped the side either.
Melbourne United development player Triplett, a Keilor junior, broke his hand in the Mt Gambier game and will miss most of the season.
Glascott said Triplett was one player who had that extra experience.
“Zac was one guy that could have got us over the line,” he said.
“He hurt his hand and played out the game as he didn’t realise he had hurt it until the next day.
“He’s had surgery already.”
Abiola Akintola and Carlo Camp are both out with ankle injuries.
Akintola hurt his ankle during a pre-season tournament and rushed back too quickly. Scans later showed ligament damage and bone bruising.
After hurting one ankle during the pre-season, Camp hurt his other one but is expected after the Queen’s Birthday break.
Glascott said it was a chance for the younger players and those who had been the club’s Big V program to get more experience.
With the injuries, the Thunder has looked to add another bigger body in Jake Martin.
Glascott said that it would take a little bit for Martin to get up to speed.
“Jake and Hume [City Broncos] parted ways,” he said. “I knew him from previous years.
“With a few more weeks of training, we think he’ll step into a good role.”
The Thunder are due to face Melbourne Tigers on Saturday night.
Glascott said they were hoping to get back on the winners list.
The Thunder’s women’s team that has won three of its last four games, also face the Tigers this week.
