In an electrifying showdown between the Thunder and the Northside Wizards, the Thunder emerged victorious in a thrilling display.
The Thunder wasted no time finding their rhythm, swiftly driving to the basket and showcasing individual brilliance to keep the Wizards within reach despite their early struggles from beyond the arc. However, a change for the Wizards saw Ben Adamson enter the game, unleashing a highlight-reel dunk.
Undeterred by the Wizards’ response, the Thunder stayed focused on their game plan, with Zac Triplett heating up from downtown to propel his team to a commanding 29-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
As the game progressed into the second quarter, Jean-Luc Morel stepped up off the bench, to make his presence felt, providing valuable contributions on both ends of the court .
Although Wizards’ star Lual Diing found his stride, Dalton and Triplett continued to lead the Thunder’s offensive charge, maintaining their lead heading into halftime with a score of 52-40.
The third quarter saw the Wizards’ defense tighten, forcing the Thunder into difficult shots and narrowing the gap to just six points.
In response, Thunder coach Luke Cann called a crucial timeout to regroup his team. Emerging from the timeout, Morel once again made a significant impact, complemented by clutch three-pointers from the Thunder’s offense.
The quarter culminated in a sensational fastbreak jam from Tyrone Fui over Lual Diing, extending the Thunder’s lead to 73-56.
In the final quarter, it was Sean Bruce who seized control, showcasing his prowess with timely three-pointers, precise passing, and relentless defense to secure the win for the Thunder.
With both benches emptied in the closing minutes, the Thunder celebrated their third win of the season, propelled by a standout performance from their bench, which outscored the Wizards’ bench by 18 points.
Callum Dalton led the scoring with 21 efficient points, while Sean Bruce’s double-double proved instrumental in sealing the victory. Looking ahead, the Thunder will face the Southern District Spartans next Saturday in what promises to be another thrilling contest.
