NBL1 South Grand Finals Preview

The NBL1 South Grand Finals are this weekend! 

The State Basketball Centre will host both the women’s and men’s NBL1 South Grand Finals, a week before the Coles Express NBL1 National Final will host the entire competition in the same arena! 

The Bendigo Braves, led by Opals star Tess Madgen, will take on Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Marena Whittle’s Ringwood Hawks at 5:00pm on Saturday streaming live and free on Kayo Sports. 

While the Hobart Chargers, with Harry Froling and AJ Harris, will take on the Mount Gambier Pioneers with Perth Wildcats development player Michael Harris at 8:00pm on Saturday streaming live and free on Kayo Sports. 

Check out the full NBL1 South preview below: 

Women’s

Bendigo Braves v Ringwood Hawks 

Ringwood has been a sleeping giant this entire season, quietly being a competitive side and sneaking all the way up to the second seed in the regular season. 

That may be partially due to missing their star Marena Whittle missing time at the Commonwealth Games, but the Hawks come into this Grand Final as an underdog, despite pulling off a two-point win against the star-studded Tornadoes in the Preliminary Finals. 

The reason? It’s because the Bendigo Braves have been the best team all season, loaded with talents like Tess Madgen, Megan McKay and Kelsey Wilson. 

That’s not even mentioning the likes of Cassidy McLean and Abigail Wehrung, she had 23 points in the Preliminary Final, and both have been x-factors in crucial wins for the Braves this season. 

Tune in live to see who can win it all and make it to the Coles Express NBL1 National Final on Saturday at 5:30pm on Kayo Sports here. 

Men’s

Hobart Chargers v Mount Gambier Pioneers

The Hobart Chargers have been the top team the entire NBL1 South season, led by NBL Rookie of the Year Harry Froling, FIBA Asia Cup gold medallist Sam McDaniel and star import AJ Harris. The Chargers have stormed into the finals with a regular season 17-5 record. 

The Pioneers were closely behind the Chargers, sitting second on the ladder at the season’s end with a team full of talent. Both Harris and Nick Marshall averaged over 20 points per game in the regular season while their rim-rattling centre Clevon Brown can cause match-up nightmares.

Who will win? Who will book their ticket to the Coles Express National Final? Find out on Saturday at 8:00pm on Kayo Sports here.