12 teams, two titles: The best from east to west come together to fight it out for the NBL1 National Championship in the finals tonight - photos by NBL1
5-Minute Read
Women’s National Champions
Warwick Senators (NBL1 West)
Watch out for!!!
The superstar that is Stacey Barr has had a huge season. In 22 games she scored an average of 25.1 points and 7.5 rebounds and has been a big reason for the Senators winning it all this season. Expect a matchup of Jasmin Fejo to quell her at both ends of the floor though Skye Langenbrinck could also see some time on the star Senator.
You would know them…
A known quantity is recently retired WNBL and Perth Lynx centre in Natalie Burton and at the NBL1 level she’s still producing the same type of numbers. Catching the ball close to the hoop keeps her average of 59 percent from the field and in a balanced lineup the Senators have – it’ll be up to Jennie Rintala or Madelynn Utti to stop her.
A familiar face is…
A South Australian that provides some serious kick off the bench for the Senators is Jessica Goodluck. Brother Dan also played over in WA but Jess who’s just returned from the University of Hawaii in Division 2 gives the Senators some quality. She averages 3.73 per game in 11 minutes per contest and I’m sure SA fans will be hoping to see some quality courttime for her over the weekend as part of the Senators rotations.
The Crossover Closer
The Champions were number one for scoring (92.8), assists (23), field goal (47.3) and three-point percentage (37.3) and steals (11.8). That’s a lot of indicators that the Bearcats who they’ll meet on opening night need to be aware of as they face off in the first clash of the evening.
Albury-Wodonga Bandits (NBL1 East)
Coaches: Matt Paps, Sam McDonald, Brad McNeil
Watch out for!!!
She’s a unique talent and its Unique Thompson’s game that’s been super impressive this season. The Grand Final MVP has averaged 29.67 points at 66 percent, 15 rebounds and averages 2.8 steals per game which contributes to the bandits 92 fast break points. Expect Madelynn Utti to see plenty of time on the talent of the East if the Bearcats meet them.
You would know them…
If she suits after Opal’s camp (highly unlikely but we can hope) “The GOAT” Lauren Jackson will be a privilege to watch after the comeback of the decade. She averaged 31 points at 58 percent and pulled in an average of 12.64 rebounds per game. This is an assignment for Rintala that would be a significantly mission impossible-esque challenge about it, but you know she’d give it a crack.
A familiar face is…
Basketball aficionados will have noticed a Japanese star in the lineup in Ai Yamada. She’s a member of the youth team and one to watch for the rise of the national team in coming years. Yamada runs the point for the Bandits averaging 19 points, 5.8 assists and 4 rebounds – that’s efficiency.
The Crossover Closer
Regardless of whether LJ plays this one – the Bandits have looked a gelled unit all season. They are one of the favourites and if LJ does play then they’ll be a treat to watch.
Townsville Flames (NBL1 North)
Watch out for!!!
She finished the WNBL season in a blaze of glory and continued it into the NBL1 North season. Steph Reid has been the go-to for the Flames as she had been for the Fire under Shannon Seebohm. In 22 games she’s averaged 22 points and hit 93 triples making her always a dangerous commodity. If she meets the Bearcats – expect Fejo to come under plenty of attention from her.
You would know them…
She had some big games against the Adelaide Lightning last season so it’s no surprise that Courtney Woods has comeback stronger than ever. Woods averages the most minutes for the Flames and shoots the ball at nearly 50 percent from the field including 44 percent from beyond the arc. That’s a job for either Langenbrick or Jasmine Simmons to stop her getting heated up early.
A familiar face is…
The artist formerly known as Newley is a South Australian product that recently has joined Chris Lucas at the Melbourne Boomers and it’s no surprise. Mia Murray is still providing the impact for the Flames meanwhile and continues to be a useful veteran presence in this lineup. It’ll be a job for Simmons to make sure she doesn’t catch fire.
The Crossover Closer
The Flames are a little cooler without Alanna Smith (Europe) but don’t let that fool you of their potential. There’s a reason that Reid and Woods have improved under Seebohm and continuity with plenty of WNBL experience – that makes them a huge favourite for this weekend but one team could be in just that slightly better form.
Ringwood Hawks (NBL1 South)
Watch out for!!!
I can’t wait to watch this import live. Marta Hermida turned it one in the Grand Final for the Hawks in the second half and did some special things. The Spanish import has averaged 16.2 points in 25 games but winning form is good form for the guard who dropped 19 points. It’s a Fejo or Langenbrinck job again if they meet this weekend.
You would know them…
The energy spark and Grand Final MVP has elevated her game to another level. Marena Whittle dropped 33 points and 19 rebounds in the decider and is a hot tip to be most improved player in the WNBL this season. This feels like a Utti job but a teammate in Fejo is a solid matchup given she can match that energy on the glass as well.
A familiar face is…
Jacqueline Trotto for those who follow their WNBL is a rookie player with the Melbourne Boomers. As we know at NBL1 level often these rookies have more key roles, and the young forward is starting to grow into her role through the Hawks averaging 7.8 and 8.68 rebounds per game.
The Crossover Closer
The fact we haven’t been able to even include Digna Strautmane, Zoe Jenkins, Bella Niven-Brown, Paige Price and Toni Farnworth in this list suggested that this Hawks side is one of the most stacked of the weekend – that’s why I have them favourites to take it all out.
Southern District Spartans (NBL1 North) – Wildcard Winner
Watch out for!!!
You know a coach like Shane Heal is onto a good thing when NBL1 form gets you across the line as a signing which is the case for Madelyn Allen. Allen who has signed with the Flames and was a development player replacement for the Townsville Fire in 2018/2019 – is the do it all player with 17.30 points, 6.85 assists and 5.05 rebounds on average this season. As a scoring guard again it’ll be Fejo/Langenbrinck combination likely if they meet.
You would know them…
Another former Lightning name and WNBL known figure in Nadeen Payne has been stacking her usual solid numbers shooting the highest percentage from the field for 10 games or more (58 percent) and her usual clip of 41 percent from beyond the perimeter. Given her ability to get to the perimeter you need mobility and Simmons would be a solid matchup for her ability.
A familiar face is…
We only just saw her recently for New Zealand in the Commonwealth Games however you would most recognise Kalani Purcell from her WNBL career. She hasn’t travelled around for a player in the WNBL much having represented mainly the Melbourne Boomers and only just shifting to the Flames last season. Purcell is a bang and crash operator and is the number one rebounder for the Spartans which creates plenty of second chance opportunities for her team.
The Crossover Closer
Don’t sleep on the Spartans just because they are a wildcard team! They have a rematch of their dogged semi-final with the Flames first up and that could put them in battle mode for the weekend ahead. There’s plenty of quality on this roster to really throw the Womens draw wide open.
Men’s National Champions
Rockingham Flames (NBL1 West)
Watch out for!!!
There might be suddenly no Devondrick Walker (Bullets), but Marshall Nelson has shown he can mix it with the best at the top level. Nelson in his 20 games averaged 21.85 points, 6.50 rebounds and 4.50 assists notably though he had a key hand in the Grand Final with 19 points in 22 minutes off the bench. He’ll need to step up to get the Flames across the line and is likely to wear a fair bit of Jeremy Smith tonight.
You would know them…
The king of the glass himself former Perth Wildcat Greg Hire is definitely the kind of player coach Ryan Petrik likes in his team. Hire hasn’t lost any of his ability hauling in 44 offensive rebounds for the season. We know the veteran is one of the craftiest and intelligent players under the basket – It’s a big job for Codey Ellison to make sure he stays on the ground.
A familiar face is…
Another former Wildcat still commands the centre position in Tom Jervis. Back to where it all started when he was plucked out of obscurity selling radiators at mining sites by Trevor Gleeson – Jervis continues to deliver his usual output averaging 9.86 and contributing a handy 13.33 points as well.
The Crossover Closer
The Flames may have been burned by the absence of the league and Grand Final MVP in Walker, but they are still man to man one of the toughest teams of the weekend. If the Panthers can overcome them tonight – that gives us a clear picture as to how much of a real chance the Panthers are overall.
Canberra Gunners (NBL1 East)
Watch out for!!!
The backs to the wall Gunners team channels much of its punch through William Mayfield. The forward has been a focal point with 18.1 points and 6.6 rebounds rebounds per game. It’s another assignment for Ellison if the Panthers meet them over the weekend.
You would know them…
You can drop the extra R from Glenn Morison as he’s already shown he’s a rising talent. 28 points in the Grand Final along with 11 rebounds already tells you that. You’d know him as one of the teammates of Bul Kuol and Tre Armstrong over at California Baptist in the USA – of course it’s a big assignment for none other than Alex Starling if they meet.
A familiar face is…
James Toohey you may not know directly but his sibling Alex is making waves at the COE. They’ve played each other this season too the former Marist College players but James ain’t no joke either. He’s still dropping 12.9 per game and a big part of the Gunners starting five. Todd Davies seems the likely matchup for the weekend ahead.
The Crossover Closer
The Gunners are rolling now and with all their travel together over the season, that connection may cause some headaches for teams this weekend. The talent pool compared to other squads may be the issue for the Canberra team – but you just never know.
Hobart Chargers (NBL1 South)
Watch out for!!!
A hungry Amos Harris Junior will be keen to have a huge weekend after a quiet Grand Final. He’ll need to have a big one too with no Sam McDaniel, Harry Froling and Jared Bairstow on NBL duties. Harris had 7 points but has been important this season averaging 14 points, 4.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. He’s likely to see plenty of Jeremy Smith if they matchup.
You would know them…
Ole Angerstein is going to be fun to watch this weekend and if you didn’t know them – you’ll work out above the rim is where this kid likes to play. The “Dunk machine of Deutschland” has dropped 14.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game and no doubt is on the radar of many teams. I’d love to see Starling matchup on this guy and see them go toe-to-toe.
A familiar face is…
Jacob Richards will need to step up for Bairstow and Froling – but he’s already used to doing this. He played alongside Harry’s brother Sam and other NBL faces in Callum Dalton, Tamuri Wigness, Wani Swaka-Lo-Buluk and incoming Kody Stattmann. Richards is highly efficient with 52 percent from the field and 6.5 points per game – expect those numbers to be slightly higher with more court-time.
The Crossover Closer
Two teams have really lost a bulk of what got them here to the NBL but Anthony Stewart has had this group together for some time and they haven’t missed a beat. Finishing top of the tree again in South means they are a real smokey to take out this whole weekend.
Gold Coast Rollers (NBL1 North)
Watch out for!!!
It’ll be no easy task to replace Jason Cadee but Jaze Morris is going to bring it his hardest. The Rollers impact player’s numbers look small but with extra time out on the floor he’ll be someone that can light it up quickly. He’s a 40 percent three-point shooter and will likely see some Davies if matchups occur.
You would know them…
There’s no NBL contract at this stage for Lamar Patterson who seems to have settled for Australia as a location to play hoops – but this veteran ain’t done yet. He’s coming off pine now but don’t be surprised to see him into the starting line-up this weekend in place of Tanner Krebs. Patterson still is giving 16.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game so it might be time to call on the NBL “Lockdown” man in Sam Johns for this one if the Rollers see them this weekend.
A familiar face is…
Coach and player what can’t this man do? Anthony Petrie with the number of important outs is likely to suit as a player this weekend and is the only player coach this whole weekend for the finals. “Peach” all Adelaide fans will know having played under Joey Wright here and at the Gold Coast Blaze – a storied 11 season career before retiring in 2018. If the Gold Coast get their NBL licence in the future – who knows we might see the first player coach suiting for the NBL since Matt Flinn for the Illawarra Hawks in the mid-2010s…
The Crossover Closer
Plenty of “Bullet” holes in the Rollers but that’s why they are called what they are – they are rolling as well as anyone. They still have plenty of depth and any team out of NBL1 North is going to be competitive. They currently in my mind have the slight edge on most teams and are my favourite to win the weekend.
Frankston Blues (NBL1 South) – Wildcard Winner
Watch out for!!!
There is a distinctively Melbourne NBL flavour to the Blues and Dillon Stith is one that immediately jumps off the page of this team. Continuously called upon as a roster player – Stith will once again be looking to prove to everyone he deserves another recall. He averaged 15.8 points and 6.8 rebounds but his explosiveness off the dribble in this powerful team will worry opposition. It’s a matchup for Starling to go head-to-head if they meet.
You would know them…
Daniel Trist has been on the fringe and shown his potency as a low block player. The former NBL player with South-East Melbourne Phoenix and New Zealand Breakers has been solid yet again with 15.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in a very even team. Ellison will likely see some time on a player who may yet still at least become and injury replacement selection for an NBL side.
A familiar face is…
It wouldn’t be the national finals preview without pulling out a character of the team such as Igor Hadziomerovic. You’d recognise the former Melbourne Tiger and United player who has an important role off the bench energising his side. Averaging 10.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and shooting it at 46 percent – Igor is another not to ignore.
The Crossover Closer
The fact this team is as stacked as it is and still isn’t talked about in the conversation for the title this weekend is flabbergasting. While they may be wildcard winners – this team has the potential to go very deep into Sunday and could even pull off the unlikely victory in a Mens draw.
I’m obviously hoping for the SA double
But if you truly ask me, in the Women it’s hard to go past the Albury-Wodonga Bandits with or without LJ, I’ve seen a bit of them this year but my smokey is the Ringwood Hawks. For the men, the ‘Bullet’ holes in the Gold Coast Rollers hurt and it evens out the candidates. Rockingham Flames looks solid even if Devondrick Walker doesn’t play – Hobart Chargers have been a consistent unit under Anthony Stewart so I’ll take them as a smokey but despite the outs, the Rollers would still be a huge favourite to win it.
Catch all the NBL1 action tonight on the NBL1 website, app on Kayo and Kayo Freebies
NBL1 – Australia’s League
Please continue to support SA basketball news and features content being written, with our recent influx of work we are making content all free to read again but need constant contributions to make this happen. If not keen to subscribe then please message to receive direct debit details
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 