‘It’s put everyone on the radar’: Meteors with a bright future ahead despite defeat

Mackay’s up and coming NBL1 stars showcased their talent at the National Finals, making it through to the grand final despite the absences of Isaac White and Todd Blanchfield. Here is why the club’s future remains positive.

Emmett Naar played a starring role for Mackay in its NBL1 National Finals campaign. Picture: Michaela Harlow

While they failed to achieve their ultimate goal of a national championship, Mackay Meteors will take many positives away from their NBL1 National Finals campaign over the weekend.

Despite missing their two best players from the 2024 season in Isaac White and Todd Blanchfield, the Meteors were able to defeat both Mandurah Magic (West) and Forestville Eagles (Central) by double digit margins on Friday and Saturday.

This booked them a spot in the championship game against reigning premiers Knox Raiders (South), and while the Meteors got out to an early lead, they were eventually overrun, going down 87-84.

Their efforts prompt reflection on the 2023 campaign, where without White the Meteors fell short at the first hurdle of the NBL1 North finals series.

Mackay Meteors NBL1 North coach Joel Khalu. Picture: Highflyer Images.

Coach Joel Khalu said it’s a positive reflection on how the group has developed internally.

“I look at guys like Amarco Doyle, CJ Maran and Kye Medhurst who are still really young but who stepped up to the moment,” he said.

“It’s put everyone on the radar, Amarco is about to head off to college in the US to play so he has that next phase sorted, but for the other young guys this puts them on the map and let’s people in Australian basketball know that there’s a lot of talent coming out of Mackay that they need to be aware of.”

Khalu said while the end product wasn’t what they wanted, the team’s efforts across the weekend had made him immensely proud.

“Of course it’s disappointing to lose the last game of the season, but when you reflect on it and see how far we got without ‘Toddy’ or Isaac, you can’t be anything but proud of the fact that we were within three points of a national title,” Khalu said.

“It’s one where there’s a little bit of disappointment, but mostly we’re just proud of what we achieved.”

Amarco Doyle (right) was a critical piece for the Meteors throughout the National Finals over the weekend. Picture: Michaela Harlow

Khalu said it was “amazing” to witness the “next man up mentality” that permeated the group, with both young players and veterans alike stepping up to fill the gaps left by White, Blanchfield and Luca Yates (who only played in the championship game).

“We had a really slow start in the first game against Mandurah - we were down 17 at one stage in the second quarter,” he said.

“But the guys dug deep and stuck to the game plan we had laid out. And to back it up again against Forestville, they showed a lot of grit.”

Khalu heaped praise on his veteran point guard Emmett Naar, who was doing it all across the three games.

“I thought he was the best player across the entire weekend from any team, just with the way he led our group and dictated the tempo,” Khalu said.

“To average almost a triple-double at this level is almost unheard of, so he was a pivotal part of it.”

Khalu extended his praise to two of the young stars who will make up the next generation of basketballers to come out of Mackay.

“I thought Aiden Krause was critical especially on the defensive end, a lot had been said of the impact that Joel Murray was going to have for Mandurah, he averaged 34 points this season (the highest in the entire NBL1) and Aiden was able to hold him to 22,” he said.

“He took that match up personally and he wanted the challenge.”