Werribee Devils fail at the first test

Werribee Devils Jessy Price is closely guarded by Keilor Thunder defender Genna Anderson. (Shawn Smits)

The season has come to an abrupt end for Werribee Devils in the Big V basketball women’s division 1.

It was one-and-done for the Devils, eliminated by a hungrier and healthier Keilor Thunder in a 78-63 loss at the Keilor Stadium on Sunday.

It was always going to be a tough ask for Werribee, which has struggled since import Sumar Leslie returned home mid season with injury.

The Devils sorely missed the leadership of Rohanee Cox, who had averaged more than 20 points this season, in the playoff game.

The writing was on the wall early for Werribee with home side Keilor skipping out to a 19-point half-time lead.

Jessy Price did everything in her powers to try and get the Devils back in the game, scoring 24 points, including four threes, to go with seven rebounds and seven assists.

Price has been superb this season, firstly as a member of the ‘big three’ with Leslie and Cox, then taking over the play-making role in their absences.

Outside of Price and Ashleigh Rozenfeld, who came off the bench to post a quickfire 14 points in 12 minutes, the Devils did not have the offensive punch they needed on the day to win.

At one point in the season, the Devils were seen as the favourites for the title, but a straight sets finals exit was coming after they had lost four of their previous five games.