Southern Districts Spartans v Logan Thunder in NBL1 best of three grand final series

All you need to know about NBL1 Southern Districts Spartans v Logan Thunder grand final series, including the x-factor player, best new faces and most under rated from both teams.

Great rivals Southern Districts Spartans and Logan Thunder will clash in the NBL1 grand final series best of three series – all live and free on Kayo Sports.

Undefeated Spartans head into the matches against a Logan side which has only lost once this season – to Spartans who snapped the Thunder’s 12-match winning streak. Three matches will be played at the Rowland Cowan Stadium on Friday (6.30pm), Saturday (5pm) and Sunday (3pm).

WATCH THE NBL1 NORTH FINALS LIVE AND FREE ON KAYO SPORTS

It is a clash of the NBL1 titans, with talent aplenty of match winners to burn.

There will even be sisterly love when then Smith girls Holly (Spartans) and Cassie (Logan) come up against each other.

The two teams have been great rivals.

“They talk all the time, hang out and their parents are going to have to pick and choose who they cheer for – maybe one of each,’’ laughed Spartans coach Kirron Byrne.

Thunder coach Brayden Heslehurst added: “Cassie is one of the most well-liked players by her teammates that I’ve ever seen and it’s because of how great a teammate she is as well as how unselfish she is. It’s a funny situation going up against her sister, it’s the second year in a row they’ve gone up against each other in a final and it’s certainly a situation that puts her parents in an incredibly tough position.’’

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The matches also feature the comeback queen, Thunder’s Mikhaela Cann, a mother-of-two who has come back from pregnancy twice and at the age of 26  to lead Thunder.

And Spartans will have one of the best young guns in the land, Maddi Rocci, who has just made the Australian Opals team to play at the FIBA Asia Cup. Here is our preview, starting with the best new faces, the most under rated and x-factor players from both teams.

BEST NEW FACES

ELLA BROW (Spartans)

A point guard who plays big minutes, can shoot and drive pass. “She has confidence and has fitted right into our group,’’ Byrne said.

INDIAH BOWYER (Thunder)

“A young star who is our only new face this season but she has provided us with a completely different look that we haven’t had before as far as a young athlete who can really make game-breaking plays,’’ said Thunder coach Brayden Heslehurst.

MOST UNDER-RATED

NADEE PAYNE (Spartans)

Coach Byrne said Payne can generate a lead, had a high scoring efficiency, made excellent incursions and “does what the team needs.’’ He said she can comfortably score 10 or 20 points while being “willing to do whatever we need in any big game.’’ Byrne said she was capable of coming up with a big play when needed.

DANI BAYES (Spartans)

A young and talented player who is one of the best shooters in the league

Logan Thunder will play Spartans.

X-FACTOR PLAYER

ASH KARAITIANA (Spartans)

A player with WNBL experience, Bryne said she had it all, an unselfish, a high percentage scorer who does not demand the ball. “She is someone other teams can forget about but then score in a bunch and put us over the edge when we need it,’’ Byrne said.

CHEVANNAH PAALVAST (Thunder)

An international player with a lot of experience, she had one of her best performances in a Thunder jersey in the semi-final. “She is such a versatile player who can do great things on both ends of the floor and has really made us a different team since joining Logan,’’ Heslehurst said.

It will be a best of there grand final series.

THE YOUNG GUN

Maddi Rocci (Spartans)Rocci puts her season best form down to the quality of teammates who surround her at the Spartans.

The new Opals rookie selection missed out on being named for the Tokyo Olympic Games but used that disappointment as motivation.

“I knew it was not end of world and I had lots of years ahead, but it drove me to work harder and watching on TV made think I want to be there.’’ she said.

Coach Byrne said Rocci, a passing guard who had plenty of scoring shots in her, had it all, but most importantly was unselfish. “She is great for team cohesion,’’ Byrne said.

THE COMEBACK QUEEN

Mikhaela Cann (Thunder)Cann said she was never not going to play basketball again after having two children – but what standard she would play was uncertain to her.

Now she is top of the pops in a Thunder side seeking title glory – again.

Mikhaela Cann in action for Thunder.

Cann said she would not change a thing and was blessed to be in an organisation with such a wonderful culture, and have her family share in that special bond.

Coach Heslehurst said of Cann: “She’s everything that our club and team stand for, she is the best leader I have ever been around and gives us another coach on the floor that makes my job a hell of a lot easier.

But along with that, in my opinion, she is one of the best point guards in the country and she’d be a huge contributor in the WNBL if any team was listening and was watching what has been happening in the state leagues.

She is tough and aggressive on both ends of the floor and creates for her teammates.’’