Darwin Salties wheelchair team finish top of the table after 16th consecutive victory
The Darwin Salties have done it again. The team played out another undefeated weekend to finish top of the ladder. Recap the team’s remarkable regular season campaign.
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The Salties have capped off a superb regular season in style.
In front of a home crowd the team put together another 3-0 stretch, taking their unbeaten run to 16 wins on-the-trot and a first place finish for good measure.
Their final three games of the regular season and their final appearances on home court for 2024, the Salties were a class above Victoria’s Red Dust Heelers across the board.
From a 54 point victory on the Friday to 30 and 35 point victories on the Saturday, the Salties were their ever dominant selves, leading every quarter in each match.
And for the final time this season, the Salties put it all on the line once more to ensure their top of the ladder finish.
“This season has been incredible,” Paralympian and Salties player Tom O’Neill-Thorne said after Game 3.
“We’ve been building for the past few seasons with the same core and to see it come together like it has, has been very rewarding.
“Last round and this one just gone have felt like the most connected we’ve been as a playing unit to date.
“Considering where we started the season, with those two back-to-back losses, to have a stretch of 16 wins in a row is crazy.”
The Darwin outfit won’t have much time to rest on their laurels, flying down to NSW for the finals series this Wednesday.
RESULTS / TOP PERFORMERS
Game 1
FT: Darwin 90 def. 36 Heelers
Jaylen Brown – 24pts, 10 rebounds, 13 assists, 5 steals
Tom O’Neill-Thorne – 22pts, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, 6/7 from three
Jontee Brown – 21pts, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 2/2 from three
Game 2
FT: Darwin 78 def. 48 Heelers
Jontee Brown – 29pts, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Samuel White – 12pts, 7 rebounds
Tom O’Neill-Thorne – 9pts, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, 3/5 from three
Game 3
FT: Darwin 77 def. 42 Heelers
Jaylen Brown – 22pts, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 steals, 2/5 from three
Tom O’Neill-Thorne – 15pts, 11 rebounds, 14 assists, 5 steals, 3/6 from three
Jannik Blair – 9pts, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
SEASON 2024
Finish: 1st (50 points)
Played: 18 games
Won: 16
Lost: 2
Away record: 7-2
Home record: 9-0
Pts For: 1449
Pts Against: 897
Pts Difference: 552
END OF REGULAR SEASON AWARDS
Defensive Player of the Year: Jannik Blair
Coaches Award: Jontee Brown
Players MVP: Jaylen Brown
13 in a row: Darwin Salties too good for Manly in NWBL clash
The Darwin Salties Wheelchair team have made it 13 wins on the trot after another brilliant showing in Round 6.
On the courts of the Northern Beaches, the Darwin-based outfit proved too hot to handle for the Wheel Eagles, dishing up three convincing victories in compelling fashion.
Headed into the weekend second on the ladder, the Salties were firm favourites against the mid-table Eagles.
And it should come as no surprise the usual suspects balled out yet again for the Salties, namely Jaylen Brown, Jontee Brown and Reo Fujimoto, while the likes of Clarence McCarthy-Grogan, Tom O'Neill-Thorne, and Jannik Blair all had solid performances behind the scenes.
The three wins assured the Salties retained their second place on the ladder with a 13-2 record.
The defending national champions still have a chance to round out the regular season top of the table if they win their remaining three matches, which would see them overtake Perth and nullify Wollongong’s efforts.
The team will suit up for their final home games of the season this Friday and Saturday against the Red Dust Heelers.
RESULTS / TOP PERFORMERS
Game 1
FT: Salties 80 def. 51 Wheel Eagles
Jaylen Brown – 24pts, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, 1 block
Jontee Brown – 19pts, 10 rebounds, 2 assists
Reo Fujimoto – 14pts, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Game 2
FT: Salties 83 def. 47 Wheel Eagles
Jaylen Brown – 23pts, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 steals
Jontee Brown – 20pts, 6 rebounds
Tom O'Neill-Thorne – 12pts, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals
Game 3
FT: Salties 82 def. 60 Wheel Eagles
Jaylen Brown – 25pts, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 6 steals
Jontee Brown – 18pts, 5 rebounds, 5 assists
Clarence McCarthy-Grogan – 6pts, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals
Darwin Salties extend winning streak in commanding fashion
It was another clean sweep for the Darwin Salties Wheelchair basketball team as they smashed the Adelaide Thunder on the road.
Now on a nine-game winning streak, the Salties showed no mercy to the winless Thunder, piling on a combined 281 points while conceding only 71.
They hit the ground running in their first clash, and soon to be first time Olympian Jaylen Brown had a huge performance.
The 19-year-old was an unstoppable force, putting up 31 points in his 32 minutes.
He was also unbelievable in every other metric, missing out on the rare quadruple-double by two assists.
He followed up his tremendous game one with a very good game two that saw him record a double-double.
The Victorian talent wasn’t done there, as he balled out once again in the final game of the weekend.
Brown was close to another record stat line, finishing the game with 35 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and 10 steals.
The three wins have put the Salties in prime position, as of now, sitting second place on 32 points with 10 wins and two losses from their 12 games.
The Salties will play their Round 6 matches against the Manly Wheel Eagles this weekend in Sydney.
RESULTS / TOP PERFORMERS
Game 1
FT: Salties 85 def. 32 Thunder
Jaylen Brown – 31pts, 8 rebounds, 13 assists, 13 steals, 2 threes
Jontee Brown – 20pts, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals
Clarence McCarthy-Grogan – 8pts, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals
Game 2
FT: Salties 92 def. 30 Thunder
Jaylen Brown – 27pts, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals
Jontee Brown – 18pts, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Clarence McCarthy-Grogan – 8pts, 6 rebounds, 11 assists
Game 3
FT: Salties 104 def. 14 Thunder
Jaylen Brown – 35pts, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 10 steals, 16/19 from the field
Jontee Brown – 22pts, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals
Tom O’Neill-Thorne – 10pts, 12 rebounds, 9 assists, 5 steals
Australian Paralympic President personally congratulates Darwin Salties
It was a special weekend for a number of Darwin Salties who capped off a dominant round with a special presentation from the Australian Paralympics President.
The Darwin outfit maintained their undefeated home court stand, toppling the Southern Districts Spartans in their NWBL Round 4 clash in dominant fashion.
After winning their first game to the tune of 51 points on Friday night, the side backed it up with a 35-point victory on Saturday morning, and then secured their third win of the round later in the evening.
Honorary President Alison Creagh and other members of the Paralympic committee made a special appearance ahead of the third match, formally congratulating the four Salties’ and one Spartan player who were named in the Australian Rollers Paralympic team last week.
“We have an opportunity to recognise the Australian Rollers who have been selected to represent the Australian Paralympic team,” Creagh said.
“You should all be immensely proud of your selection. We know the significant effort that goes into your journey as athletes
“We know that for the Salties, there’s a whole team behind the team that supports you, and I’d also like to applaud the Northern Territory for the work you are doing to drive the next generation of Paralympic athletes.”
Local legend and one of the four Salties selected in the Rollers team, Tom O’Neill-Thorne was proud to have the Salties and NT recognised by the nations head of sport.
“They’re (Paralympics Australia) seeing Darwin as a spot where Paralympic athletes can thrive,” he said.
“It’s a testament to all the work behind the scenes and support that has been given to us.
“Also, having the athletes that we do here makes a statement.
“They (Paralympics Australia) could tell us to move to a big city, but they see the value in us staying up here and the level of support we get from the community.”
Tom O’Neill-Thorne was selected for his third games alongside teammates, Sam White, Jannik Blair and debutant Jaylen Brown.
RESULTS / TOP PERFORMERS
Game 1
FT: Salties 90 def. 39 Spartans
Jaylen Brown – 24pts, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 2 threes
Clarence McCarthy-Grogan – 17pts, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 three
Jontee Brown – 14pts, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
Game 2
FT: Salties 84 def. 49 Spartans
Jontee Brown – 28pts, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, 14/16 from the field
Jaylen Brown – 16pts, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 1 three
Reo Fujimoto – 13pts, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks, 1 three
Game 3
FT: Salties 69 def. 43 Spartans
Jontee Brown – 21pts, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 three
Reo Fujimoto – 17pts, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 three
Tom O’Neill-Thorne – 6pts, 3 rebounds, 13 assists, 5 steals, 1 block
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