2006 ABA National Finals

Last updated
2006 ABA National Finals
Tournament details
Arena Broadmeadow Basketball Stadium
Newcastle, New South Wales
Dates1–3 September
Final positions
ChampionsM: Geelong Supercats
W: Ballarat Miners
Runners-upM: Dandenong Rangers
W: Bendigo Braves
← 2005
2007 →

The 2006 ABA National Finals brought together the best men's and women's basketball teams from the Waratah League, South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL), Queensland Australian Basketball League (QABL), Central Australian Basketball League (CABL) and Big V competitions for their shot at national glory, with the event held at the Broadmeadow Basketball Stadium in Newcastle, New South Wales.

Contents

Australia's largest basketball competition, the Australian Basketball Association (ABA), commenced in March with 116 teams competing across six states and territories (Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and ACT) culminating in the National Finals in September in Newcastle.

In a weekend of top-level basketball, the Geelong Supercats and Ballarat Miners were triumphant in the men's and women's finals. The 2006 ABA National Finals were hosted by Newcastle Basketball Association and Basketball New South Wales. [1]

Tournament overview

The Geelong Supercats were back on top in 2006 with a comprehensive 94–80 triumph over the Dandenong Rangers in the men's Grand Final. Mark Leader's team played with a purpose, order and discipline that simply left their rivals with few solutions. The men from Dandenong looked in serious trouble down 53–40 at the half. However, the Rangers put their troubled zone defence away to start the second half and their shooters found some touch, in particular Grand Final MVP Ash Cannan (21 points & 19 rebounds). But so did Geelong's, and the teams simply traded baskets in the brightest scoring period of the game. Powerful offensive rebounding allowed Dandenong to hang on by a thread but try as they might the Rangers could not sufficiently upset the Supercats. At the final siren, the game's most controlled side relaxed their guard completely and the scenes of celebration were unrestrained. Jamal Brown top scored for the Supercats with 21 points, closely followed by Jason Reardon with 20 points. [1]

The Ballarat Miners showed superb composure to claim back-to-back ABA National titles in 2006. They patiently whittled away at an 11-point Bendigo lead to grind out a 69–66 win. Ballarat centre Karen Ashby (24 points, 15 rebounds & 7 assists) was awarded the Grand Final MVP, with a measured performance, showing great poise throughout the game as Bendigo constantly double-teamed her. The Miners were sharp in their execution, getting consecutive baskets from a flex offence. Bendigo threw everything at Ballarat in the dying stages but the Miners hung on for the win and the title. [1] [2]

Participants

To qualify for the event, teams had to be crowned Champion of their respective Leagues. There were also a number of wildcard entries.

League champions

LeagueMenWomen
Big V Dandenong Rangers Sandringham Sabres
CABL Forestville Eagles Sturt Sabres
QABL Southern Districts SpartansSouthern Districts Spartans
SEABL Knox Raiders (South) & Geelong Supercats (East) Bendigo Braves
Waratah Sutherland Sharks Bankstown Bruins

Wildcards

LeagueMenWomen
Big V Sandringham Sabres Dandenong Rangers
CABL
QABL
SEABL Ballarat Miners
Waratah Newcastle HuntersSydney Comets

Results

Quarter-finals – men

1 September
2:00 p.m.
Court 7
Dandenong Rangers110–98Forestville Eagles
Pts: L. Strong 27Pts: B. Sullivan 22
1 September
6:00 p.m.
Show Court
Sandringham Sabres93–90Sutherland Sharks
Pts: N. Crosswell 22Pts: C. Tovey 29
1 September
6:30 p.m.
Court 7
Geelong Supercats100–92Southern Districts Spartans
Pts: S. Myers 27Pts: B. Thompson 23
1 September
8:15 p.m.
Show Court
Knox Raiders132–80Newcastle Hunters
Pts: C. Massingale 51

Quarter-finals – women

1 September
1:30 p.m.
Show Court
Sandringham Sabres52–50Southern Districts Spartans
Pts: T. Fowler 14Pts: H. Smith 22
1 September
3:45 p.m.
Show Court
Bankstown Bruins71–58Sturt Sabres
Pts: D. Samuels 27Pts: C. Nixon 25
1 September
4:15 p.m.
Court 7
Ballarat Miners72–69Dandenong Rangers
Pts: K. Ashby 29Pts: M. Colcott 29
1 September
8:45 p.m.
Court 7
Bendigo Braves79–70Sydney Comets
Pts: A. Walsh 31Pts: S. Batista De Mello 22

Classification Games – men

2 September
12:00 p.m.
Court 7
Forestville Eagles108–93Sutherland Sharks
Pts: B. Sullivan 33Pts: C. Tovey 26
2 September
2:30 p.m.
Show Court
Southern Districts Spartans115–91Newcastle Hunters
Pts: B. Thompson 28Pts: M. Selwood 16

Classification Games – women

2 September
12:15 p.m.
Show Court
Sturt Sabres81–45Sydney Comets
Pts: M. Bowley 17Pts: S. Batista De Mello 13
2 September
2:15 p.m.
Court 7
Southern Districts Spartans77–70Dandenong Rangers
Pts: K. Dalgleish 19Pts: M. Colcott 24

Semi-finals – men

2 September
4:30 p.m.
Court 7
Dandenong Rangers103–89Sandringham Sabres
Pts: S. Conn 20Pts: N. Crosswell 35
2 September
7:00 p.m.
Show Court
Geelong Supercats93–81Knox Raiders
Pts: J. Brown 23Pts: G. Siegle 20

Semi-finals – women

2 September
4:45 p.m.
Show Court
Bendigo Braves95–89Bankstown Bruins
Pts: A. Walsh 34Pts: W. Strong 23
2 September
6:45 p.m.
Court 7
Ballarat Miners76–60Sandringham Sabres
Pts: R. Sewell 14Pts: T. Fowler 16

Grand Finals

3 September
Geelong Supercats94–80Dandenong Rangers
Pts: J. Brown 21Pts: A. Cannan 21
3 September
Ballarat Miners69–66Bendigo Braves
Pts: K. Ashby 24Pts: K. Lemezs 19

All-Star Five

Men

NameTeam
Cameron Tovey Sutherland Sharks
Lester Strong Dandenong Rangers
C. J. Massingale Knox Raiders
Nathan Crosswell Sandringham Sabres
Jamal Brown Geelong Supercats

Women

NameTeam
Dani Samuels Bankstown Bruins
Monique Bowley Sturt Sabres
Karen Ashby (Grand Final MVP)Ballarat Miners
Rachelle Sewell Ballarat Miners
Andrea Walsh Bendigo Braves

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Basketball Australia Annual Report 2006" (PDF). ausport.gov.au. pp. 30–31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  2. ↑ Bourke, Adam (3 September 2006). "Braves go so close". BendigoAdvertiser.com.au. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
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