Thunder Struck Spectres Set to Bounce Back in Tassie

Facing one of the NBL1 South’s most explosive line-ups on their home court, the Nunawading Spectres women were unable to slow a red-hot Keilor Thunder outfit on Saturday night, going down 95-67 in a result that doesn’t reflect the grit shown across four quarters.

The Spectres arrived at Keilor Stadium keen to shake off last week’s loss to Eltham and recapture early season rhythm. But with Australian stars Issie Bourne and Maddy Rocci reunited in the Thunder’s line-up, Keilor delivered a blistering start that put the Spectres on the back foot early, trailing 29-16 at the first change.

Despite the early scoreboard pressure, Nunawading showed glimpses of their best – particularly through Rachel Antoniadou, who continued her strong form with 23 points and six assists, including four triples. Rachel Brewster also stood tall, finishing with 19 points and a pair of steals, asserting herself in moments when the Spectres needed a spark.

But while the Spectres had pockets of momentum, Keilor’s shooting proved relentless. The Thunder knocked down eight first-half triples and shot 59% from the field through three quarters, creating a gap Nunawading couldn’t close.

The result sees the Spectres fall to 3-4 on the season, but with a key double-header in Tasmania ahead – taking on Hobart on Friday night and Launceston on Saturday – there’s an immediate chance to regroup, recalibrate, and re-establish themselves in the top half of the table.

The Nunawading Spectres men came within a single possession of a signature road win on Saturday night, falling 102-100 to Keilor Thunder in a high-octane contest that had everything – shooting fireworks, momentum swings, and a dramatic finish.

Nunawading were electric out of the gates, torching the nets with 7-of-9 shooting from deep in the opening term to pile on 37 points and lead by as many as 22 early in the second. Christian D’Angelo was again at the forefront, pouring in a game-high 28 points with efficiency and flair, while Cameron Cranston was flawless from distance, hitting all five of his three-point attempts.

Keilor, however, clawed their way back into the game with a 13-0 run before half-time and eventually edged in front late in the fourth. Despite trailing in the final minute, the Spectres fought until the final buzzer, with Joe Mutimer’s three cutting the margin to two as time expired.

The Spectres spread their scoring load once again, with Jack Gandolfo adding 14 points and seven assists, Mutimer 12 points and five assists, and Brian Mack II anchoring the boards with 14 rebounds to go with 11 points. Daniel Baxter also impressed with 10 points, seven rebounds, and three assists off the bench.

Now sitting at 3-4, Nunawading will hit the road again this weekend for a two-game Tasmanian swing – a Friday night showdown with Hobart before backing up against the North West Thunder on Saturday. With performances continuing to trend upward, the group knows it’s only a matter of time before scoreboard results align with their effort and execution.