NBLxNBL1 wrap (July 31)

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

The NBL1 season is reaching its peak, with one of the competition's conferences set to play its Grand Final this weekend.

The first Grand Final of NBL1 kicks off this weekend, with the Gold Coast Rollers and Ipswich Force, preparing to lock horns in a best-of-three finals series.

Recently crowned conference MVP Jason Cadee will be searching to add a second straight NBL1 North crown and Grand Final MVP to his cabinet following the Rollers’ victory over USC Rip City last season.

Cadee was his usual imperious self in the Rollers’ semi-final win over the South West Metro Pirates and recorded a 22-point, 11 assist double-double to lead the Rollers into the final two.

Illawarra’s Todd Blanchfield also starred in the victory with a game-high 32 points and 16 rebounds for the Rollers, while former Brisbane Bullet Lamar Patterson had 30 points for the Pirates.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Gold Coast Rollers are ?? ??? ???? ????? ????? ???????<br><br>NBL veteran Todd Blanchfield led the way with a huge 32 point, 16 rebound double-double, including 6?? triples ?<br><br>Watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL1NorthFinals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL1NorthFinals</a> Game of the Week Live & Free on <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> Freebies ? <a href="https://t.co/JzbKFcB5uz">pic.twitter.com/JzbKFcB5uz</a></p>— NBL1 (@NBL1) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL1/status/1684878953909993472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Nathan Sobey led the Force to a semi-final victory over the Logan Thunder, in what was an NBL talent-laden clash to set up this weekend’s meeting with the Rollers.

Sobey scored 24 points for the game – second only to Force teammate and uncontracted free agent Deng Deng – in the hard-fought, low-scoring win.

Sydney’s Jaylin Galloway also added 12 points for the Force to take bragging rights over Kings teammate Shaun Bruce.

Bruce top-scored for the defeated Thunder and came within touching distance of a triple-double with 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while recently signed JackJumper Majok Deng finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Majok Deng finishes the alley-oop ?<br><br>Watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL1NorthFinals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL1NorthFinals</a> via <a href="https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8">https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8</a> or the NBL1 App ?&? <a href="https://t.co/C9wI0in9Ld">pic.twitter.com/C9wI0in9Ld</a></p>— NBL1 (@NBL1) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL1/status/1685245335830982656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Despite finishing on top of the NBL1 Central ladder the West Adelaide Bearcats will be forced to take the long way around if they’re to make it to the Grand Final, following their surprise semi-final defeat to Forestville.

Anthony Drmic’s 25 points and Mitch McCarron’s 15 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists were not enough to overcome the Eagles, who emerged victorious by just two points.

Melbourne United development player Malith Machar starred on both ends of the floor in the win with 26 points, six rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Forestville has ?????? ?? a spot in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL1Central?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL1Central</a> Championship Game ?<br><br>With the lead swinging in the final minutes, it was Adam Doyle who won it with just ?? ??????? to play ?<br><br>Watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL1CentralFinals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL1CentralFinals</a> via <a href="https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8">https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8</a> or the NBL1 App ? & ? <a href="https://t.co/rO0tVkBbbp">pic.twitter.com/rO0tVkBbbp</a></p>— NBL1 (@NBL1) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL1/status/1685532707659321344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Forestville had earned their place in the semi-finals, following a one-point win over Sturt in last week’s qualifying final.

Eltham’s NBL1 South campaign has come to a stuttering end despite the best efforts of NBL-rostered pair Owen Foxwell and Angus Glover.

The Wildcats fell to Mason Peatling’s Knox side at the semi-final stage, despite Foxwell’s 35-point performance.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great atmosphere at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL1SouthFinals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL1SouthFinals</a>. Owen Foxwell doing everything he can to keep Eltham alive vs Knox. <a href="https://t.co/4CjvoX2wuk">pic.twitter.com/4CjvoX2wuk</a></p>— Liam Santamaria (@Liam_Santa) <a href="https://twitter.com/Liam_Santa/status/1685247356068065280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Geraldton Buccaneers and Willeton Tigers played out a classic finals fixture in NBL1 West, however Phoenix centre Gorjok Gak’s Tigers fell by just one point to the Zac Gattorna-led Geraldton.

Gak finished the clash with a game-high 29 points and 11 rebounds, while NBL23 champion Gattorna struck back with 27 points of his own.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Willetton ran that break perfectly ?<br><br>Watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL1WestFinals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL1WestFinals</a> via <a href="https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8">https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8</a> or the NBL1 App ?&? <a href="https://t.co/SJgh8aKSvr">pic.twitter.com/SJgh8aKSvr</a></p>— NBL1 (@NBL1) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL1/status/1685261553937842177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tasmania’s Junior Madut suffered a tough loss to Sutherland at the elimination final stage of NBL1 East. The wing added a team-high 20 points in the 19-point loss to the Sharks.

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Mitch McCarron – West Adelaide Bearcats (NBL1 Central)
vs Forestville Eagles – 15 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists

Kyrin Galloway – Ipswich Force (NBL1 North)
vs Logan Thunder – 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block

Jason Cadee – Gold Coast Rollers (NBL1 North)
vs South West Metro Pirates – 22 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists

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Nathan Sobey – Ipswich Force (NBL1 North)
vs Logan Thunder – 24 points, 8rebounds, 1 assists

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Mason Peatling – Knox Raiders (NBL1 South)
vs Eltham Wildcats – 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist

Lachlan Olbrich – West Adelaide Bearcats (NBL1 Central)
vs Forestville Eagles – 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists

Todd Blanchfield – Gold Coast Rollers (NBL1 North)
vs South West Metro Pirates – 32 points, 16 rebounds, 1 assist

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Brad Newley – Frankston Blues (NBL1 South)
vs Diamond Valley Eagles – 17 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a chase down block by Brad Newley! ?<br><br>Watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL1SouthFinals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL1SouthFinals</a> via <a href="https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8">https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8</a> or the NBL1 App ?&? <a href="https://t.co/JMfQh0Mpja">pic.twitter.com/JMfQh0Mpja</a></p>— NBL1 (@NBL1) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL1/status/1685244256758157312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Malith Machar – Forestville Eagles (NBL1 Central)
vs West Adelaide Bearcats – 26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists

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