2006 ABA National Finals

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.

2006 ABA National Finals
Tournament details
ArenaBroadmeadow Basketball Stadium
Newcastle, New South Wales
Dates1–3 September
Final positions
ChampionsM: Geelong Supercats
W: Ballarat Miners
Runners-upM: Dandenong Rangers
W: Bendigo Braves

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 VDandenong RangersSandringham Sabres
CABLForestville EaglesSturt Sabres
QABLSouthern Districts SpartansSouthern Districts Spartans
SEABLKnox Raiders (South) & Geelong Supercats (East)Bendigo Braves
WaratahSutherland SharksBankstown Bruins

Wildcards

LeagueMenWomen
Big VSandringham SabresDandenong Rangers
CABL
QABL
SEABLBallarat Miners
WaratahNewcastle HuntersSydney Comets

Results

Quarter-finals – men

1 September
2:00 p.m.
Court 7
Dandenong Rangers 11098 Forestville Eagles
Pts: L. Strong 27 Pts: B. Sullivan 22
1 September
6:00 p.m.
Show Court
Sandringham Sabres 9390 Sutherland Sharks
Pts: N. Crosswell 22 Pts: C. Tovey 29
1 September
6:30 p.m.
Court 7
Geelong Supercats 10092 Southern Districts Spartans
Pts: S. Myers 27 Pts: B. Thompson 23
1 September
8:15 p.m.
Show Court
Knox Raiders 13280 Newcastle Hunters
Pts: C. Massingale 51

Quarter-finals – women

1 September
1:30 p.m.
Show Court
Sandringham Sabres 5250 Southern Districts Spartans
Pts: T. Fowler 14 Pts: H. Smith 22
1 September
3:45 p.m.
Show Court
Bankstown Bruins 7158 Sturt Sabres
Pts: D. Samuels 27 Pts: C. Nixon 25
1 September
4:15 p.m.
Court 7
Ballarat Miners 7269 Dandenong Rangers
Pts: K. Ashby 29 Pts: M. Colcott 29
1 September
8:45 p.m.
Court 7
Bendigo Braves 7970 Sydney Comets
Pts: A. Walsh 31 Pts: S. Batista De Mello 22

Classification Games – men

2 September
12:00 p.m.
Court 7
Forestville Eagles 10893 Sutherland Sharks
Pts: B. Sullivan 33 Pts: C. Tovey 26
2 September
2:30 p.m.
Show Court
Southern Districts Spartans 11591 Newcastle Hunters
Pts: B. Thompson 28 Pts: M. Selwood 16

Classification Games – women

2 September
12:15 p.m.
Show Court
Sturt Sabres 8145 Sydney Comets
Pts: M. Bowley 17 Pts: S. Batista De Mello 13
2 September
2:15 p.m.
Court 7
Southern Districts Spartans 7770 Dandenong Rangers
Pts: K. Dalgleish 19 Pts: M. Colcott 24

Semi-finals – men

2 September
4:30 p.m.
Court 7
Dandenong Rangers 10389 Sandringham Sabres
Pts: S. Conn 20 Pts: N. Crosswell 35
2 September
7:00 p.m.
Show Court
Geelong Supercats 9381 Knox Raiders
Pts: J. Brown 23 Pts: G. Siegle 20

Semi-finals – women

2 September
4:45 p.m.
Show Court
Bendigo Braves 9589 Bankstown Bruins
Pts: A. Walsh 34 Pts: W. Strong 23
2 September
6:45 p.m.
Court 7
Ballarat Miners 7660 Sandringham Sabres
Pts: R. Sewell 14 Pts: T. Fowler 16

Grand Finals

3 September
Geelong Supercats 9480 Dandenong Rangers
Pts: J. Brown 21 Pts: A. Cannan 21
3 September
Ballarat Miners 6966 Bendigo Braves
Pts: K. Ashby 24 Pts: K. Lemezs 19

All-Star Five

Men

  • Grand Final MVP: Ash Cannan (Dandenong Rangers)
NameTeam
Cameron ToveySutherland Sharks
Lester StrongDandenong Rangers
C. J. MassingaleKnox Raiders
Nathan CrosswellSandringham Sabres
Jamal BrownGeelong Supercats

Women

NameTeam
Dani SamuelsBankstown Bruins
Monique BowleySturt Sabres
Karen Ashby (Grand Final MVP)Ballarat Miners
Rachelle SewellBallarat Miners
Andrea WalshBendigo Braves

References

  1. "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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