Basketball NSW has been pleased to announce the award winners for the 2024 Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 East season, over the course of this week. The award categories are Defensive Player of the Year, Youth Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, All Star Five and Most Valuable Player, awarded across both divisions.
The Most Valuable Player awards are determined by votes from the Head Coach of each team in the competition, after every game, using a 3-2-1 system. Voters were not permitted to vote for members of their own team.
Please see below for a recap of the awards and finalists, and a huge congratulations to all on a very exciting season!
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
MEN – FINALISTS:
- Christian Little – Maitland Mustangs
- James Toohey – Canberra Gunners
- Jonas Harper – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
- Matt Wacher – Sydney Comets
- Will Hickey – Albury-Wodonga Bandits
WINNER: Jonas Harper & Will Hickey (both received an exact amount of equal votes)
WOMEN – FINALISTS:
- Ashlee Hannan – Albury-Wodonga Bandits
- Caitlyn Martin – Norths Bears
- Davida Dale – Sydney Comets
- Jessie-May Hall – Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders
- Nicole Munger – Newcastle Falcons
WINNER: Davida Dale
YOUTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
MEN – FINALISTS:
- Cameron Pender – Canberra Gunners
- Charlie McBeath – Bankstown Bruins
- Jay Cole – Maitland Mustangs
- Kye Savage – Centre of Excellence
- Zackary Kimball – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
WINNER: Kye Savage
WOMEN – FINALISTS:
- Carla Pitman – Norths Bears
- Ella Dent – Illawarra Hawks
- Jessie-May Hall – Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders
- Monique Bobongie – Centre of Excellence
- Zoey Miller – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
WINNER: Jessie-May Hall
COACH OF THE YEAR
MEN – FINALISTS:
- Curtis Sardi – Bankstown Bruins
- Luke Boyle – Maitland Mustangs
- Peter Herak – Canberra Gunners
- Robbie McKinlay – Centre of Excellence
- Tim Hill – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
WINNER: Tim Hill
WOMEN – FINALISTS:
- Kristy Bultitude – Newcastle Falcons
- Nathan Kirwan – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
- Rachel Maenpaa – Central Coast Crusaders
- Renae Garlepp – Norths Bears
- Sam McDonald – Albury-Wodonga Bandits
WINNER: Renae Garlepp
ALL STAR FIVE
MEN:
- Alex Higgins-Titsha – Inner West Bulls
- Glenn Morison – Canberra Gunners
- Will Cranston-Lown – Maitland Mustangs
- Will ‘Davo’ Hickey – Albury-Wodonga Bandits
- Will Mayfield – Canberra Gunners
WOMEN:
- Lauren Jackson – Albury-Wodonga Bandits
- Madeline O’Hehir – Norths Bears
- Mikayla Pivec – Albury-Wodonga Bandits
- Nicole Munger – Newcastle Falcons
- Unique Thompson – Albury-Wodonga Bandits
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
MEN – FINALISTS:
- Alex Higgins-Titsha – Inner West Bulls
- Chris Bryant – Hills Hornets
- Mandrell Worthy – Norths Bears
- Will Cranston-Lown – Maitland Mustangs
- Will ‘Davo’ Hickey – Albury-Wodonga Bandits
WINNER: Will Cranston-Lown
WOMEN – FINALISTS:
- Lauren Jackson – Albury-Wodonga Bandits
- Madeline O’Hehir – Norths Bears
- Mikayla Pivec – Albury-Wodonga Bandits
- Nicole Munger – Newcastle Falcons
- Tahlia Tupaea – Penrith Panthers
WINNER: Nicole Munger
Congratulations again to all of the winners on a fantastic achievement!
The 2024 Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 East season comes to an end this Saturday, the 10th of August, where the last two remaining teams in each division will battle it out for the title of champion. Our 2024 MVPs, Nicole Munger and Will Cranston-Lown, will feature in the grand final games – and all teams are bound to display some impressive basketball .
Please click HERE for a game day guide, with everything you need to know about the Grand Finals tomorrow.
A limited amount of tickets remain, please click HERE to purchase.