Feature image via: Picture It Sport Photography
The West Adelaide Bearcats are heading into this weekend’s NBL1 Central Grand Final with a target on their back.
It’s more than fair that they’ll face the Forestville Eagles in the decisive single-game final this weekend. After all, the Bearcats ended the regular season on top of the ladder with a 13-5 record, while the Eagles were right on their tails in second place.
That being said, it was the Eagles who overcame West Adelaide in the semi-final just two weeks ago, despite the Bearcats entering quarter-time with a seven-point lead – which forced West Adelaide into last weekend’s preliminary final against Sturt.
Star centre Lachlan Olbrich had 16 points on 73 percent shooting, seven rebounds and three assists in the defeat to Forestville and played a key role in his side’s dismantling of Sturt last week.
To say he’s been a point of difference for his side this campaign would be an understatement. He believes the onus is on West Adelaide to play to their strengths if the Bearcats are to emerge victorious this weekend.
“I think it’s on us, it’s about how we play. If we play at the level we need to, play as a team and get everyone involved and really lock in on our defensive schemes then I think it’s just all up to us,” Olbrich told NBL Media.
“They’re obviously a very strong team, but how we play as a group will determine if we have the potential to win – or even blow it out.
“Obviously playing to win is something I do – I love basketball but of course, I want to win, it’s no fun losing, It would be big time to get around the guys who have been there for a long time, win for them and have some fun.”
.@NBL star on the rise and All-Star Five @Nbl1Central Member Lachlan Olbrich went off on the weekend ?
— NBL1 (@NBL1) May 30, 2023
The Foot Locker Player of the Week had 26 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks ?
Watch #NBL1 via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG, NBL1 App and Kayo Freebies ? pic.twitter.com/447kYsSqai
Following last week’s electric best-of-three Grand Final Series in NBL1 North, the remainder of the NBL1 Grand Finals to be played this weekend will take place in one do-or-die game. Although an extended series is often seen as a part of the fabric of basketball culture, the one-game final format holds a special place within the Australian sporting landscape.
Ipswich Force star Jaylin Galloway praised the ability to bounce back from a bad game in a best-of-three series, however, Olbrich believes the win-or-go-home nature of the single game adds a different dimension to the upcoming clash.
“I do like the idea of a best-of-three series,” he said.
“It can help get the community and fans involved a bit more. But there’s something interesting about the win-or-lose situation a single game brings.
“You just have to make sure you bring it on the night because there are no second chances.”
While Olbrich has signed with the NBL's Illawarra Hawks ahead of the new season, the 19-year-old landed with the Bearcats immediately after arriving back in Australia from UC Riverside, where he was named Big West Freshman of the Year.
He praised West Adelaide’s ability to provide as many training opportunities as possible since he return to Australia.
“Everything’s at the tip of your fingers in college. If you want to go and work out, you can go and work out as much as you want pretty much whenever since the facilities are right there, but it’s a bit different in NBL1,” he said.
“The club has been really, really good with court availability and setting up trainings and training venues we can shoot at.“It’s not massively different, but you have to lead your development yourself and ask questions – do all that.”
Watch the NBL1 Central Grand Final on Saturday, 8:00pm ACST Live & Free via Kayo Freebies.
