NBL1 North Men’s Championship Series preview: Mackay Meteors v Cairns Marlins

When: Friday September 10- Sunday September 12  

Where: Mackay Basketball Stadium  

Broadcast: Kayo Freebies, NBL1.com.au and the NBL App  

Last time they met: Mackay (98) defeated Cairns (79) 

Meteors top scorers: H. Froling- 40 points, J. Jamerson- 29 points, E. Malou- 12 points  

Marlins top scorers: A. Fisher- 18 points, D. George- 15 points, A. Loughton- 13 points  

How they got here:  

Mackay  

Elimination Final: Mackay (93) defeated Brisbane (83) 

Top scorers: C. Cedar- 37 points, J. Jamerson- 19 points, V. Foketi- 10 points, E. Malou- 10 points   

Semi Final: Mackay (106) defeated USC (91) 

Top scorers: E. Malou- 34 points, C. Cedar- 27 points, J. Jamerson- 22 points  

Cairns 

Elimination Final: Townsville (69) defeated by Cairns (85) 

Top scorers: D. George- 24 points, A. Fisher- 17 points, J. Mitchell- 16 points  

Semi Final: Logan (67) defeated by Cairns (96) 

Top scorers: A. Loughton- 25 points, D. George- 24 points, C. Ahwang- 18 points  

The stats:  

Mackay 

Ladder position: 2nd  

Win-loss record: 11-3 

Percentage: 112% 

Leading scorer: Emmanuel Malou- 19.3 points per game  

Leading rebounder: Harrison Froling- 13.8 rebounds per game  

Leading assist-getter: Chris Cedar- 4.6 assists per game  

Cairns 

Ladder position: 5th  

Win-loss record: 7-6 

Percentage: 102% 

Leading scorer: Majok Deng- 26.8 points per game  

Leading rebounder: Majok Deng- 9.7 rebounds per game  

Leading assist-getter: Mirko Djeric- 4.7 assists per game  

Key players:  

Mackay- Emmanuel Malou 

Malou is fresh off winning the Meteors’ Most Valuable Player award and showing why that mantle is his.  

He is damaging on both ends of the floor, proven as recent as last weekend where he posted 34 points and 10 rebounds.  

Earlier this year, his talents were recognised by the Adelaide 36ers, who signed him to their roster for the upcoming NBL season.  

Cairns- Alex Loughton 

With over 300 games of NBL experience, Loughton knows how to lead his team through big moments.  

He is coming off top-scoring against minor premiers Logan in the semi-final and will be on the Meteors’ radar as a player they need to stop.  

Loughton last won a QBL championship with the Marlins in 2016, so he will be hungry to back up that success five years later, beginning on Friday night.  

What they said:  

Chris Cedar- Mackay co-captain  

“We knew that if we beat Rip on the weekend that we would’ve gone into this next stage with plenty of confidence. I probably would’ve liked to have played against my brother (Logan’s Michael Cedar) but playing against Cairns is great because we have that rivalry. It’s going to be exciting for myself and the team.” 

Kerry Williams- Cairns coach  

“We allow the players to make the reads in each situation. Their experience ... it makes it extremely easy as a coach because I’m not stressed at all. I don’t feel it; I trust the guys to play through it and together. We know teams will make the shots, but these guys know what they’re doing.” - via NT News