NBL1 National Finals Recap | Friday Bendigo Braves

Braves stay perfect in 2023 with mauling of Cougars (Original Piece by NBL1)

The Bendigo Braves are going to mighty hard to stop from going through the National Finals undefeated just as they did the NBL1 South season after beating the NBL1 West champion Cockburn Cougars 101-57.

On the back of losing last year's NBL1 South Grand Final to the Ringwood Hawks, the Braves put together the perfect season in 2023 going through undefeated all the way to winning last Saturday's Grand Final.

They still were pushed to the brink but found a way to overcome the Mount Gambier Pioneers and Waverley Falcons over the last two weeks to not only secure their championship but took a trip to the National Finals in Perth.

Their first up opponents for the reigning NBL1 West champion Cougars who made history last Friday night by winning their first ever women's championship.

Making the match up even more exciting was the fact that both teams were at full strength with some salivating match ups including Jessie Edwards and Megan McKay down low, Jewel Williams and Kelly Wilson at the point, and soon-to-be Perth Lynx WNBL teammates Steph Gorman and Amy Atwell.

Both Gorman and Atwell are fresh off winning their respective Grand Final MVP awards last weekend too but right from the start it was clear it was a Bendigo team on a mission.

The Braves scored 12 straight points to open up a 14-point lead in the opening period and to still be on top 29-18 by the end of one.

Bendigo might have only scored 19 points in the second quarter, but completely locked Cockburn down holding them to just the nine points to end up leading 48-27 by half-time.

There was no let up from the Braves as they added another 29 points to 12 from the Cougars in the third stanza to lead by as much as 39 points and to be up 77-39 by three quarter-time.

Bendigo added another 24 points to 18 in the fourth quarter to go on to score the 44-point win to put themselves in prime position to make the championship game with another good showing on Saturday.

There was plenty to like in the performance from Bendigo but it was the majestical Kelly Wilson who again made everything click as she only narrowly missed another triple-double. She finished with nine points, nine rebounds and 16 assists.

Megan McKay had a frustrating Grand Final last week through foul trouble before a big final quarter. She again found herself in foul trouble on Friday night but was superb in her 20 minutes with 25 points, nine rebounds and two assists on 11/12 shooting.

Amy Atwell put up 17 points and six rebounds for the winners, Cassidy McLean 16 points, six boards, six assists, two steals and two blocks, and Kasey Burton 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Madeline Sexton also chipped in with 15 points and five rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench.

It was a tough evening for the NBL1 West champion Cougars with Grand Final MVP Steph Gorman again top-scoring with 14 points and four rebounds.

Sarah Mortensen added 13 points and six boards, Jewel Williams 11 points and five boards, Jessie Edwards six points, four rebounds and a block, and Patty Brossmann five points, five boards and three assists.