By ADEM SARICAOGLU
THE Keilor Thunder remains second in Division Two Men’s Big V basketball but was reminded of just how good the division’s top team is on Saturday night.
The Thunder trekked to Melton Indoor Recreation Centre to face a rampant Thoroughbreds outfit in a round 15 battle for top spot.
However, by the final buzzer, it was clearly apparent which of the two deserves top billing with the playoffs just four weeks away.
Melton stamped its authority on the game from the very first tip off and by quarter time had already established a 10-point buffer.
The Thunder then responded with a solid second term in which they outscored the Thoroughbreds 23-21.
Going into halftime Peter Jukes’ men would have been feeling good about their chances of pulling off an upset in the second half, but little did they know an onslaught was on the cards.
Melton was at its unstoppable best in the final two quarters as they cruised ahead on the scoreboard, adding on a whopping 53 points to Keilor’s measly 26, sending shockwaves through the entire division to establish themselves as the clear short-priced favourite for the title.
Little could be done as Paul Ross (26 points) and Cameron McCallum (19) led the way beneath the ring for Melton.
Matthew Jukes was a solid contributor for Keilor with 22 points of his own, but with little support around him, the Thunder never got close, going down 96-61.
Meanwhile earlier in the night the Thunder’s women also had to face the competition leader of their division, but, unlike the men, managed to steal a massive road win against the Southern Peninsula Sharks.
Down by five points after a disappointing first quarter, the Thunder clawed their way back to get within a point of the Sharks by the main break.
After Keilor restricted the home team to just eight points in the second term the offensive floodgates opened after the main break.
It was the visitors who managed to get ahead with 20 points to Southern Peninsula’s 16 in the third quarter but by no means was the game over, and Keilor had to fight out an even last quarter to hold on for an important win that keeps it in touch with the top three.
Nala Tubb scored 14 points for Keilor while Jessica Franke was also handy with 11 of her own.
Both teams will host the Western Port Steelers on Sunday.
