2022 NBL1 season

2022 NBL1 season
League	NBL1
Sport	Basketball
Duration	2 April – 3 September (Conference seasons) 9–11 September (NBL1 National Finals)
National Finals
Champions	M: Rockingham Flames W: Warwick Senators
Runners-up	M: Frankston Blues W: Ringwood Hawks
Grand Final MVP	M: Ryan Godfrey (Rockingham Flames) W: Leonie Fiebich (Warwick Senators)
NBL1 seasons
← 2021 2023 →

The 2022 NBL1 season was the third season of the NBL1. With the West Conference introduced in 2021 alongside the South, North and Central conferences, the NBL1 expanded further in 2022 with the inclusion of an East Conference.

The 2022 season was the NBL1's first full season to be completed since 2019 and the first to feature the NBL1 National Finals.

The inaugural NBL1 National champions were both from the West Conference, with the Warwick Senators women and the Rockingham Flames men coming out victorious at the National Finals in Melbourne.

Background

The NBL1 had expanded in 2021 with the West Conference introduced alongside the South, North and Central conferences.^[1][2] In 2022, the NBL1 expanded to five conferences after partnering with Basketball New South Wales to make the Waratah League the new East Conference.^[3][4]

An additional conference, known as the NBL1 Wildcard Series, was introduced in 2022 after a partnership with Basketball Australia saw the Centre of Excellence feature in one-off games against the top teams from all five NBL1 State Conferences of the prior year. 20 men's and 16 women's games were played in the Wildcard Conference. The team who finished on top of the NBL1 Wildcard ladder, based on points percentage, were granted entry as the sixth women's and men's teams in the 2022 NBL1 National Finals alongside the State Conference champions.^[5]

Conference seasons

The season began on 2 April for the East Conference, 8 April for the West Conference, 9 April for the Central Conference, 10 April for the Wildcard Conference, 21 April for the South Conference and 29 April for the North Conference.^[6] All conference finals were concluded by 3 September.^[7][8][9]

South

The women's minor premiers were the Bendigo Braves with a 20–2 record while the men's minor premiers were the Hobart Chargers with a 17–5 record.^[7] Alicia Froling of the Knox Raiders was named women's MVP while Shea Ili of the Sandringham Sabres was named men's MVP.^[10][11]

The women's grand final saw the Ringwood Hawks defeat the Bendigo Braves 89–73^[12] while the men's grand final saw the Hobart Chargers defeat the Mount Gambier Pioneers 78–62.^[13] Marena Whittle of the Ringwood Hawks was named women's grand final MVP while Sam McDaniel of the Hobart Chargers was named men's grand final MVP.^[12][13]

North

The women's minor premiers were the Logan Thunder with a 19–0 record while the men's minor premiers were the Gold Coast Rollers with a 14–5 record.^[7][14] Tiana Mangakahia of the Northside Wizards was named women's MVP while Kouat Noi of the USC Rip City was named men's MVP.^[15]

The women's grand final series saw the Townsville Flames defeat the Logan Thunder 2–0, with 85–57 in game one and 80–48 in game two,^[16][17] while the men's grand final series saw the Gold Coast Rollers defeat the USC Rip City 2–0, with 101–86 in game one and 118–71 in game two.^[18][19] Stephanie Reid of the Townsville Flames was named women's grand final MVP while Jason Cadee of the Gold Coast Rollers was named men's grand final MVP.^[17][19]

Central

The women's minor premiers were the West Adelaide Bearcats with a 15–3 record while the men's minor premiers were the Woodville Warriors with a 15–3 record.^[8] Samantha Simons of the Forestville Eagles was named women's MVP while Jeremy Smith of the South Adelaide Panthers was named men's MVP.^[20][21]

The women's grand final saw the West Adelaide Bearcats defeat the Sturt Sabres 82–75^[22] while the men's grand final saw the South Adelaide Panthers defeat the Woodville Warriors 88–58.^[23] Madelynn Utti of the West Adelaide Bearcats was named women's grand final MVP while Alex Starling of the South Adelaide Panthers was named men's grand final MVP.^[22][23]

West

The women's minor premiers were the Warwick Senators with an 18–2 record while the men's minor premiers were the Geraldton Buccaneers with an 19–3 record.^[8] Stacey Barr of the Warwick Senators was named women's MVP while Devondrick Walker of the Rockingham Flames was named men's MVP.^[24]

The women's grand final saw the Warwick Senators defeat the Willetton Tigers 87–61^[25] while the men's grand final saw the Rockingham Flames defeat the Geraldton Buccaneers 91–79.^[26] Leonie Fiebich of the Warwick Senators was named women's grand final MVP while Devondrick Walker of the Rockingham Flames was named men's grand final MVP.^[25][26]

East

The women's minor premiers were the Albury Wodonga Bandits with an 17–3 record while the men's minor premiers were the Canberra Gunners with an 16–6 record.^[9] Lauren Jackson of the Albury Wodonga Bandits was named women's MVP while Kiwi Gardner of the Illawarra Hawks was named men's MVP.^[27]

The women's grand final saw the Albury Wodonga Bandits defeat the Sutherland Sharks 85–72^[28] while the men's grand final saw the Canberra Gunners defeat the Maitland Mustangs 76–73.^[29] Unique Thompson of the Albury Wodonga Bandits was named women's grand final MVP while Glenn Morison of the Canberra Gunners was named men's grand final MVP.^[28][29]

Wildcard

The BA Centre of Excellence women recorded a 10–6 record in their 16 Wildcard games while the men's team recorded a 15–5 record in their 20 Wildcard games.^[9]

The Southern Districts Spartans from the North Conference finished on top of the Wildcard women's ladder while the Frankston Blues from the South Conference finished on top of the Wildcard men's ladder.^[9] Both teams were subsequently granted entry into the NBL1 National Finals.^[30][31]

Champions summary

Women

Conference	Champion	Result	Runner-up
South	Ringwood Hawks	89 – 73	Bendigo Braves
North	Townsville Flames	2 – 0 (85–57, 80–48)	Logan Thunder
Central	West Adelaide Bearcats	82 – 75	Sturt Sabres
West	Warwick Senators	87 – 61	Willetton Tigers
East	Albury Wodonga Bandits	85 – 72	Sutherland Sharks
Wildcard	Southern Districts Spartans (North)

Men

Conference	Champion	Result	Runner-up
South	Hobart Chargers	78 – 62	Mount Gambier Pioneers
North	Gold Coast Rollers	2 – 0 (101–86, 118–71)	USC Rip City
Central	South Adelaide Panthers	88 – 58	Woodville Warriors
West	Rockingham Flames	91 – 79	Geraldton Buccaneers
East	Canberra Gunners	76 – 73	Maitland Mustangs
Wildcard	Frankston Blues (South)

National Finals

The 2022 NBL1 National Finals took place at the State Basketball Centre in Melbourne between Friday 9 September and Sunday 11 September.^[32] It served as the inaugural National Finals after the 2021 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[33]

The champions from each of the five conferences, plus the Wildcard conference winners, faced off on Friday and Saturday for a spot in the Championship Games on Sunday.^[34][35][36] Each team played two preliminary games in which they generated ranking points, with the top two ranked women's and men's teams then playing in the Championship Game.^[32]

Ranking points over the first two days included three points for a win, one point for each quarter won, and half a point for tied quarters. The schedule for Friday was determined by a random draw. On Saturday, the highest point scorer from Friday played fifth place, the second highest played fourth place, and the third highest played sixth place. On Sunday, the top two point scores over Friday and Saturday played in the Championship Game, while third place to sixth place competed in consolation games.^[34]

Both West Conference teams were victorious in the Championship Games, with the Warwick Senators women and the Rockingham Flames men becoming the inaugural NBL1 National champions.^[37]

Day One – Friday

Women

• Central vs West

• Wildcard vs North

• East vs South

Men

• West vs Central

• South vs North

• Wildcard vs East

Day Two – Saturday

Women

• 2nd vs 4th

• 1st vs 5th

• 3rd vs 6th

Men

• 2nd vs 4th

• 1st vs 5th

• 3rd vs 6th

Day Three – Sunday

Consolation Games

Women

• 3rd vs 6th

• 4th vs 5th

Men

• 3rd vs 5th

• 4th vs 6th

Championship Games

Women

Rosters

Game summary

Men

Rosters

Game summary

All-Star Five

Women

• Stacey Barr (Warwick Senators)^[38]
• Leonie Fiebich (Warwick Senators)
• Leah Scott (Southern Districts Spartans)
• Unique Thompson (Albury Wodonga Bandits)
• Marena Whittle (Ringwood Hawks)

Men

• Lachlan Barker (Frankston Blues)^[39]
• Dhal Fieg (Canberra Gunners)
• Marshall Nelson (Rockingham Flames)
• Lamar Patterson (Gold Coast Rollers)
• Jeremy Smith (South Adelaide Panthers)

References