Women’s Elimination Final
Saturday, the 20th of July @5:00pm: Sandringham Sabres v Waverley at Southern Basketball Stadium, Cheltenham.
The Sandringham Sabres women come into this do-or-die final off the back off a strong win against the Hobart Chargers to round out their regular season. It has been a relatively strong season for the Sabres after losing their first two games, before going on a scintillating run which culminated in 11 straight victories to be sitting high up on the ladder.
Injuries to key players have however halted their momentum in the backend of the season, winning just four of their last 10 games to finish 6th. The loss of superstar guard Funda Nakkasoglu and veteran Brittany Smart, both to calf injuries have been costly absences.
While Smart is back for what could be the last game of her professional career, Nakkasoglu will not play a part in the game with her injury. Young gun Hannah Wickstrom is also out, off to college in America in what will be a loss for their off the bench productivity.
They will again look for Klara Wischer to step up who has had a brilliant season. She has averaged 16.6 points per game and a whopping 13 rebounds. Japanese national player Juna Umezawa has also been very important averaging 14.6 points per game and six rebounds and will need to continue that form. Guards Isis Lopes (12.4 points) and Eilidh Simpson (9.9 points) have be crucial all season long as well.
While for their opposition, the Waverley Falcons made a late charge to sneak into the finals race at the eleventh hour. After a seemingly bad season, the Falcons kicked into gear and have won their last six games to qualify for finals and become a threat in season 2024. Centre Carley Ernst (17.2 points and 8.2 rebounds) and star guard Rebecca Cole (17.9 points) have been central in the team’s charge, as have McKenzie Forbes and Renae Mokrzycki.
Written by: Connor Burns | Back Pocket Banter
The last time they met:
Waverley def Sandringham 66-54
Like the men’s matchup, these two teams have only played off once. That battle came back in June when it was Waverley who prevailed by 12 points on the back of an even spread from Mokrzycki (14 points), Forbes and Ernst (both 13 points). The win ended Sandringham’s steak of 11 consecutive wins and kickstarted Waverley’s season.
So, will Waverley reign supreme again, or is it the Sabres turn to dish out some revenge in this do-or-die final?
Get down to the Southern Basketball Stadium in Cheltenham on Saturday for a 5:30pm tip-off to watch this highly anticipated clash between two genuinely good sides.
Men’s Qualifying Final
Saturday, the 20th of July @7:30pm: Mount Gambier Pioneers v Sandringham Sabres at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre, Mount Gambier.
The NBL1 South Conference finals officially kick off this Saturday night, with the Sabres men to do battle with the minor premiers in the Mount Gambier Pioneers away from home. In a 1st versus 4th battle, whoever comes out on top of this will go straight through to a Preliminary Final and put themselves in the box seat for a Championship title.
The Sabres season started shaky after a Grand Final appearance last season, losing their first three games. However, after important inclusions into the side headlined by Melbourne United duo Shea Ili and Tanner Krebs, the boys found their mojo. They went on to win 15 of their last 19 games to charge into the finals and give themselves a good shot.
What makes Sandringham so hard to play is their range of scorers and quick and precise ball movement. Krebs has led the team this season averaging 21.6 points per game, but Ili (16.7 points), captain Campbell Blogg (13.1 points), Tom Koppens (12.9 points), C.J Asuncion-Byrd (12 points) as well as young gun Joel Foxwell (11 points), are all capable of destroying the opposition.
For the Mount Gambier boys, they have been formidable all season long, winning 17 of their 22 games and often posting massive scores while being stingy on defence. They are also stacked with talent, containing several NBL players in their squad. Adelaide 36ers guard Nick Marshall has lit up the NBL1 season, averaging 23.7 points per game. New Melbourne United Development Player Akech Aliir has also been dominant, averaging 18.8 points and 10.2 rebounds and often monstering opposition defenders.
Austin Shelley (12.9 points), Christian Peevy (11.7 points) and Titus Robinson (11.1 points) will also be players that the Sabres must keep in check if they are to come away with a victory.
Written by: Connor Burns | Back Pocket Banter
The last time they met:
Mount Gambier def Sandringham 97-79
The two sides have only met once this season all the way back in April, with Mount Gambier prevailing by 18 points at the Sabre dome in a heated and fiery contest. That day Aliir (22 points and 9 rebounds) and Marshall (20 points and 10 rebounds) proved very hard to stop. For the Sabres Blogg and Koppens scored 19 and 18 points respectively to give their team some hope.
With quality additions to the Sandringham Sabres team since their last meeting, who will move onto the Preliminary Final?
Get to the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre in Mount Gambier for a 7:30pm start, or if you can’t make it to the game, it will be available to watch on the NBL1 website and Kayo Freebies.
For all the Sabres fans out there, the game will also be live streamed up on the big screen at the Sabre dome, following the girl’s final against Waverley.
