Featured image: Jack Riddiford | jackriddiford.creative
The Maitland Mustangs and Mandurah Magic shook off the disappointment of first up losses to put on quite the show on the Sunshine Coast with the NBL1 West champions winning a 102-98 thriller to close their time at the National Finals.
Both teams won their respective conference championships in emotional fashion last Saturday night with Mandurah winning a first ever NBL1 West crown in front of 6460 people at RAC Arena while Maitland shook off two years of heartbreak to prevail for the NBL1 East title.
That had both teams arriving at the Sunshine Coast looking to continue that momentum but neither were able to get the job done at Caloundra Indoor Stadium on Friday with the Mustangs losing to the Knox Raiders and the Magic went down to the Mackay Meteors.
While they were only playing for fifth position at the end of the National Finals, that didn’t stop the two teams putting on a spectacular 40 minutes of basketball to close the evening at UniSC Arena.
RECAP FRIDAY NBL1 NATIONAL FINALS | MACKAY V MANDURAH
RECAP FRIDAY NBL1 NATIONAL FINALS | FORESTVILLE V ELTHAM
RECAP FRIDAY NBL1 NATIONAL FINALS | MAITLAND V KNOX
Mandurah came into the contest minus star import pair Joel Murray and Michael Durr who both pulled up sore following Friday's loss to Mackay, but the Magic still went on an 11-0 run in the opening term to get out to an eight-point lead.
The Magic's lead was back to just three thanks to a Daniel Millburn three ball on quarter-time for Maitland but then the NBL1 West Youth Player of the Year Lachlan Bertram opened the first period for a triple for Mandurah.
Jarrod Molnar had played the past two seasons in the NBL1 North so was in familiar surroundings and also knocked down a pair of three balls for the Magic before Julian Pesava soon took over in the absence of Durr and Murray.
He helped Mandurah to score the first 15 points of the second quarter and a blow out was on the cards with the Magic ending up converting that into a 57-40 lead by the half-time break.
Maitland had shown great heart all year in the NBL1 East to bounce back from losing two straight Grand Finals by three points but it was going to take something special to come back from the 20-point deficit when Bertram made another three to open the second half.
The Mustangs were able to build some momentum, though, and a three-point play from Millburn got things rolling. Old college teammates Will Cranston-Lown and Christian Little then combined to score and bring the margin back to just three points.
Maitland had all the momentum but Mandurah did well to stem the flow thanks to three-point daggers from Bertram and Pesava to head into three quarter-time still leading 82-71.
Despite the 11-point margin, you had the feeling it was set for a big finish and that's exactly what transpired with Pesava also having fouled out for Mandurah to add to the intrigue.
Matthew Gray hit a three-pointer to bring Maitland back within six but Bertram responded with his fifth three of the night for Mandurah. The trend continued with a three-point play from James Hunter answered with yet another three ball from Bertram.
Things then turned in the favour of Maitland with five quick points from Little and then an offensive foul from Bertram for Mandurah gave the Mustangs a chance to grab the lead.
Gray did score inside to tie scores up at 94-apiece with 2:30 on the clock.
It was Molnar who continued his big shooting weekend who hit from downtown for Mandurah before Hunter responded inside for Maitland. Jermaine Malie and Gray scored for their respective teams and it was the Magic up one with a minute to play.
James Beavis' three wouldn’t fall next for Maitland and Malie made 1/2 at the foul as Luke Boyle called for time ahead of a big possession for the Mustangs.
Gray missed his attempt from downtown and then Cranston-Lown couldn’t capitalise on his offensive rebound. In the end, Molnar iced the win at the foul line for the Magic having earlier led by 27.
Two-time NBL1 West champion Julian Pesava delivered 28 points, eight assists and six rebounds in the win for Mandurah before fouling out while Jarrod Molnar landed 5/8 from long-range on his way to 28 points, three boards and two steals.
Lachlan Bertram also had 21 points, nine rebounds and two assists with 6/10 three-point shooting while Jermaine Malie stepped up big time in the absence of Joel Murray for 13 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Corey Easley came out of retirement to play this season and win a championship with Mandurah, and he had to play 35 minutes and start without Michael Durr. He put up eight points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block.
Molnar was just happy to close his first season in Mandurah with a trademark thrilling win.
"We like to leave it close, we like to add a bit of suspense just for the fans, and we do it for fun," Molnar said.
"I'm just kidding, but it is something we've gone through all season just closing the gaps and being able to finish games with a win.
"We just had to come together as a team, lock in as a team, and Jermaine, Corey and all of us had to work together to get it done."
Matthew Gray finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds for Maitland with Christian Little contributing 23 points, 14 boards, six assists and three steals before crucially fouling out late in the piece.
James Hunter provide 17 points and 10 rebounds, Will Cranston-Lown 15 points, five assists, three boards and two steals, Daniel Millburn eight points and three rebounds, and Luka Vea six points, 10 boards, three assists and two steals.
MANDURAH MAGIC 102 (Pesava 28, Molnar 28, Bertram 21)
MAITLAND MUSTANGS 98 (Gray 25, Little 23, Hunter 17)
For further information on the official destination of the National Finals, head to www.visitsunshinecoast.com
