Blair and Bygate become Bears

The Norths Bears have signed Nic Blair and Jess Bygate for the 2022 Coles Express NBL1 East season.

Blair is a very talented shooting guard and in 2012, 2014 and 2017 was the Waratah League Championship champion.

In 2014, Blair was named as the Defensive Player of the Finals and in 2017 was named the Most Valuable Player in the finals of the Waratah League Championship men.

Bygate began her career in New Zealand, playing for the Canterbury Wildcats in the WBC.

She then moved to the Nelson Sparks, where she won her first WBC championship.

After that, she spent a season for the Junior Tall Ferns, before moving to the Australian leagues.

Following a season with the Gladstone Power in the Queensland Basketball League, Bygate was signed by WNBL side, Adelaide Lightning for the 2015–16 season.

Bygate was then signed for the 2016–17 season by the Melbourne Boomers.

View the 2022 NBL1 roster tracker here