UBL24 QF – Waatu Men take it to the precipice in thrilling finish

Spectre Dihan Wiggett returned to put on a highlights reel but the Waatu managed to match him basket for basket through a tense final in Melbourne last week - Photo by MUBC

 Waatu Men fall to bigs of Black Angels in thrilling finish

It almost went exactly to script as per the match against the University of Sydney Tech in Melbourne in 2023 and this year they were even closer. The eighth placed Waatu defied the odds as they took on first placed Melbourne University Black Angels and ran them right to the finish line. 

The Black Angels rolled in Nunawading Spectre Dihan Wiggett and Dandenong Rangers giant centre Ellis Biggar with Wiggett impacting in a huge way with a ferocious right hand dunk in the first quarter. The Waatu however unleashed their own firepower in Central Districts Lion’s Ayual Garang and Norwood Flame’s Darcy McNamara (12 points in the opener) opening with a triple once again on the home side. Some of the reverse finishes at the cup were delightful to watch from the Waatu as they took a surprising 31-33 lead thanks to Garang’s triple to beat the short shotclock at the Nona Lee Sports Centre. 

McNamara continued to draw all defenders to him as he showed a treasure chest of reverse layups, contact reverse finishes, shake and bake dribble jump shots then dished some wonderful passes to oncoming cutters through the key. Not to be outdone Wiggett and Biggar continued to keep their scoreboard ticking over with the Spectre’s huge two handed rim rattler and open lane for take off dunk igniting the large home crowd. Josh “Spud” McNally resumed his counter battle with McNamara as he added some punch to the scoreboard but the supporting cast of this day in Harry Bruce (15 points and 12 rebounds) and company saw the Waatu still with the lead at halftime 48-54. While Wiggett had 19 points at half time the combo of McNamara with 23 points and a highly effective Garang with 15 points were leading the charge in an electric first half. 

McNally (16 points) resumed proceedings after the break for MUBC with eight quick points in the opening minutes of the second half. The conscious effort shifting to the #1 of the Waatu which opened the door for Bruce to get busy. Kai Garnaut (18 points and nine rebounds) also started to get rolling as the Melbourne Tiger dunked one in transition but the Waatu answered every challenge thrown at them with a Garang triple helping them to a 70-74 three quarter time lead – an upset looming in consecutive finals series.

McNamara re-awoke in the fourth with a triple but the giant of Biggar was proving tough to contain – helping MUBC back into the lead 80-79. The task became more difficult for the Waatu with Garang fouling out at 90-87. The last few minutes were crazy to witness and watch for all fans of the Waatu. McNamara slotted two free throws before Waatu caused a turnover and an open Isaac Hampel was swatted away by Wiggett. McNally drew an offensive foul on the next play with a heavily contested shot alive on the glass more than a couple of times, finally put away by Biggar but in the process muscled Bailey Nathan out the way illegally giving up an unsportsmanlike foul. Nathan made one of two with the second agonizingly teetering on the rim and Waatu had possession 92-90. 

The Waatu got a great couple of looks with McNamara first then an offensive rebound giving Nathan the chance but crashing it off the backboard. His clever work on the offensive glass forced it off MUBC out of bounds. Resetting again Davies found Bruce who put up the floater runner missing on the rim and MUBC grabbed possession. Nathan fouled McNally who headed to the free throw line and made the first one nervously 93-90. The second rimmed with Biggar tipping it and for some bizarre reason Garnaut ripped it behind his back – back into court where Wiggett appeared to take possession behind the halfway line and dribbled it back into their scoring half. The pleads for a backcourt violation fell on deaf ears as McNally ran over Hampel, slid it to Wiggett and the Waatu were consigned to back to back finals exits in the quarters again 93-90 in the finale. 

Wiggett showed his experience and nous throughout the whole contest with 25 points, nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks while Biggar didn’t get any smaller as the game went along with a monster 24 points and 27 rebounds (18 offensive). The Waatu were led in the scoring by McNamara with 33 points, four rebounds and three assists and Garang was superb with 24 points and nine rebounds before fouling out. 

The Waatu should be proud of their effort in the final piecing it together with a much smaller lineup compared to the bigs of the Black Angels – plenty of progress made in season 2024 with many players now returning to further opportunities no doubt in the future at NBL1 level.           

QF Men MUBC 93 (Wiggett 25, Biggar 24, Garnaut 18, McNally 16) defeated AU Waatu 90 (McNamara 33, Garang 24, Bruce 15, Hampel 9)

Catch the thrilling replay of the Waatu’s qualifying final against Melbourne Uni on Uni Sports TV

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