Norwood Flames’ CJ Turnage and Southern Tigers’ Teige Morrell have been named the NBL1 Central MVPs for the 2021 season.
Turnage took home the Woollacott Medal after a stunning campaign with the Flames where he averaged 24.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He also helped lead Norwood to an upset win over the Forestville Eagles in last night’s NBL1 Central Qualifying Final.
Morrell proved unstoppable during the year, as she averaged a double-double of 23.1 points and 12.4 rebounds per game to secure the Halls Medal. Her performances helped the Tigers finish on top of the women’s ladder, and they will face the South Adelaide Panthers in next week’s Semi-Final.
Turnage was also named in the NBL1 Central Men’s All-Star Five alongside Sam Daly (Sturt Sabres), Michael Harris (Forestville), Cameron Coleman (Southern) and Greg Mays (Forestville).
The NBL1 Central Women’s All-Star Five consisted of MVP Morrell, her Tigers teammate Morgan Yaeger, Ally Wilson (Norwood), Sam Simons (Forestville) and Olivia Thompson (South Adelaide).
The future is bright for the Eagles, as a pair of Forestville players were named the U23 Players of the Year, with Harris winning the Frank Angove Medal in the men’s division and Simons securing the Merv Harris Medal in the women’s division.
Coleman was named the men’s Best Defensive Player and North Adelaide Rockets star Jess Good won the women’s Best Defensive Player. Good was also recently recruited to Carlton’s AFLW team.
After both their teams finished on top of the ladder, Sturt men’s coach Paul Rigoni and Southern women’s coach Matthew Clarke won the Coach of the Year awards.
Vanessa Devlin (men’s division) and Danika Shepherd (women’s division) won the Phil Yuill Referee of the Year award.
Full list of award winners:
Woollacott Medal – CJ Turnage (Norwood Flames)
NBL1 Central Men’s MVP – CJ Turnage (Norwood Flames)
Halls Medal – Teige Morrell (Southern Tigers)
NBL1 Central Women’s MVP – Teige Morrell (Southern Tigers)
Men’s All-Star Five – Sam Daly (Sturt Sabres), Michael Harris (Forestville Eagles), Cameron Coleman (Southern Tigers), CJ Turnage (Norwood Flames), Greg Mays (Forestville Eagles)
Women’s All-Star Five – Morgan Yaeger (Southern Tigers), Ally Wilson (Norwood Flames), Sam Simons (Forestville Eagles), Olivia Thompson (South Adelaide Panthers), Teige Morrell (Southern Tigers)
Frank Angove Medal for U23 Men’s Player of the Year – Michael Harris (Forestville Eagles)
Merv Harris Medal for U23 Women’s Player of the Year – Sam Simons (Forestville Eagles)
Men’s Best Defensive Player – Cameron Coleman (Southern Tigers)
Women’s Best Defensive Player – Jess Good (North Adelaide Rockets)
Men’s Coach of the Year – Paul Rigoni (Sturt Sabres)
Women’s Coach of the Year – Matthew Clarke (Southern Tigers)
Phil Yuill Referee of the Year (men’s) – Vanessa Devlin
Phil Yuill Referee of the Year (women’s) – Danika Shepherd
Men’s Points Leader – Jack McVeigh (North Adelaide Rockets)
Women’s Points Leader – Olivia Thompson (South Adelaide Panthers)
Men’s Field Goal Percentage Leader – Daniel Webber (Norwood Flames)
Women’s Field Goal Percentage Leader – Teige Morrell (Southern Tigers)
Men’s Three-Point Percentage Leader – Jake Rios (Forestville Eagles)
Women’s Three-Point Percentage Leader – Jade Johnson (Sturt Sabres)
Men’s Free-Throw Percentage Leader – Jack McVeigh (North Adelaide Rockets)
Women’s Free-Throw Percentage Leader – Taylor Ortlepp (North Adelaide Rockets)
Men’s Offensive Rebounds Leader – Alex Starling (South Adelaide Panthers)
Women’s Offensive Rebounds Leader – Teige Morrell (Southern Tigers)
Men’s Defensive Rebounds Leader – Alex Starling (South Adelaide Panthers)
Women’s Defensive Rebounds Leader – Olivia Thompson (South Adelaide Panthers)
Men’s Rebounds Leader – Alex Starling (South Adelaide Panthers)
Women’s Rebounds Leader – Olivia Thompson (South Adelaide Panthers)
Men’s Assists Leader – Julian Jacobs (Woodville Warriors)
Women’s Assists Leader – Jordan Hunter (South Adelaide Panthers)
Men’s Steals Leader – Alex Starling (South Adelaide Panthers)
Women’s Steals Leader – Emily Winter (Woodville Warriors)
Men’s Blocks Leader – Joe Jackson (Woodville Warriors)
Women’s Blocks Leader – Jess Good (North Adelaide Rockets)
The Coles Express NBL1 is delighted to announce the 2021 NBL1 Conference Championship Games will be streamed live and free on Kayo Freebies.
In a significant step forward for the league, the NBL1 West (women’s Friday September 3, men’s Saturday September 4), NBL1 Central (Saturday September 11), NBL1 South (date TBC) and NBL1 North (best of three-game series, dates TBC) Championship Games will be streamed to basketball fans around the country on one of Australia’s fastest growing streaming services.
The Conference Championship Games will take the broadcast of NBL1 games to another level with more camera angles, expert commentators and other exciting elements to give fans an enhanced NBL1 viewing experience. Along with the Conference Championship Games, fans will also be able to watch The NBL1 Show, NBL1 game minis, NBL1 highlight videos and more on Kayo Freebies.
Basketball fans can access Kayo Freebies by simply downloading the Kayo Sports app or visiting www.kayosports.com.au/freebies and registering for a Freebies account. Kayo Freebies are free, and no credit card details are required to register and start streaming. Fans will still be able to watch the NBL1 Conference Championship Games on NBL1.com.au and the NBL App along with Kayo Freebies.
Coles Express NBL1 League Manager Dean Anglin said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Kayo to bring the NBL1 Conference Championship Games to a whole new legion of sports fans. “Despite the challenges we have faced this season, the quality of NBL1 basketball across the country hasn’t changed. We have seen incredible action across all four conferences in both the men’s and women’s divisions and we look forward to what should be thrilling conference finals. “NBL1 has changed the game for winter basketball in Australia and our growth has been rapid. Partnerships like this one with Kayo Sports brings NBL1 to new and larger audiences and is an important step in the evolution of NBL1.”
Kayo Sports’ Director of Marketing, Kim McConnie, said: “Kayo Freebies has been a gamechanger for Aussie sports fans, particularly now when many fans can’t watch their team in person, and we are thrilled to be able to bring the 2021 NBL1 Conference Championship Games to all Australians for free. “This is particularly exciting given the recent announcement of the Foxtel Group’s three-year agreement with the NBL and ESPN, which will include two games from every round of the NBL season streaming free on Kayo Freebies.”
