Logan Thunder save best for last

BDS Logan Thunder’s Women’s National Basketball League season finished on a bittersweet note on Friday night, with the side being edged out by Bendigo Spirit, despite arguably their best display at home this season.

In the end, the Spirit’s desperation to win in order to clinch a playoff spot, proved the difference as the away side scored a come from behind 86-82 victory at Logan Metro.

Thanks to some precision shooting and counter attacking basketball, the home team took a six-point lead into the main break and they stretched the margin out to 10 points midway through the penultimate quarter.

However the Spirit composed itself and after the final two minutes of the third quarter saw four lead changes, the away side were trailing by just a single point at the final break.

Beckoning for a tight finish, the final quarter did not disappoint delivering everything you’d expect from a blockbuster Hollywood movie: suspense, drama, anguish and jubilation.

The boisterous crowd could barely remain on their sits as the two teams were neck and neck throughout most of the quarter.

Both teams had their chances in the final minutes, but it was Kelly Wilson’s three point shot to give the Spirit the lead with a minute left in the game that turned out to be the final blow to the Thunder’s chances of ending the year with a win.

It was a cruel way for the Thunder to end the year, after holding the lead for more than 33 minutes of the 40-minute game.

While it wasn’t the way Thunder coach, Jason Chainey wanted to end his first season in charge, he was proud of his team’s effort.

“I was very proud of the girls when we played Canberra down there and the way we played here against Sydney (on December 20), but probably (this was) the best game for us this year and I’m quite proud of that fact,” he said.

• BENDIGO 86 (Kelly Wilson 28, Chelsea Aubry 27, Lauren King 13) beat LOGAN 82 (Kristen Veal 19, Natalie Purcell, Rebecca Haynes 14)