LUKE Krug was chaired off the Showcourt in the Tamworth Sports Dome on Saturday night by teammates David Bourke and Justin Leehy.
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It was a fitting and symbolic gesture for the Thunderbolt guard who has already moved to Gosford to work.
The Thunderbolts had just beaten pool leaders Newcastle Hunters 85-74 and, while equal on points, sit below the Novocastrians on percentage heading into the first round of the playoffs in a fortnight.
It means the Thunderbolts will probably have to travel to play their first crossover game against possibly Wagga, Lithgow or Canberra.
Krug will suit up for those games and any subsequent finals playoffs.
I will finish the season with the Thunderbolts
- Thunderbolts guard Luke Krug
"I will finish the season," he said.
A tiler by trade, he has secured a job delivering and fitting granite marble tabletops in the Central Coast region.
There is plenty of work too, he said.
"I've already moved down there," he said.
"I live just around the corner from Bluetongue Stadium."
But he is determined to help the Thunderbolts progress as far into the State League playoffs as possible.
His final game at the Sports Dome for the Thunderbolts ended in a win.
He had started "13 years ago".
"In the Thunderbolt Under 12s back in 2003," he said.
"It's been good."
Making the top four in the State in 2010 with the Thunderbolt Under 18 men, coached by Jono Willis, sticks out.
"We had Nic Kay," he said of the outstanding Tamworth basketballing product who won the NBL's Rookie of the Year with the now defunct Townsville Crocs and about to start with the Illawarra Hawks.
While Krug might have played his final game for the Thunderbolts on the Showcourt, it might not be his last game in the Thunderbolt headquarters.
"I'm hoping to play for the Central Coast Crusaders next year," he said.
"I might be back here to play."
While the Thunderbolt men are preparing for what will probably be an away game to start their State League playoffs next month the Chris Tudman-coached Thunderbolt women have a final assignment at Coffs Harbour on Saturday.
The Thunderbolt women lost to Coffs 100-60 at home in the Sports Dome last Saturday night and bowed out of playoffs contention.
They needed to win both the home game and this Saturday's way game against the Suns to make the playoffs.
Chris Tudman said the side would make sure it's final game of a tough season would be a contest in a season where his young side has excelled at times with some great run and gun play.
