Q&A | NBL1 Central MVPs

Southern Tigers Grand Final MVP Teige Morrell and North Adelaide Grand Final MVP Sunday Dech explain the significance of winning the NBL1 Central championship and the season overall. 

TEIGE MORRELL 

Q: Now, you're with elite company now being a Halls Medalist, what did it mean to earn this honour?

A: Yeah, honestly, I mean, I just keep saying how overwhelmed I still feel. The award itself, just what it looks like, some people might not know, but it has an engraving of all the recipients of the past and obviously, right at the end is my name. When I saw that it felt very, very special so I'm very, very honoured.

Q: The Tigers have had a brilliant season. Has fun been a bit of an element in that success?

A: Oh, absolutely. Just the opportunity to play is so much fun but obviously, winning is what makes it even more fun. I feel like it might not look like it from the outside but I feel like we have come a long way within ourselves, so I'm really proud of us and what we've accomplished this season.

Q: Well, as we said, your MVP was well deserved. So what was your mindset entering this year? Because it looked like he went to another level in terms of consistency of how well you play week in and week out and there's no surprise that when you're playing well, the Tigers are playing well. So was there something that really just flicked the switch before the start of the season?

A: Honestly, I feel like I'm not quite at my peak yet but I know that I'm trying to get there. Every off-season, that's the mentality that I enter into. This is the time for growth. I know that I would like to continue to put in the work and just see where else my game can go as well.

Q: Now your husband David coaches the Tigers men's team. Give us a little insight into the marriage. Is it all basketball talk at home? 

A: Yeah, it is so much fun, guys. Honestly, we are just so blessed. That's part of why I just feel so overwhelmed with the awards because really, I know how much work just we put in outside of basketball itself. But it's all fun. We are just so blessed that we get to work together and we have a lot of fun. I love just being able to see him almost 24/7 and I think he does too.

Q: You mentioned culture shock a little bit. Was there anything in particular that when you first came here that maybe you didn't like do you like a lot now? Is there anything in particular that you really enjoy about Australian culture?

A: Oh, yeah, absolutely. Just right off the bat, I can say the laid-backness. When you grow up in America, it's kind of like a rat race and you think it's the normal life and also probably the best life. But when I got here I realised the value of family and vacation and just enjoying life. 

Q: You mentioned that with the values of Australians and two other things we like to value is really good coffee and Vegemite. Are you a coffee drinker and have you fallen in love with Australian coffee? And have you tried Vegemite? Do you like it?

A: Yes, actually. Some people might be appalled at this, but my mom, she's from Zimbabwe so we were brought up with Marmite which to me is kind of similar, but I understand Australians think it’s not at all. I tend to like it (vegemite). David, not so much.

SUNDAY DECH 

Q: Well, you played just a couple of games for the Rockets during the regular season, but came alive for them during the finals. What was it like to experience the ultimate success?

A: It was awesome. We just had such a great group of guys and to win one with my former teammate, Jack (McVeigh) was awesome as well. We were talking with the guys at the club and they were saying they hadn't won one since 2007 so Jack and I were really privileged to be able to help them get another one. 

Q: Just talking about the momentum that you guys had. Was it something that you said before the finals? Or is it just that everything was clicking at the right time?

A: The boys had some struggles early on just trying to find their identity and figuring out how to play with each other. But then, once we had that run, I think we clicked maybe a couple of games before the end of the season, and every game was a must-win. So we just went into every single game from then on with a championship in mind because if we had lost one, then we were out. So I think that was kind of the mentality of the whole time.

Q: We're taking a look at some of the highlights of the Grand Final now and what also stands out is the crowd. What was the atmosphere like?

A: The atmosphere was unreal. I think it's been a while since we played in front of a big crowd like that because of the COVID restrictions that happened late in the season. To see so many people come out and support the Rockets, especially with the women's team making it as well, that was unreal. I think it was just so special for the club just to be able to help bring another banner home.

Q: Now you probably don't think about this while you're playing because you try to do everything to get the win but you finished with 15 points. 13 assists, six steals, and nine rebounds. Have you had a chance now to go back and think about who stole at one of your rebounds?

A: When coach told me my line, I had no idea. I think in the moment you’re just playing and you try to do everything you can to win because you know, it's a final. You just have to cherish every one you're in, whether it's NBL1, NBL or overseas. So looking back on it, I haven’t watched the game yet, but Jack probably definitely did steal one from me. He's got that long 'extendo' arms. He steals rebounds from a lot of guys, especially at the 36ers as well last year.

Q: Now we know you pride yourself in your defence, you’re an elite defender and you had a big challenge against the Woollacott Medalist CJ Turnage. You did pretty well to stop him and we knew that was going to be a big part of getting that win. How do you go into that game, knowing when they've got such a dominant force down one end, that you're gonna have to put a lot on your shoulders to try and slow him down?

A: I think it's just the same mentality I had every year in the NBL as well just go out there and do your best because a lot rides on it. If he goes off, it's much harder for us to win. So I take it as a challenge and try to steer away from the things that he's good at. You can never really stop him but you can just slow him down and make him less effective on the offensive end. So I definitely do pride myself there but I think it was just a well-rounded game. He had a great game as well. I'm good friends with CJ so we had a chuckle after the game. He didn't want to face us. I think we were the one team that no one wanted to face in the finals because we just clicked the right time and kind of got the ball rolling.

Q: So the NBL1 grand final is done and now your focus is on the NBL. How much are you looking forward to the upcoming season and also getting a new coach?

A: Yeah, so excited. It's been well said that we didn't have the season we wanted last year so it's a bit of a redemption year for us. We've got a whole lot of new guys and everyone's filtering through now. We're excited to get on the court together and play under CJ (Bruton) as well, just with his career and the position he played. I think I'll learn so much from him. I'm excited to get on the floor with him this week.

Q: When you enter the NBL1 in an off-season when a lot of people would understand if you want to rest your body after a long NBL season last year, what is your mentality?

A: Look, I think a lot of it goes into who you play for and what their expectations are viewing going in. So obviously, we were trying to win games, but you need to work on what you need to work on as well. Going into it, I think I had some things that I wanted to work on this off-season and I think it came to fruition in the final. So even though I didn't play the whole season, I think I've got so much out of it and just playing with a great group of guys who kind of just welcome you with open arms goes a long way.