The 2022 regular season is done and dusted and that means that it’s finally time for finals to kick in! With 3 weeks of games on the cards to determine the Men and Women’s 2022 Winter Championship, the week 1 matchups are shaping up to be all absolute thrillers. Check out how the regular season matchups of these teams played out and how we see week 1 of finals playing out!
CHAMPIONSHIP WOMEN
QUALIFYING FINAL – Sharks 16-0 v 12-3 Pivot City
The two clear-cut favourites to take on the 2022 title, the qualifying final this year will be played between the undefeated Sharks and Pivot City. Having met 3 times this season the Sharks were able to pip Pivot all three times to hand them their only losses of the season. While the Sharks got the better of Pivot in those games, the Sharks escaped by only 3, 1 and 6 points in all three matchups, meaning that either team could grab this game.
In their round 3 matchup, the Sharks were able to hold on for a 69-66 point win behind 22 points from Georgia Varley. The Pivot squad was able to produce 12 three-point makes on the night to Sharks 6 which allowed them to keep themselves in the game which may play an important factor in their finals matchup.
Facing each other again in round 10 it was Sharks again taking the game by a single point with a missed opportunity by Pivot to snag the game late down the stretch. The insertion of Eve Braslis into the lineup added some additional scoring as she led the game with 24, while Ebony Rolph poured in 21 for the Sharks, while the backcourt due of Varley and Duck both contributed a 20 piece. Again, Pivot’s 3-point scoring looked deadly compared to the Shark’s interior game, with both teams going about scoring in their own preferred way.
A late-season matchup in round 17 saw the two teams face off one more time before hitting the finals court. Another win to Sharks, this time by 6 points, the Pivot lineup was looking thin with 2 juniors stepping up to the plate in a tough-fought match. Trailing by just 1 at 3 quarter time, the veteran Sharks were able to pull away in the final few minutes as the offence of Pivot faded. Kate Duff was on fire in this game with 29 to lead all scorers, while for Pivot it was Vanessa Marsh who had 23 points connecting on 5 threes.
While Pivot has kept it close in all 3 matchups, it was the experienced Sharks who were able to come away with the wins throughout the regular season. Tuesday nights game could really go either way, with both teams sporting different lineups throughout their regular season games, it will come down to Pivot’s ability to contain the interior scoring and fast-paced guard play, while Sharks will hope that Pivot isn’t firing on all cylinders from beyond the arc.
Leading Scorers
Eve Braslis 27.25ppg (Pivot)
Georgia Varley 26.1ppg (Sharks)
Kate Duff 18.9ppg (Sharks)
Alex Duck 17ppg (Sharks)
Bree Matthews 14.3ppg (Pivot)
ELIMINATION FINAL – CC Eagles 10-6 v Wildcats 7-7
The round 1 elimination final sees two underdogs fighting for the chance to play in week 2 against the loser of the qualifying final. Matching up 3 times this season, the Eagles were able to take care of business against the Wildcats, whose inconsistent roster availability may have played a part in the 3 losses.
A round 4 Matchup between the two teams saw CC Eagles suit up 11 players allowing them to break away from the Wildcats for a comfortable 18-point victory. The Spread of scoring saw 9 Eagles players hit the scoreboard, with Candice Bryt leading the team with 18. While Emmy Nekrep tried her hardest with 20, the scoring around her struggled to get going in the early season game.
Round 11 saw the teams matchup again with this one going down to the wire, including a last-second shot from the Eagles to snag a 2-point win, 52-50. The addition of NBL1 star guard Sarah Elsworthy definitely helped bridge the gap in this one, as she led the game with 19 points. For the Eagles, it was Phoebe Calvert who stepped up when it mattered leading the Eagles with 15.
In their final matchup of the regular season, the Eagles once again came out on top, as the Wildcats struggled to find scoring throughout the game. A 45-39 loss saw only Wildcats’ Kiara Foster hit double digits in either team, as the Eagles ran away 6-point winners.
In all 3 matchups, the depth of the Eagle’s bench proved to be too much for the Wildcats throughout the season. In the one game in which NBL1 product Sarah Elsworthy played the team looked far more comfortable out there, something that if she does play, the team will look to take advantage of. If she and backcourt mate Emmy Nekrep can get it going early the Eagles may struggle to stop the quickness of the backcourt. However, if the Eagles continue to dominate the paint and rebounding they may clean sweep the Wildcats into the second elimination final.
Leading Scorers
Sarah Elsworthy 14.2ppg (Wildcats)
Summer Field 11ppg (CC Eagles)
Phoebe Calvert 10ppg (CC Eagles)
CHAMPIONSHIP MEN
QUALIFYING FINAL – Wildcats 16-0 v CC Eagles 15-2
The 2022 qualifying final for the men’s division sees the undefeated Wildcats take on the 15-2 CC Eagles in what will be one quality matchup. With NBL1 and Big V talent up and down both rosters, this game will be as exciting as its gets in the Championship division. With former NBL1 MVP DeMarcus Gatlin, 200 gamer Liam McInerney and former national title winning point guard Nick Owusu battling it out against his former club, it will certainly be one you don’t want to miss.
In their one matchup of the season this year, it was the Wildcats taking home the win by 9 points, 79-70. This game was tight through the first 20 minutes with the Eagles grabbing a 1-point lead heading into the half. Turning on the jets in the second half, it was Gat and Wu connecting on 10 threes between them, combining for 53 points to get the Cats over the line. Liam McInerney did his best to keep the Eagles in lin with 23 of his own, while the athletic product of Matthew Jennings out of the GU Youth League team backed him up with 13.
With a spot in the Grand Final on the line, this is sure to be an must-see game of Championship basketball. While it will definitely go down to the wire, we think the Eagles might be able to pip the undefeated Wildcats at the post with their size, length and athleticism through all 5 spots. For the Wildcats, if they can produce a shooting performance like round 11, and connect on anything close to their season-high 15 threes there, they might be able to sneak past into the Granny.
Leading Scorers
Liam McInerney 20.6ppg (CC Eagles)
Nick Owusu 18.6ppg (Wildcats)
DeMarcus Gatlin 17.7ppg (Wildcats)
Nathan Freind 15.5ppg (CC Eagles)
Phil Renteria 15.4ppg (Wildcats)
ELIMINATION FINAL – Pivot City 11-5 v YMCA 9-7
A rivalry as old as the league itself nearly, Pivot City and YMCA will once again meet in an elimination final matchup to face the loser of Wildcats v CC Eagles. Meeting twice this season, it was Pivot City who took both games and will look to extend the winning streak to three and place themselves in the second elimination final. For YMCA, a younger group of athletes took to the court this year with veteran leadership from sharpshooter Nathan Herbert, and while the competition was tough, they were able to starve off 5th placed Try Boys for the final spot in the 2022 postseason.
Meeting early in round 3, Pivot City were able to starve off the hungry YMCA team by 10, 90-80. Max Kos and Jordan O’Leary were on fire in this one as they poured in 50 between them while for the Y it was Pat Johnstone with 17. A quiet night for bucket-getter Nathan Herbert who was well below his season average with just 8 points made. With all players on both teams hitting the scoreboard in some capacity, it was the more experienced Pivot team who was able to grind out this early win.
11 weeks later in round 14, the two teams met once again, with both needing a win to stay above water and in the finals picture, it was once against Pivot who came away with an impressive 8-point win. The Y had grabbed a small lead heading into halftime of 2 but heading into the 3rd lost all momentum as Pivot turned on the jets to outscore the Y 26-13 through the next 10 minutes. Cruising to the finish line, the 8-point win was led once again by the backcourt duo of Kos and O’Leary who combined for 38. Nathan Herbert who exited the game early with an injury once again only impacted the game with 4 points, again allowing the experienced Pivot to take advantage of the hole left in YMCA’s offence.
While Pivot has taken both of this season’s matchups, that won’t mean it will be easy for them to grab another win from the up-and-coming YMCA team. If Pivot can starve off the outside shooting and create open looks for themselves their lengthy defence should be able to hold off the Y, while if Nathan Herbert gets going early and the young fellas fill the lanes, YMCA may be able to steal the game away from Pivot.
Either way, this game is going to go down to the wire with both teams wanting a shot at week 2 and a chance at the Grand Final.
Leading Scorers
Max Kos 20.2ppg (Pivot City)
Cohen Blythe 18.8ppg (Pivot City)
Nathan Herbert 15.5ppg (YMCA)
Jordan O’Leary 14.5ppg (Pivot City)
Patrick Johnstone 11.7ppg (YMCA)
That wraps up the round 1 previews for the 2022 Winter Championship Finals series! With 4 massive games all set to play out between 7 and 9 at AWA this Tuesday, make sure you get down to check out all the action as the stars look to carry their teams to victory!
