NBL1 East Recap | Men's Grand Final

The Canberra Gunners and Maitland Mustangs have had outstanding seasons in the NBL1 East in 2022, and they finished off by delivering a terrific, exciting and thrilling Grand Final on Sunday.

The Gunners and Mustangs finished the NBL1 East regular season in the top two positions and then won their semi finals on Saturday night against the Illawarra Hawks and Sutherland Sharks in commanding fashions to set up the Grand Final.

It was back to Hills Basketball Stadium on Saturday night with the championship at stake and a spot at the NBL1 National Finals, and it was a contest that went right down to the wire.

In the end, Canberra had to come from behind at three quarter-time but they were able to do so successfully with eight consecutive points from Glenn Morison proving the difference.

He helped to take the Gunners from five points behind and into the lead and in the finish it was Canberra claiming the 76-73 victory against Maitland to secure the 2022 NBL1 East championship.

Morison ended up being named Grand Final MVP for his performance for Canberra made up of 28 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots.

NBL1 EAST – 2022 MEN'S SEASON
GRAND FINAL – SUNDAY

CANBERRA GUNNERS 76 defeated MAITLAND MUSTANGS 73

The Canberra Gunners and Maitland Mustangs put on quite the spectacle that the inaugural NBL1 East season deserved in Sunday's Grand Final at Hills Basketball Stadium.

Canberra and Maitland were the two standout teams this season in the NBL1 East and they didn’t disappoint with a thrilling Grand Final on Sunday afternoon.

The Gunners finished the regular season in top spot with a 16-6 record to earn a spot straight in the semi finals before then hammering the Illawarra Hawks 106-75 to advance into the Grand Final.

The Mustangs weren’t far behind finishing in second spot with a 15-7 record and they were similarly impressive in their semi-final defeating the Sutherland Sharks 104-82 on Saturday night.

That set up Sunday's Grand Final back at Hills Basketball Stadium and it was the Gunners who made the first break by scoring 10 straight points in the first quarter to go into quarter-time leading 22-17.

However, the Mustangs were able to turn the tide right in their favour during the second quarter. Maitland would go on their own 8-0 scoring streak to lead by as much as 12 points at one stage.

They ended up outscoring the Gunners 27 points to 13 for the second period to head into the half-time break in control at 44-35.

The lead for Maitland blew out to 18 points in the third quarter as well and Canberra had to dig deep or the championship was going to be slipping away.

The Gunners did exactly that and all of a sudden it was Glenn Morison scoring the last seven points on his own of the third quarters to make it a three-point ball game heading into three quarter-time.

Morrison then opened the scoring in the fourth term as well to bring Canberra back within a point as he completed an induvial 9-0 scoring run.

However, Maitland steadied with a couple of quick baskets to James Hunter to push their lead back out to five, and when he scored again the lead was six with 6:30 on the clock in the Grand Final.

A Josh Clifford offensive rebound and putback helped Maitland maintain a five-point advantage with four minutes to go but Morison was playing like a man possessed and he wasn’t going to let things slip for the Gunners.

Once again he scored the next three baskets of the game to take Canberra from a five-point deficit to a one-point lead with just over a minute on the clock.

Morrison then blocked a layup from Will Cranston-Lown and eventually it was two free throws from James Toohey that sealed the 76-73 win for Canberra.

Maitland still had one last possession to force overtime, but incomprehensively Jack Edwards decided to take a low percentage baseline floater despite being down three. That rimmed out, fittingly Morison grabbed the rebound and the Gunners were home.

Canberra secured the dramatic and thrilling three-point Grand Final victory which is their first championship of any sort since winning the SEABL East Conference title back in 2003.

The win also sees the Gunners book in a place to represent the NBL1 East at the National Finals in Melbourne.

Fittingly it was Glenn Morison named Grand Final MVP after he produced 28 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots on the back of 10/20 from the floor and 8/13 from the foul line.

Will Mayfield added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Gunners, Akech Aliir 10 points and 11 boards, James Toohey eight points, two assists and two steals, and Dhal Fieg six points, seven assists, four steals and two rebounds.

Daniel Millburn ended up top-scoring for Maitland with 17 points, two rebounds and two assists with Sharif Watson contributing 15 points and six boards. 

Will Cranston-Lown also added nine points and five rebounds, Jack Edwards eight points, eight boards, four assists and four steals, and James Hunter six points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots.