Click here for team pic of Comets
Click here for team pic of Bruins


The Sydney Comets and Bankstown Lady Bruins have won their respective men's and women's titles in the Waratah Australian Basketball League (WABL) competition, with the Comets defeating the Newcastle Hunters 101-83 to take their third consecutive WABL men's title and the Bruins defeating the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 69-66 to claim their second consecutive WABL women's title.

Basketball NSW staged a playoff extravaganza at the Broadmeadows Basketball Stadium in Newcastle, hosting the WABL, NSW State League and NSW Youth League competitions over Saturday and Sunday (14th-15th August).

The weekend was a rousing success, with the Broadmeadows stadium a hive of activity over both days and a huge crowd on hand to witness the two WABL grand finals on Sunday afternoon.

The women's grand final was characterised by the presence of two WNBL players in Michelle Musselwhite (Sea Eagles) and Briana Hennessy (Bruins) and these two players provided a 'game within a game' for the enthralled spectators.

Musselwhite dominated proceedings early, linking with fellow Sea Eagle Anna Crosswhite to frustrate a lack-lustre Bruins lineup, which appeared to have blown out its energy in its runaway 87-47 win over the Sydney Comets the previous day in the first semi final.
That semi final between the Bruins and Comets had featured an extraordinary shooting performance from the Bruins, who had lit up from beyond the perimeter to totally overwhelm the Comets from the opening whistle.

The Bruins put up an astonishing 23 three-point attempts in the game, hitting 80% in the first half as the Comets wilted under the unbelievable barrage of points.

The Sea Eagles had done their own demolition job on the ACT Academy of Sport in their semi final clash on Saturday, overwhelming the minor premiers in a stunning first quarter display of strength and aggression which left the Students powerless.

To their credit, the ACTAS made a strong recovery in the next three quarters but with Musselwhite controlling the Sea Eagles at both ends of the court, the Canberra team never really threatened to get back into the game, despite an at-times diminishing margin.

The Sea Eagles looked to have come out of the respective semi finals the better prepared and looked a class above the Bruins in the grand final, although the scoreboard never really showed that dominance.

The Bruins appeared to be a mere shadow of the team which had decimated the Comets but somehow scrambled to keep within striking distance of the Sea Eagles through the first three quarters of the game.

Two brief one-point leads had been minor achievements for the Bruins in the second half but when they hit the lead for the third time, midway through the fourth quarter, the face of the game immediately changed perspective.

The Sea Eagles suddenly lost their poise as the Bruins grew in stature and it was the sea-siders who were now scrambling, desperately looking to regain the advantage from the now-rampant Bruins.

Bruins centre Jamie Samuels made three crucial blocks in the last term, with the last effort on Sea Eagles forward Leanne Dalton an undoubted game-winner as she stopped the former WNBL star in her tracks with the basket seemingly at her mercy.

The Bruins took the ball down the other end of the court, converting another two points to secure a fantastic but at times improbable victory.
Both teams have qualified for the national ABA championships, which will be held in Geelong over 28th-29th August.

WABL Women's Grand Final: Bankstown City Credit Union 69 (Jamie Samuels 16, Briana Hennessy 15, Sarah Hately 13, Tammie Bywater 11, Adrianne Gilbert 6, Grace Paulo 5, Samantha Hennessy 3) d Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 66 (Michelle Musselwhite 24, Anna Crosswhite 10, Leanne Dalton 10, Gail Henderson 9, Amanda Janes 8, Robyn Hall 3, Tammy Goyne 2)

WABL Women's Semi Finals: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 90 (Michelle Musselwhite 31, Gail Henderson 13, Anna Crosswhite 12, Leanne Dalton 11, Tammy Goyne 10, Amanda Janes 7, Robyn Hall 4, Candice Trevenna 2) d ACT Academy of Sport 75 (Sarah Berry 16, Kylie Gwyther 12, Natalie Hurst 11, Kelly Hannett 9, Kelly Abrams 9, Candace Barton 6, Kobi Pearce 5, Lea Wood 5, Jessica Garvey 2)

Bankstown Bruins 87 (Briana Hennessy 21, Jaydene Hennessy 13, Jamie Samuels 13, Adrianne Gilbert 10, Tammie Bywater 10, Sarah Hately 9, Samantha Hennessy 9, Grace Paulo 2) d Sydney Comets 47 (Nat Trout 14, Sarah Costello 8, Melissa Thomson 6, Jackie Brescic 3, Tanelle Dun 3, Michaela Clark 3, Shelley Bates 3, Allira Gofers 3, Corinne Quarantino 2, Manea Ford 2)



The WABL men's grand final promised everything, with the slick eastern suburbs and Sydney Kings-linked Sydney Comets taking on the Steel City Newcastle Hunters in a classic "Beauty and the Beast" encounter.

The Comets had warmed up for the grand final with a blistering demolition of the Illawarra Seahawks, in their semi final clash on Saturday, recovering from a slow start to overwhelm the young Wollongong team to win 114-86.

The Hunters had put their working class game face on for their clash with the Sydney Sharks and stunned the Sydney-siders with their willingness to 'mix it up' at both ends of the court.

The Sharks appeared unprepared for such ferocity and passion, allowing the game to slip away virtually unnoticed as they spent fruitless energy pleading with the officials rather than trying to halt the carnage.

With the home fans baying for blood, the Hunters obliged, carving up the Sharks for a well-received 101-86 victory.

The grand final started in a similar fashion to the Sharks/Hunters game, with the home team putting their credentials on the line early and showing they were genuine title contenders, rather than a mere stumbling block for the Comets to ride over with disdain.

The home town fans were in raptures as the two teams battled for supremacy, with the Hunters going to the long break with a 51-50 lead.

The Comets had a genuine 'ace in the hole' to play however and former NBL players Chris Stauber and Stephen Whitehead began to show their class in the second half, lifting the Comets to an invaluable 76-68 lead at the last break in play and then carrying on their destructive ways in the final quarter to finally and ruthlessly stamp out the Hunters brave challenge.

The Comets have now also qualified for the national ABA championships in Geelong on 28th-29th August.


WABL Men's Grand Final: Sydney Comets 101 (Chris Stauber 24, Stephen Whitehead 22, Graeme Dann 17, David Barlow 14, Jed Kram 9, Rod Proctor 8, Brett Hutchins 6, Kirill Fayn 1) d Newcastle Hunters 83 (Daniel Proctor 19, Peter Barnett 14, Mat Cook 10, Josh Morgan 8, Allan Swystun 8, Mat McGovern 6, Michael Kubank 6, Stephen Pennisi 5, Mitch Selwood 4, Adam Melmeth 3)


WABL Men's Semi Finals: Sydney Comets 114 (Graeme Dann 23, Jed Kram 19, Chris Stauber 18, David Barlow 16, Stephen Whitehead 14, Rod Proctor 8, Brett Hutchins 6, Michael Seckold 5, Jason Braddy 3, Kirill Fayn 2) d Illawarra Seahawks 86 (John Phillip 19, Daniel Joyce 15, Tim Labka 12, Daniel Jepson 10, Luke Higgins 10, Jared Cavill 8, Shane Lewis 7, Phillip Jordon 3, Brett Murphy 2)

Newcastle Hunters 101 (Daniel Proctor 23, Mat McGovern 14, Josh Morgan 13, Matt Cook 13, Mitch Selwood 9, Stephen Pennisi 7, Adam Melmeth 6, Mark Hurley 5, Peter Barnett 4, Michael Kubank 4, Allan Swystun 3) d Sutherland Sharks 86 (Jamie Robinson 23, Bradley Sheridan 18, Dane Morris 11, James MacCann 10, Robert McKinlay 8, Blake Hendricks 7, Marty Zumstein 4, BJ Carter 3, Brendon Gleeson 2)