We have already seen two weekends of action-packed NBL1 Finals action, but week three is here! The regular season top four seeded teams have taken the final four spots in the Preliminary Finals

Week three, the last of the finals will showcase two preliminary finals to decide the matchups in the NBL1 South 2023 Conference Grand Final, next Saturday night 5pm (12/08/2023)

Let's take a closer look at each game and the key storylines heading into the playoffs.

Preliminary Final 1: Bendigo Braves vs. Mount Gambier Pioneers

Day and Time: Saturday, 6:00 pm AEST

Venue: Red Energy Arena

The Bendigo Braves remain undefeated going into this matchup. The talents of Megan McKay, Kelly Wilson and Amy Atwell have been too much for anyone to handle thus far. In week one of the finals v Waverley Falcons seeded four, Megan McKay was the difference, with 27 points and 10 rebounds. 

Last week the Mount Gambier Pioneers knocked out the 2022 Champions Ringwood Hawks. Miela Goodchild was in peak form with 27 points at a 69% field goal percentage and 5 from 7 behind the arc. Sherrie Calleia also delivered with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. 

Can the Mount Gambier Pioneers do the unspeakable on the road, and defeat the undefeated Bendigo Braves, or will the Braves continue their run into the Grand Final?\

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Preliminary Final 2: Geelong United Supercats vs. Waverley Falcons

Day and Time: Saturday, 7:00 pm AEST

Venue: The Geelong Arena

In week one of the finals, the Geelong United Supercats claimed a 10-point victory over the Mount Gambier Pioneers in SA. Recent Australian Opal Chantel Horvat played a huge role with 18 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.  As has been the case all season, four other players also scored in double-digits (Sarah Elsworthy, Ella Tofaeono, Eve Braslis and Monica Okoye).

The Waverley Falcons have reached the preliminary finals the hard way, losing in week one to the undefeated Bendigo Braves by 11 points, a week later they defeated the Eltham Wildcats by a convincing 23 points to earn their preliminary final berth. They managed to keep the Wildcats to just 57 while scoring 80 of their own. Maddi Utti played a big role with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, but it was another team effort thanks to Carley Ernst (16 points, 8 rebounds), Rebecca Cole (10 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists) and Renae Mokrzycki (10 points, 8 rebounds)

It will have been fifteen days between games for the Geelong United Supercats. Will the break help or hinder their success? 

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