The Just Better Care Roller Hawks have secured an all important top two finish for the NWBL Finals giving themselves direct entry to the gold medal game if they win their semi final and a second chance if they lose. 

The Roller Hawks needed at least two wins going into the final round of the regular season when they traveled to Brisbane to meet the Southern Districts Spartans.

On the road without captain Brett Stibners and Head Coach Brendan Dowler, it was up to the starting five of Tristan Knowles, Shawn Russell, Luke Pople, Steve Elliott and Hannah Dodd to take on even more of the workload as Nick Taylor assumed the role of player/coach in Dowler’s absence. 

The Roller Hawks were awkward at times in game one before coming away with a 59-48 win.

In game two, the visitors looked far more comfortable, powered by Tristan Knowles who scored 37 points to go with 8 rebounds and 7 assists as the Roller Hawks took an 85-63 victory.

In Sunday’s final match, Wollongong started the game scoring 10 points to nil, but the Spartans responded with a 9-2 run to finish the quarter before a 24-12 second quarter gave the home side a 33-24 advantage at the half.

The Roller Hawks re-focussed on their defence at the beginning of the third, going on another run of their own, 16-0 and limiting the Queenslanders to just one field goal for the period, before they wrapped up the win 59-50.

The three wins see the Roller Hawks finish in second position on the ladder ahead of NWBL Finals this weekend on 10th and 11th August at their home venue, Shellharbour City Stadium.

Wollongong will meet first placed Darwin with the winner advancing directly to Sunday’s gold medal game. The loser will get a second chance on Saturday night in the Preliminary Final.

Third placed Perth takes on fourth placed Manly with the winner progressing to the Preliminary Final and the loser going straight to the bronze medal game.

Both games will tip off at 11am Saturday.

The Roller Hawks will also host the Finals of the women’s league, where first placed Perth plays second placed Sydney Uni. The winner advances directly to Sunday’s gold medal game and the loser will get a second chance on Saturday night in the Preliminary Final.

Third placed Sydney Blues takes on fourth placed Queensland with the winner progressing to the Preliminary Final and the loser going straight to the bronze medal game. 

Both women’s games will tip off at 9am Saturday.

 

WBA Finals Series - Shellharbour City Stadium, Croom NSW

National Wheelchair Basketball League

Semi Finals - Saturday 10th August 2024

(1) Darwin Salties vs (2) Wollongong Roller Hawks @ 11am

(3) Perth Wheelcats vs (4) Manly Wheel Eagles @ 11am

Preliminary  Final - Saturday 10th August 2024

LOSER 1/2  vs WINNER 3/4 @ 7pm

Finals  - Sunday 11th August 2024

Bronze Medal Game: LOSER 3/4 vs LOSER Prelim Final @ 9:45am

Gold Medal Game: WINNER 1/2 vs WINNER Prelim Final @ 1:30pm

Women's National Wheelchair Basketball League

Semi Finals - Saturday 10th August 2024

(1) Perth Wheelcats vs (2) Sydney Uni Flames @ 9am

(3) Sydney Blues vs (4) Queensland Comets @ 9am

Preliminary  Final - Saturday 10th August 2024

LOSER 1/2  vs WINNER 3/4 @ 5pm

Finals  - Sunday 11th August 2024

Bronze Medal Game: LOSER 3/4 vs LOSER Prelim Final @ 8:00am

Gold Medal Game: WINNER 1/2 vs WINNER Prelim Final @ 11:30am