Maitland Mustangs clinch NBL1 East title

It's third time lucky for the Maitland Mustangs as they used the heartbreaking losses of the past two years to produce a dominant Grand Final performance to beat the Canberra Gunners 86-67 and claim the NBL1 East championship. The Mustangs have played in the past two Grand Finals in the NBL1 East competition only for the heartbreaking losses by just a combined six points firstly to the Gunners in 2022 and then the Sutherland Sharks in 2023. On the back of those Grand Final heartbreaks, Maitland weren’t deterred and had another standout regular season to finish in second spot at 17-3 and came into the finals winning four straight. The Mustangs then won their way into the third straight Grand Final beating the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and Centre of Excellence. After a disappointing defence of their championship last year, Canberra hit back hard in 2024 to end the regular season in top spot at 18-2 before setting up the Grand Final rematch with the Mustangs by beating the Centre of Excellence and Sydney Comets to get there. On the back of winning his second straight MVP award, Will Cranston-Lown (185-G/F-2000, college: Regis Univ.) was at the forefront of the Mustangs opening up a handy advantage in the second period after leading by just the three points at quarter-time. They had that lead thanks to a Cranston-Lown buzzer beating prayer too but it continued to be a low scoring battle for a lot of the opening half. The two-time MVP ended up with 17 points on his own in the first half for Maitland to be on top 40-28 by the main break. Maitland was then able to extend that advantage further with 28 points to 20 in the third term to be leading by 20 at three quarter-time and that elusive championship was within touching distance. Canberra didn’t stop trying to fight back into the Grand Final, but Maitland had two years of frustrations built up and were extra motivated to get the championship win against the Gunners, and they weren’t going to let the chance slip. The Mustangs closed it out for the 19-point victory to win a first championship on a fourth attempt following the Grand Final losses in 2010, 2022 and 2023. On the back of winning the MVP of the league now the past two years, Will Cranston-Lown delivered on Grand Final day big time for Maitland. He finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds and three assists including going 5/7 from downtown to end up with the Grand Final MVP award. It was far from a one man show for the Mustangs, though, with Christian Little (188-G-1998, college: Regis Univ.) adding 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Daniel Millburn (1998) 13 points, seven boards, three assists and two steals. Matthew Gray also delivered 12 points and 10 rebounds, Will Mortimore (200-F-2005) seven points and six rebounds before he heads off to college, and Jay Cole (2002) six points and three boards. Canberra will be disappointed to lose but has a lot to be proud about with what they were able to do in 2024 to put themselves in with a chance of winning the second title in the NBL1 East in three years. William Mayfield (F-2000), on the back of making the All Star Five, produced 20 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots for the Gunners with 2022 Grand Final MVP Glenn Morison (208-C-1999, college: St.Edward's) adding 13 points, five blocked shots and two assists. James Toohey (188-G-1998, college: SVSU) also provided 12 points and seven rebounds, and Cameron Pender eight points, six boards and four assists.
Courtesy of: nbl1.com.au