Tara Murray
Keilor Thunder’s Big V men’s championship title hopes are in the hands of the state government.
With Victoria in lockdown until at least September 2, the Thunder are waiting to find out whether the season will continue.
Basketball Victoria has announced that if basketball returns this season, teams will play in a shortened finals series to be played over one weekend, September 11 and 12.
A reserve weekend has been set for the following weekend. If no matches can be played by that date, the season will be called off and no winners crowned.
Thunder coach Liam Glascott said all they can to do is wait and hope cases drop enough for restrictions to ease.
The Thunder claimed the minor premiership with 11 wins.
“We’re waiting on the government’s decision with restrictions,” he said.
“If we do get out of lockdown in time, we are hoping there are some decisions in relation to community sport.
“We’re just trying to stay in contact. We’re not doing anything special. All the guys are doing their own things and taking care of themselves.
“Once we get an announcement we will look to do something.”
Glascott said the results this year had been something they had been building to since being promoted into the top division in 2018.
“The roster we put together, we thought we would be up there. We thought we would have been up there last year too,” he said.
“This year we got in Luke Sist and then brought in [former league most valuable player] Nelson Kirksey just before the mid part of the season.
“He only played three games and was still fitting in with the boys.”
Glascott said they had been hoping to get a second shot at the times they had lost to earlier in the season, in the lead up to finals.
With lockdowns making it hard for imports to play in the competition, the Thunder’s core group of local players have really stepped up to the fore.
Glascott said it was good to see those guys, who already played key roles, really take on the extra responsibilities.
“Chuck [Charleston Long] has been really good with his leadership, his scoring and defence,” he said.
“Mitch [Lukey] and Matt [Spencer] are energizer bunnies. Joel Bellman is able to guard the opposition’s main shooter.”
Glascott said no what the next few weeks bring, the side would look to celebrate what had been a successful season.
“We have had a great year,” he said.
“We have won the minor premiership, but it’s not the championship which we want to be winning.
“We’ll look to celebrate the season and build from there.”
The Thunder are set to face Casey in a knockout semi final on September 11. McKinnon Cougars will play Hume City Broncos in the other semi final, with the two winners to meet in the grand final.
The Thunder’s women’s side just missed finals, finishing in fifth spot.
