It was a huge weekend in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, where the 2024 Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 National Finals were held. The Caloundra Indoor Stadium and UniSC Arena played host to the best NBL1 teams in Australia; the champions of each conference, all vying for the National Title, of which NBL1 East’s very own Newcastle Falcons Women and Maitland Mustangs Men were in contention.
Congratulations to the Newcastle Falcons Women and Maitland Mustangs Men, who demonstrated incredible skill and talent, and performed well against high-calibre competition. The energy both teams brought to the National Finals and their ability to have fun and enjoy the experience as a team was on full display and earned National attention.
Although knocked out of the Championships competition, huge applause is due for both NBL1 East Championship teams, who gave the Nationals their best effort and brought unmissable team dynamics to the Sunshine Coast.
In addition to the East league front-runners, several other NSW representatives were present at the National Finals, proudly representing the East conference. Hamish Salburg von Falkenstein and David Herbert from the East were selected to be part of the National Finals commentary panel – each bringing their own unique vibrancy to their respective games.
Five referees from the East were also selected for the 2024 Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 National Finals referee panel, and officiated games at the highest level with rigour. A huge congratulations to these referees on their exciting selections, namely; Bradley Mattioli, Marcus Hayden, Marko Nikolic, Michael Beevers and Nathan Paff. A special mention to Michael Beevers, who was also selected to officiate the Women’s National Grand Final game.
Check out a recap of the 2024 Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 National Finals games below:
DAY ONE – FRIDAY 16TH OF AUGUST
Waverley Falcons 99 – Newcastle Falcons 85
Highest Newcastle Point-Scorers: Munger 31, Nichols 16, Brett 13
The Newcastle Falcons met the Waverley Falcons in the NBL1 National Finals after both teams achieved championship success in their respective leagues. Newcastle started Friday’s final with energy but struggled early on as Waverley built a 32-22 lead by the end of the first quarter. However, Newcastle found momentum in the second quarter, starting with a three-pointer from Sophie Brennan, and a jumper from Elissa Brett mid-way through the quarter gave Newcastle a brief lead. In the second half, Newcastle’s defence and offensive efforts, led by standout performances from key players, weren’t enough to match Waverley’s dominance. Nicole Munger was the standout for Newcastle, delivering an outstanding 31-point performance, paired with 10 rebounds, four steals, and three assists. She was nearly flawless from the free-throw line, shooting 11/11. Elissa Brett added a well-rounded 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Despite their efforts, Newcastle couldn’t regain control as Waverley stretched the lead to as much as 16 points in the final quarter, eventually falling 99-85. Other notable contributions for Newcastle came from Aarion Nichols, who added seven points, three rebounds, and three assists, and Sophie Brennan with eight points, five rebounds, and two assists. Captain Kate Kingham chipped in with seven points, three boards, and three assists, while Hannah Chicken contributed eight points and eight rebounds.
Check out some of the match highlights:
Knox Raiders 99 – Maitland Mustangs 89\
Highest Maitland Point-Scorers: Cranston-Lown 33, Hunter 17, Gray 16
The Maitland Mustangs battled against the Knox Raiders in their first National Finals game, after their NBL1 East championship victory just six days prior. Coming off two heartbreaking Grand Final losses in previous seasons, the Mustangs finally secured their championship and were determined to make a strong showing at the national stage. Knox started the game aggressively, opening up a 29-20 lead by the end of the first quarter and extending their advantage to 15 points early in the second quarter. However, the resilient Mustangs, led by their standout player Will Cranston-Lown, fought back with a 15-point run to take the lead briefly before halftime. Cranston-Lown, a two-time MVP and Grand Final MVP, hit a crucial three-pointer that gave the Mustangs the edge. Knox responded quickly, and by halftime, they held a slim 55-48 lead. The third quarter saw Maitland storm back into the contest, outscoring Knox 28-22 and momentarily reclaiming the lead. Knox, however, regained control by the end of the third quarter, leading 77-76. In the fourth quarter, Knox pulled away for good, outscoring the Mustangs 22-13 and securing a 99-89 victory to keep their hopes of defending their national title alive. For Maitland, Will Cranston-Lown was sensational, delivering 33 points, eight rebounds, five steals, and four assists on 12/21 shooting. His dominant performance kept the Mustangs competitive throughout the game. James Hunter also played a crucial role, contributing 17 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Matthew Gray added 16 points and five rebounds, while Christian Little chipped in with six points and five boards.
Check out some of the match highlights:
DAY TWO – SATURDAY 17TH OF AUGUST
Southern Districts Spartans 85 – Newcastle Falcons 75
Newcastle Highest Point-Scorers: Brett 20, Munger 19, Nichols 12
Following Newcastle’s loss on Friday, the team aimed to bounce back against the Southern Districts, but despite a valiant effort, Newcastle struggled to claim victory. Southern Districts made an early 10-point lead in the first quarter, but Newcastle worked hard to close the gap and were within four points by the end of the quarter. The Falcons fell behind again after a 9-0 run by the Spartans in the second quarter, with Southern Districts going into halftime with a commanding 45-34 lead. However, Newcastle wasn’t ready to give up. They mounted a strong comeback in the final quarter, leveling the scores with just six minutes remaining after a basket from Hannah Chicken. Despite this momentum, the Falcons couldn’t maintain the push as the Spartans responded with a 10-0 run in the closing minutes. Key plays from Maddy Allen, Steph Bairstow, and Odette Isaac sealed the win for Southern Districts, as Newcastle fell 85-75. For Newcastle, Elissa Brett led the way with 20 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals, although her 7/24 shooting from the field limited her overall efficiency. Nicole Munger continued her strong tournament form with 19 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks. Aarion Nichols added 12 points and six rebounds, while Hannah Chicken contributed eight points and two steals. Captain Kate Kingham also played a solid role with five points, three rebounds, and three steals.
Check out some of the match highlights:
Mandurah Magic 102 – Maitland Mustangs 98
Maitland Highest Point-Scorers: Gray 25, Little 23, Hunter 17
The Maitland Mustangs and Mandurah Magic shook off the disappointment of first up losses to put on quite the show on the Sunshine Coast with the NBL1 West champions winning a 102-98 thriller to close their time at the National Finals. Though the two teams were now playing for fifth position, the intensity and excitement of the match were at full throttle. Mandurah was playing without their star imports Joel Murray and Michael Durr, both sidelined after their loss to Mackay. Nonetheless, they started the game strong, going on an 11-0 run to take an eight-point lead in the first quarter. Maitland kept it close thanks to a late three-pointer from Daniel Millburn, trimming the deficit to three points at quarter-time. Maitland, known for their resilience throughout the NBL1 East season, had another comeback in them. With old college teammates Will Cranston-Lown and Christian Little leading the charge, the Mustangs clawed their way back into the game, reducing the deficit to just three points. Mandurah managed to hold them off going into the fourth quarter with an 82-71 lead, but the game was far from over. The final quarter was a back-and-forth affair with both teams trading blows. Maitland’s Matthew Gray hit a key three-pointer to bring the Mustangs within six points, but Mandurah’s Bertram continued his hot shooting, knocking down his fifth three-pointer of the game. Maitland surged again, with Little and Gray scoring crucial baskets to tie the game at 94-94 with just over two minutes remaining. In the final moments, Jarrod Molnar hit a critical three-pointer for Mandurah, and while Maitland continued to battle, with James Hunter scoring inside, it was Molnar’s calm free-throw shooting that sealed the 102-98 win for Mandurah. Despite leading by as much as 27 points, Mandurah had to dig deep to fend off the surging Mustangs. For Maitland, Matthew Gray delivered an outstanding performance with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Christian Little contributed 23 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and three steals, but his late foul-out was a significant blow for the Mustangs. James Hunter provided a strong inside presence with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Will Cranston-Lown added 15 points, five assists, and two steals.
Check out some of the match highlights:
Congratulations to the Newcastle Falcons Women and Maitland Mustangs Men for making their mark at the 2024 Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 National Finals. You can view the National Finals Program HERE, and the NBL1 East Grand Finals Program HERE.
This marks the end of another incredible NBL1 season, and a huge congratulations and thank you to all the players, clubs, volunteers, officials, commentators, and fans for all their contributions and excitement this season – we’ll be back for a bigger and better 2025 NBL1 East season!