History made in Halls/Woollacott - Brilliant Mikayla "BMW" Williams (left) is the first back-to-back medallist since 2004 and Jawan Stepney (right) the first for the Warriors since 2016 - pictured here with Tristan
3-Minute Read
NBL1 Central Expert/Commentator/Analyst Tristan Prentice reporting from the Halls Woollacott Medal last Sunday 23 July
Over 250 people attended the Halls Woollacott Medal for 2023 at the InterContinental Adelaide in a night of glitz and grandeur to celebrate one of the most competitive seasons of the state league ever seen. Hosted by “Downtown” Allan Browne who also has been rewarded with representing NBL1 Central as our commentator at the National Finals in Joondalup Western Australia August 18-21 – the consensus was unanimous from the players in the Halls but an open race for the Woollacott in the Mens.
Sturt Sabres brilliant Mikayla “BMW” Williams was crowned back-to-back Halls medals becoming the first since South Adelaide Panthers Deanna Smith in 2003 and 2004 to take out the accolade. Jess Foley of the Norwood Flames came close in 2011, 2012 and 2013 but Williams managed to equal the feat polling 38 votes to win comfortably from coaches MVP North Adelaide Rockets Brooke Basham. She beat out a field of contenders for runner up with Southern Tigers Mollie McKendrick, West Adelaide Bearcats Jasmin Fejo, Woodville Warriors Nicole Fransson and Merv Harris winner Forestville Eagles Maddy Freer (the first Eagle to win it since Olivia “Thompson” Levicki in 2013) making up the top five. Sabres Tayla Brazel the leader for steals in 2023 took out the defensive player of the year award setting her up for a big WNBL season with the Adelaide Lightning off her Gems campaign in Spain.
The All-Star five was a different story with several stars of the league including the Tigers Morgan Yaeger, Basham, Williams, Norwood Flames Ally Wilson and McKendrick named in the lineup. After an 18-0 season Tim Shortt of the Sturt Sabres was awarded back-to-back coach of the year awards the first since Kay Flynn of the Eagles in 2000-2001.
Woodville Warriors Jawan Stepney surprisingly although a clear candidate took out the Woollacott Medal comfortably by 12 votes from runner up Sturt Sabres Jordan Forbes who also won the coaches MVP award. Stepney became the third Warrior behind Nelson Kirksey (2016) and Alex Starling (2014). Stepney and Forbes beat out a field of contenders for runner up, South Adelaide Panthers Daniel Johnson, Central Districts Lions Branden Jenkins and West Adelaide Bearcats Lachlan Olbrich who also became the first back-to-back winner of the Frank Angove medal since three-time winner Jacob Holmes of the Eastern Mavericks in 2002-2004. Panthers Alex Starling took out defensive player of the year award capping another high quality season for the superstar of the league.
The All-Star five was varied with several stars of the league including the Bearcats Anthony Drmic and Olbrich, Forbes, Jenkins and Starling named in the lineup – amazingly Stepney did not make the all-star five. Paul “Rags” Rigoni of the Sturt Sabres won his fourth coach of the year award (2016, 2017 and 2021) putting him outright in the all-time accolades since 1998 with current coaches Scott Ninnis, Rupert Sapwell and Scott Whitmore with two each.
For the officials the Phillip Yuill medal for the Womens was awarded to Nathan Davis for the first time and for the Mens to Nathan Durant – it is Durant’s tenth award in either Mens and Womens since 2007 and he is now the all-time leader ahead of Phil Haines with nine awards.
We are back to doing recaps for the NBL, Catch all the NBL1 Central action this weekend on the NBL1 website, app and game of the week in First Round of the finals between the Forestville Eagles Men and the Sturt Sabres Men on Kayo and Kayo Freebies this weekend.
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CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 