The Waverley Falcons have been a team possessed in the back end of the NBL1 South season and now they are the National Champions on the back of a dominant 97-49 win over the Bendigo Braves on the Sunshine Coast. The Falcons just weren’t going to be denied and started the game with a 17-2 run and with Rebecca Cole (178-G-1992) dominant on the way to 33 points to be named MVP, they made it 13 consecutive wins to be NBL1 South and now National Champions. The Championship game at UniSC Arena on Sunday to wrap up the NBL National Finals was a contest between the last two NBL1 South title winners with Waverley looking to back up their triumph last Saturday night and Bendigo attempting to win back-to-back national championships. Waverley ended the regular season in the NBL1 South in spectacular fashion winning 11 of the last 12 games to end up in seventh spot before winning all four finals on the way to the championship last Saturday against the Keilor Thunder. The Falcons then went on with the momentum to start the National Finals with wins against the Newcastle Falcons of the NBL1 East and Rockingham Flames from the NBL1 West. Their opponents, Bendigo, might have missed the playoffs but were the defending champions and with Megan McKay (190-F-1997, college: SMC) and Kelly Wilson (170-G-1984) leading the way, won into the championship games with wins on the Sunshine Coast against Rockingham and the NBL1 Central's Central Districts Lions. It was a dominant Grand Final performance from Waverley opening up a lead as big as 53 along with knocking down 16/36 at 44 per cent from three-point range. Bec Cole was spectacular for Waverley with 23 points in the first half on the to 33 and six rebounds for the game with 4/9 shooting from downtown to be named MVP. McKenzie Forbes (183-G-2000, college: USC) also knocked down 5/11 from deep for 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals with Renae Mokrzycki (183-F-1994, college: Idaho) adding 12 points, 13 boards and three assists, and Amelia Todhunter (169-PG-1988) 12 points, eight rebounds and two assists. It was a tough game for Bendigo who shot 29 per cent from the floor and went 2/23 from three-point territory. Megan McKay made a stunning return this weekend and finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds for Bendigo with Kasey Burton (178-F-1996) contributing eight points and seven boards, Kelly Wilson seven points and rebounds, and Cassidy McLean (178-F-1999) seven points, four boards and four assists. It was a stunning start from Waverley beginning with a triple from Carley Ernst. Megan McKay answered with a pair of free throws for Bendigo, but the Falcons were a team on a mission and scored the next 14 straight points. That included triples to Bec Cole and Amelia Todhunter and at 17-2 the Braves desperately needed to do something. McKay, Kelly Wilson and Caitlin Richardson helped them to their own 8-0 run, but Waverley once more responded with the last eight points of the quarter including the last six to Cole to go into the quarter-time break in control at 25-10. Just as the Falcons had pushed their lead out to 20 points, suddenly McKenzie Forbes announced herself into the Grand Final. She hadn’t scored up to that point, but she made four massive threes to close out the first half and that helped Waverley to the 55-22 lead by the break on 46 per cent field goal shooting to just 23 from Bendigo with their guns McKay and Wilson struggling for 11 points on 4/20 combined. It was another run of eight straight points early in the second half that saw the Falcons blow the game out further with a 41-point lead, and thanks to another three from Cole just before three quarter-time they were up 39 with one to play. Cole wasn’t finished yet and hit five quick points to start the fourth quarter to go over 30 for the game. Then in the dying minutes Meg Crupi came on and had some fun with eight quick points including a couple of threes and Waverley secured the national Championship with the emphatic 48-point win to complete the 13-game winning streak.
Courtesy of: nbl1.com.au

Grand Final MVP: Taylah Levy (165-PG) of C.Districts L.
Player of the Year: Casey Samuels (183-G/F-1994) of C.Districts L.
Youth Player of the Year: Madison Freer of Forestville E.
Defensive Player of the Year: Zoe Walker-Roberts of Sturt S.
Coach of the Year: Tim Shortt of Sturt S.

The standout swingman Casey Samuels (183-G/F-1994) was named the Player of the Year of the championship-winning Central Districts Lions. She was also selected to the First Team. Samuels' excellent performance assisted her team in beating the Forestville Eagles 79 to 67 in the final. She averaged 21 points and almost 8 rebounds per game in the league. Samuels has totalled 15 games of 20 or more points on the year and recorded 30 or more points in 2 games. She registered double-doubles in 6 games during the event. Samuels' 33 points against North Adelaide Rockets were the most she scored in the 2024 season.
The standout point guard Taylah Levy (165-PG) was voted the Grand Final MVP of the championship-winning Central Districts Lions. She graduated from the Cleveland State two years ago. Levy was also chosen to the First Team. Her excellent performance assisted her team in beating the Forestville Eagles 79 to 67 in the final. Levy had over 20 points and 5 assists per game that season in the league. She has totalled 11 games of 20 or more points and recorded double-doubles in 2 games on the year. Levy's 34 points against the Woodville Warriors were the most she scored in the 2024 season.
Madison Freer (180-C-2003), 20-year old center from the Forestville Eagles, was selected as the Youth Player of the Year at the NBL One East. She was also named to the First Team. Freer's best performance made her team reach the final but they were defeated by the Central Districts Lions 67 to 79. She logged over 13 points and 8 rebounds per game over the season in the league. Freer has totalled 4 games of 20 or more points and registered double-doubles in 5 games on the year. Her 31 points against the Woodville Warriors were the most she scored in the 2024 season.
Brooke Basham (178-G-1997), guard from the North Adelaide Rockets, earned a spot in the First Team of NBL One East. She averaged over 22 points and 5 rebounds per game in the league. Basham has totalled 11 games of 20 or more points on the year and notched 30 or more points in 3 games. Her 43 points against the West Adelaide Bearcats were the most she scored in the 2024 season. Among many awards Basham's team made it to the Premier League Semifinals in 2017 and 2019. She was also selected as the Australiabasket All-Australian NBL1 Player of the Year in 2023, as well as the First Team between 2022 and 2023.
Brittany Hodges (6'1''-F/C-1993), 31-year old American power forward from the South Adelaide Panthers, was voted to the First Team at the NBL One East. She is the Furman alumna from 2015. Hodges recorded over 18 points and almost 12 rebounds per game that season in the league. She has totalled 9 games of 20 or more points and registered double-doubles in 14 games on the year. Hodges' 26 points against the Norwood Flames were the most she scored in the 2024 season. Hodges' team made it to the English WBBL Semifinals in 2023.

First Team
Taylah Levy (165-PG) of C.Districts L.
Brooke Basham (178-G-1997) of N.Adelaide R.
Casey Samuels (183-G/F-1994) of C.Districts L.
Madison Freer of Forestville E.
Brittany Hodges (185-F/C-1993) of S.Adelaide P.

Grand Final MVP: Carley Ernst (196-F/C-1994) of Waverley F.
Player of the Year: Isabelle Bourne (188-F-2000) of Keilor T.
Youth Player of the Year: Shaneice Swain (175-F-2003) of Geelong U.
Defensive Player of the Year: Abigail Wehrung (177-G-1995) of Ballarat M.
Coach of the Year: Kristi Harrower of Melbourne

First Team
Alicia Froling (190-F-1996) of Knox R.
Isabelle Bourne (188-F-2000) of Keilor T.
Stephanie Reid (168-G-1996) of Frankston B.
Amy Atwell (183-G/F-1998) of Bendigo LB
Chloe Bibby (185-C/F-1998) of Ballarat M.

Grand Final MVP: Alexandra Sharp (182-F/G-1997) of Rockingham F.
Player of the Year: Teige Morrell (191-F/C-1995) of Lakeside L.
Youth Player of the Year: Stephanie Gorman (183-G-2000) of BB Cougars
Defensive Player of the Year: Emma Gandini (172-G-1994) of Rockingham F.
Coach of the Year: Bradley Robbins of Perth

First Team
Natalie Chou (185-G-1997) of Perth R.
Anneli Maley (185-F-1998) of Perth R.
Chloe Forster (176-G-2003) of Warwick S.
Teige Morrell (191-F/C-1995) of Lakeside L.
Alex Ciabattoni (180-G/F-1994) of BB Cougars

Grand Final MVP: Nicole Munger (180-G-1997) of Newcastle F.
Player of the Year: Nicole Munger (180-G-1997) of Newcastle F.
Youth Player of the Year: Jessie May-hall of Hornsby S.
Defensive Player of the Year: Davida Dale (180-G-1997) of Sydney C.
Coach of the Year: Renae Garlepp of Sydney

First Team
Lauren Jackson (196-F/C-1981) of Albury LB
Madeleine O'Hehir (179-G-1997) of Norths B.
Mikayla Pivec (178-G-1997) of Albury LB
Nicole Munger (180-G-1997) of Newcastle F.
Unique Thompson (190-F-1999) of Nadezhda

Finals MVP: Lauren Heard (175-G-1999) of Rockhampton C.
Player of the Year: Amanda Johnson (187-F-1990) of Northside W.
Youth Player of the Year: Saffron Shiels (187-C-2006) of Townsville F.
Defensive Player of the Year: Erin Bollmann (180-F-1994) of Northside W.
Coach of the Year: James Rapinett of Qld North

First Team
Amanda Johnson (187-F-1990) of Northside W.
Erin Bollmann (180-F-1994) of Northside W.
Miela Goodchild (180-G-2000) of NGC Seahawks
Mikaela Ruef (191-F-1990) of NGC Seahawks
Alexandra Fowler (188-F-2001) of Townsville F.