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Season 20 Episode 20: NBL1 East 2024 GF + Interview with Chris Bryant
79 Plays3 months ago
The NBL1 East 2024 season has finally come to and end with the Falcons swooping and Mustangs stampeding to become the 2024 Champions! We chat to the Maitland Mustangs commentator, Caleb Forgarty, about game day and the Mustangs season from his eyes.
We also have a sneaky interview with Chris Bryant fromHill Hornets just before he jetted home.
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Transcript
Introduction and Special Episode Highlights
00:00:06
Speaker
Welcome to a very special episode of eScott Game. It is the grand final edition for 2024 and we have two guys who were there on the scene for both matches, well at least partly both matches for the MBL1E's 2024 grand finals. We have lucky friends as always but this week our very special guest is Caleb Fogarty from the Maitland Mustangs. Thanks for joining us Caleb.
00:00:32
Speaker
Thanks guys, the party's been going to Maitland, I'm out here in our lovely Erskineville but as you can see the voices are ah a bit tattered from the weekend but thank you for having me. Absolutely, the best guy that we could possibly get to give us a big insight into the Maitland Mustangs season but also their grand final performance as
Falcons vs. Sharks Game Recap
00:00:51
Speaker
well. We'll first cover the women's game however which was between the Newcastle Falcons and the Sutherland Sharks And this game certainly didn't disappoint Newcastle Falcons winning 85 to 78 in the end. But it certainly didn't come easy, Lockie. You were there, commentating the game. Tell us what you saw.
00:01:13
Speaker
I saw an occasion deserving of the match and a match deserving of the occasion. So yes, as you mentioned, I was fortunate enough to commentate this one with Hamish from Central Coast, which was absolutely brilliant. Everyone thought coming in that it would be the battle of Nicole Munger and Lauren Nicholson. And if either of them could be stopped, you know, go away to ceiling it for for the other team. The thing with both of these teams is they both have a lot of other pieces that can do a lot.
00:01:43
Speaker
What Lauren definitely had the early running I think she was five of six in the first quarter manga was only hit three of eight of her first first few shots and Sutherland came home the end of their first quarter was just electric Lauren really started to take over and they went up early but I mean throughout this game it No, no lead ever felt safe. I mean, it played out that way. ah Yeah, like I said, Lauren five or six, she ended up with 33 points, but the the secondary battles were massive. Ayla Jufferman versus Liv White in the early stages. We call Liv White the immovable object. And even going up against Ayla, like you think, you know, Ayla's got a good few inches on Liv. She's played for Australia.
00:02:31
Speaker
but the experience of Luke White in those early stages. I don't think Isla had anything in the first quarter until she managed to get Taya Webb switched onto her. And I think it was just, she got that basket and then she got another one not long after and she started feeling her way into the game. And I mean, she finished with 15 and 14 and she was six of nine from the field. I think what that suggests is when she got her looks,
00:03:01
Speaker
They were really, really open, but the fact she was only six of nine, especially Liv White in there. well I mean, Liv was the only real big we used. Hannah Klein was the only one, only real big on the bench, and she didn't get any minutes. Both teams only ran seven all game.
Key Performances and MVP Highlights
00:03:18
Speaker
Moving on, the second quarter was where Munger started to, started to come into her own and started to get to the free throw line. She was only six of 16 from the field, but Nicole Munger has a presence about her, a magnetism. I mean, it's why she got MVP. It's why she got grand final MVP. Even when she's six of 16 from the field, she's still drawing free throws. She's still grabbing rebounds and getting out. She's still doing so many other things. It doesn't matter if she was six of 16 from the field because she can still rack up 22 points and 17 rebounds.
00:03:51
Speaker
Anyway, they got 30 in a quarter and their quarters either side were 18 and 13. It was just, that was just when they got on their first run and that became a bit of a theme going forward. They reeled in that little deficit they had, got out, got a slender lead at halftime. They either maintained it or extended it and then never, and then someone we We mentioned that, and anyone who's watched Sutherland games that I've been calling knows that at Sutherland basketball stadium, there is a history of teams just almost reeling it in and then letting it back out and almost reeling it back in and letting it back out. And it was much the same in this one. Unfortunately for the Sharks on this occasion, they were on the wrong side. I thought Vanessa Penussis for the Sharks, um,
00:04:42
Speaker
Hate to bring up two years ago for the Sharkies, but I think two years ago, Squint, you were there. Vanessa took a few ill-advised shots, especially when they were, the Sharks got down a little bit early in that game against Aubrey. And Vanessa was trying for mid-range pull-ups, literally every opportunity she got. And she had one, like she just walked into a three-pointer with like 18 or 19 seconds on the shot clock. And I thought, oh God, here we go again.
00:05:09
Speaker
But she didn't. She just, she saw that opportunity went for it. It didn't come off and she went back to, you know, playing. And I think it was just a one-off thing where she saw the opportunity and to be fair, it looked like a good shot. It just kind of gave me thoughts of two years ago when it happened. but To be fair, um I mean, her shot stats don't look great. Four of ten, but a little bit of that was right at the end when after Newcastle got up in the really late stages and they were just looking for really quick baskets, she had to fire away. But the three point shooting for the Sharks was left a little bit to be desired. That was six of thirty two. Penosis was four of ten. Fabro was two of six and those two came in two consecutive possessions.
00:05:55
Speaker
So aside from that little 30 second, 40 second period, for a team that has so many good three point shooters on it, I think they're second in the league this season for three point shooting. You can't shoot six of 32 in a grand final when it's something that default almost de defines you as a team.
00:06:15
Speaker
And to honestly, to keep that close when shooting six of 32 from three-point range was honestly pretty impressive. They shoot 33% from the fair from three-point range, Newcastle shoot 31%, and at one point they were up around the 41% mark. They finished 35%, which is still not only over their season average, it's well above what Sutherland hold teams to from three-point range.
00:06:41
Speaker
Sutherland been holding teams sub 30% all season from three-point range.
Newcastle Falcons' Championship Win
00:06:45
Speaker
It was 48-45 at halftime. Newcastle came out, they came out the better of the two teams in the third quarter. I mean they started better and when they had that three-point lead it just meant the lead just crept out a bit. Lauren Nicholson didn't have a point until eight and a half minutes into the third quarter. I think Newcastle, they would have been very happy about that but they probably would have liked to have been further ahead for doing all that good work against Lauren. Um, that was when in third quarter, that was when Fabro hit those two quick threes. And it was straight after I said, Newcastle have to shut down Lauren Nicholson and dare someone else to beat Sutherland. And at that point, Fabro and Norris were both on zero point. So neither of them were having a good night's scoring.
00:07:35
Speaker
And then Fabro came out and hit two threes and they did shut down Lauren, but Fabro came out and and stood up and good on up. She ever just 19 points a game. You know, we've had Panusas, we had Nicholson. It was a period we didn't have either of them. And Fabro, she's a bonafide star of the league and everyone wants to talk about Nicholson and more about Panusas. I think Fabro, I mean, it's, it's easily for other players to get lost in there when you got the player like Lauren Nicholson. And it's a bit the same with Munger. Um, but.
00:08:04
Speaker
Both of these teams just chock full of stars. And that was the point where Newcastle started ratcheting it up and Sutherland started reeling it in. I mean, with a quarter to play, I mean, you really, I mean, it was a one point lead for Newcastle. Started the fourth quarter, they pulled it out again and then Sutherland just went Lauren Nicholson, again, was just like, this is not happening. And it was that point I thought, is Nicholson just going to drag them over the line? I mean, if there's one player out there, she could, who could do it? It is, it is Lauren, but Newcastle, Trissy Bortitude, calling timeouts at the right time, regrouping. Sutherland went up 73, 72. And at that point, because that was another point, that was the first time that New Sutherland had reeled in that deficit and got over the line.
00:08:54
Speaker
got, not got over the line, but got back to actually leading. Newcastle, I think they took a time out and Sutherland came back again after the time out and maintained it. But then there was another stoppage and that's when things kind of changed in the last few minutes. And it went from Nicholson putting her team on her back to Newcastle stars once again, just ah just standing up. And it was always going to be a battle of the stars. Other players do good things, but I mean, Jofferman's only committed one foul all night. So she was just able to play.
00:09:29
Speaker
solid defense on anyone and everyone throughout that fourth quarter. Whereas I think Liv White ended with four fouls. Maddie Norris, not her best night. She ended with four fouls. So just gets tough defending in the paint when you start getting that foul trouble. I think Newcastle just just more composed down the stretch. So once we got to seven, I think it was 78-76.
00:09:52
Speaker
78 all and someone just tried some really low percentage plays. Especially there was one play where they tried to get Lauren Nicholson back to Ocati and it just was never really on. I think ah it was telegraphed. The defender, I can't remember who it was that was guarding Nicholson. Just following Nicholson had front position the whole way and Nicholson never got a step in front of the defender to even get the catch.
00:10:14
Speaker
Someone went down the other end and immediately got a steal. So the play, the play itself didn't have any scoreboard effect, but I think that was the moment where you thought maybe Newcastle are going to have, you know, karma heads prevailing in the final stages.
00:10:32
Speaker
And indeed it did. 79, 78 on a two point on a shot from Munger. So Munger hit two free throws and then got another basket. And then Fabro had a three-pointer to put Sutherland up, but from there we're down to the last 35 seconds. and So Sutherland just had to fail and it was almost whoever was leading at that point Was just gonna have to make their free throws and it turned out to be it was almost like you know a penalty shootout in soccer or the last last minute or two of the um water polo semi-final in the Olympics, it was just going goal for goal and if anyone missed a
00:11:11
Speaker
and the other team scored and they were just going to have such an advantage because by that time you would have had to fail to stop the clock, get the other team to the line and Newcastle hit their free throws. So Munger hit a couple, Penooses came down, missed the three and then it was so fitting that um Kate Kingham hit the last two free throws for Newcastle because ah Yes, Newcastle won the championship in 2021 in the COVID season with Sutherland, but their last grand final win 2019 that they won against Canberra. Kate Kingham was the only member of that squad still with the Newcastle. Well, they were the hunters back then, but the Falcons now. I thought it was so fitting to see Kingham hit those last two free throws. Cause yeah, she's captain now. She's the only returning member for that grand final team. Um,
00:12:03
Speaker
Yeah, it just, I mean, it was one of those games where whoever won it on the day, the way the game played out, neither team could really have any arguments with the result. They both put themselves in the position to win. And in the last couple of minutes, Newcastle came up trumps so that suddenly can have no complaints. And if Newcastle lost, I don't think they could have had any complaints either.
00:12:30
Speaker
And just looking at some of the statistics from that game, so just a summary. ah Nicole Munger, who was our MVP for the league this season and the finals and MVP, ended the grand final game for the Newcastle Falcons with 22 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. And she was supported by Isla Jufferman, who had 15 points and 14 rebounds.
00:12:55
Speaker
And for Sutherland Sharks, Lauren Nicholson had 33 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. And Olivia White had a double-double with 12 points, 14 rebounds and 3 assists and 2 steals as well, shooting 66.67 overall.
00:13:11
Speaker
and Vanessa Penooses had 15 points. And speaking of free throws, as you mentioned earlier, Lucky, Newcastle Falcons getting to the free throw line 31 times, which is pretty big in any game and especially important in a grand final match. More so when they're shooting 23 from 31, which is 74.19% overall, which is a pretty great stat to have up your sleeve in a grand final.
00:13:39
Speaker
and compared that to the Sutherland Sharks they only got to the free throw line 11 times so the Sharks committing 20 fouls in this game and obviously most of them were shooting fouls given the high number of free throws the Falcons had um rebound count was 50 to Newcastle and 47 to Sutherland so nothing really separating them there but what's interesting is their field gold percentage So Newcastle were shooting 37.5% overall to Sutherland's 41.03. Sutherland with 78 field goal attempts to Newcastle's 72. But Sutherland again really struggling from the three point line. Six from 32, which is 18.75% from the Ark compared to the Falcons 34.78% from the Ark.
00:14:37
Speaker
And as we take a look at the analysis, Sutherland's 46 of Sutherland's 78 points came from inside the paint compared to Newcastle's 30. So again, a big congratulations to the Newcastle Falcons women's team being crowned the MBL 1 East 2024 champions.
00:14:59
Speaker
Congratulations to all the athletes, all the coaching staff, the support staff and all of everyone involved in the club including volunteer volunteers and administration. Very well deserved and we're looking forward to see how you perform at Nationals in one week's time on the Sunshine Coast.
00:15:16
Speaker
Over now to the men's final which is an evolution of a rivalry in our short-term history of MBL1 East. Canberra Gunners versus the Maitland Mustangs. Here we are again, Maitland Mustangs finding themselves in the third grand final in a row.
Maitland Mustangs' Grand Final Victory
00:15:33
Speaker
after that heartbreak loss in dying seconds to the Sutherland Sharks last year and the year before to the Gunners. um But this time Maitland were taking no prisoners and sprinted ahead, winning 67 to 86. So a very convincing win with Caleb. You are the Maitland Mustang himself.
00:15:54
Speaker
You also had the privilege of calling the game yesterday. Tell us about A, what was it like to call the NBA One East men's grand final and also congratulations for being selected to commentate. But how did it feel to see your stangers finally get redemption and win the NBA One East championship?
00:16:14
Speaker
Well, thanks for having me again, guys. But, um yeah, look, to answer both questions, it was bloody stressful. It was so stressful. um I was doing the colour for the game, so it allowed me to be a little bit more of a fan for this one. And you could, after the game, you could talk to a couple of the Mustangs players and fans. They could see me in my white shirt over on the other end standing, and I was just going through it. I was right in the emotions with him, but, yeah, as he just touched on Jacinta,
00:16:42
Speaker
It's been a wicked three-year stretch. like This has been arguably the best team in the NBA 1Es for a good time now. Cronulla were great. They had a game of their lives last year, and I think a lot of Maitland fans felt like that would have been the year. Canberra Gunners the year before, up to by X amount of points.
00:17:00
Speaker
I was talking to Cranston-Lown after last night. It even felt it had a bit of an edge of Canberra coming back at some stage in the fourth, but he was like, mate, that was, they came back five minutes left in the third last time. So we weren't too stressed. We just knew we needed to keep going with it. The result really, and the momentum really swung in that final 20 seconds of the first quarter. um Cranston-Lown had not scored.
00:17:21
Speaker
and then he rattled out he said in the interview he just needed one to drop he was all he needed is one to drop and then he just went six points so they won that first quarter 18 to 15 if Cranston Land doesn't get that n one and one in that absolutely bonkers three at the buzzer, they would have been down 15-12 and Canberra would have had the leg up going into that second quarter. Thank God that went in and then got it went in. Yeah, that was huge um because me, myself, I was tied up with something else and I was watching this game on the live stats, which obviously, especially in a grand final, isn't the same as watching it properly.
00:17:59
Speaker
But I could see that the Mustang started to edge away as early as the second. They won that second quarter 22 to 13. And I could see that on the stats and it did start by Cranston-Lown finding the bottom of the net finally and off he went from there. Having 28 points, 11 rebounds and three assists, the MVPs certainly turned up yesterday and winning MVP of the grand final. So he's had a hell of a season. What do you think it was for Maitland that made them so dominant in the grand final yesterday? I just think they just, they weren't going to lose. They just had this mentality all season.
00:18:36
Speaker
that this this is it. I really genuinely believe this was a interesting game in the sense of like if they win like you're feeling like okay let's run it back let's do it 2025 which is definitely the essence right now you if that didn't happen you could obviously you could see why players maybe then go like oh okay well we've done three years at this what what should we do but we want it they really just yeah it comes back down to that first quarter i think because even davey jay and i on the chat on the broadcast were like it feels like cambra is on top here but yeah crayon came up they had a horrible lead in throughout the finals they could not have had a worse injury run they've been they were solid all year and then pull parsons following you think after winning manly and having a week off that that's
00:19:24
Speaker
chef's kiss, beautiful moment, have a week off, but then Josh Clifford sick, all leading up into the COE game. And then a day or two before the COE Parsons does his ACL, which is just heartbreaking. And then in the lead up to the grand final, or Dan Millburn has an ear infection and Jake Holt twist his ankle Thursday night. I think even with all that going on, this team has just gone, nah, we are going to do it. Coach Boyle has never wavered Anytime I've spoken to him, he's just been complete and out of faith into his team.
00:19:56
Speaker
And can you give us some insights into what Coach Boyle and perhaps the team as a unit changed this year, other than their attitude, I suppose, and I never say die kind of attitude this year, compared to the last two seasons to give them a success? Because, but you know, Lockie and I have been watching them the last couple of years. The roster has pretty much stayed the same for the last three seasons, which ah in itself is a big advantage.
00:20:24
Speaker
Um, but they just look different. They behave differently, um, compared then a far more disciplined. Was that also a ah point of focus going into this season? I think consistency because I definitely, even speaking to a couple of plays and even, um, lucky Beavis on my commentary partner for the Mustangs last year, they were just, they would say to themselves, they were a bit of a frustrating team. They just didn't really have that consistency.
00:20:52
Speaker
And I think they've just really hammered home focus on that. Aside from a bad trip to Canberra, this team has pretty much stayed the same in terms of how they play and what they do. They love to attack the paint. They like to attack the offensive boards. Zone defence was the only thing to really give them trouble throughout the season.
00:21:11
Speaker
And I don't think they've changed too much except for mainly their attitude. they Even last year, they loved to go and into Jimmy Hunter, Matt Gray, and the paint. Crash those offensive boards, as I just said.
00:21:23
Speaker
Second chance points is a massive aspect for their team as well. They're first in the league in that, first in the league in points in the paint. For perspective, they average 100 points per game. 60 points of those are points in the paint. That's coming from offensive rebounding and second chance points and literally just giving it to Cranston land, letting it attack the rim and hope good things happen. I don't know if it's as much as tech, the tech technicalities have changed, but you just can see the consistency was there more this year.
00:21:52
Speaker
Yeah, lucky because in the past when we've reviewed a couple of Maitland Mustangs games, especially last season, I think we've spoken about how they come out really passive. They are inconsistent. um I think I've expressed some frustration with them last year about how it just seems like they are yeah really up and down. I think that's why we're perhaps surprised last season when they came seventh and they went on to beat the inner West Bulls.
00:22:19
Speaker
in the elimination finals and made them weigh all the way to the grand final because of that inconsistency. But and speaking about points in the paint, Caleb, you mentioned that, did you say 60% of their points are pointing in the paint? So yeah, a hundred they average 100 points per game. Well, that's the maths. I guess, yeah, 60% of that is all points in the paint.
00:22:39
Speaker
Because ah from yesterday's game, Maitland scoring 86 points for the game in total, 46 of that coming from the paint. So um yeah, they're certainly sticking to their strengths yesterday, which was really impressive. And that's not always coming from the likes of their bigs being Parsons, Hunter, Gray. It is off dribble penetration, like you said. So ah very impressive for the Maitland Mustangs. And how was it calling your first MBO won a ah grand final for the men's competition because you and I obviously did the women's grand final last year together. What was it like for the men's this year? Oh, it was great. um My goal this year coming into the season was to be doing a grand final, whether it be the women's or the men's.
Caleb's Commentary Journey and Reflections
00:23:24
Speaker
I wanted to do it. And then when they asked me to jump into the seat for our the men's, I was obviously very stoked, especially with Mustangs, only one went away from the grand final.
00:23:33
Speaker
um definitely a bit in the deep end with jumping in for the colour side which added a little bit of a little bit of ah the unknown for me because I'd never done that. I actually on the way over I had the women's game to Hamish in Locky's call and by the way Hamish one of an absolute gentleman he was such a lovely bloke but lot literally just listening to Locky and also just trying to take him what was the go when to kind of come in and I'm doing with Davey Jay. He's obviously done it for so long. He um definitely made a point at the start. He's like, I'm here to help you, which he definitely did. So um yeah, but mate Maitland, that was just stressful. I i think ah some of the basketball yourself, Wales girls said they got a couple of photos of me hopping up and down. let's just And I think that was good because I was doing color. I could actually do that. If I was doing play by play, I'd have to contain myself, which
00:24:26
Speaker
I don't know. how I would ah thought I was going to be much better at it than I was. don't Don't worry. During the women's game, I snuck a look at my arm heart rate monitor during the fourth quarter and it was at 110 and I had to put my phone away because the number was still rising. I was just like, I don't want to look at this.
00:24:44
Speaker
Oh, a hundred percent. And even Davey Jay was saying on the call, like the last five minutes are up by 20. And he's like, there's got to be a parade going down, right? And I'm like, we've lost the last two grand finals. You can't say that to us. We've had the MVP. It hasn't happened. I was there in 2011 when we lost the manly. I was dead in line for butch Hayes shooting a three and it rimming out like everywhere, but in the hoop falling out in the Mustangs losing that grand final, the manly.
00:25:11
Speaker
We have gone through so much grand final heartache, the fact that we've been able to go to a grand final win convincingly, but also exercise the demons that this Canberra team did to us in 2022.
00:25:24
Speaker
I think it's just Josh Clifford said it in his interview at the end of the game. They did it for everyone that had ever worn that Mustang's jersey. The plays ran straight into the stands after we won. I guess I could say that we won now. I was trying not to say it on the broadcast, but after we won, they just ran straight into the stands. And like, to me, the most amazing moment of it all was a shot of Andrew Mortimer.
00:25:49
Speaker
and his son Will having a hug in the stands. I spoke to Andrew at the start of the this this week and he actually said to me um ah all I want is my son to be able to achieve what I couldn't and just knowing that that sentiment was there during the game and then when they wanted seeing them hug it literally brought a tear to my heart because it was just such a nice moment. Yeah that's amazing, that is amazing and I think it's a true testament to how deep ah culturally and I would say almost sentimentally.
00:26:22
Speaker
And loyalty is the loyalty to the club. I think that it reflects with Maitland that interestingly in both Maitland and Newcastle, the two Hunter clubs certainly demonstrates that strong loyalty, that strong kinship that they have and culture that they have and camaraderie around their club. Because i from what I could see on the broadcast, watching it up here, both Newcastle and Maitland had busloads of people come in support which would have created such a great atmosphere. Oh it, Lockie can probably can speak to that as well. It was so loud. I could barely hear David Jay with my headphones on. It was ridiculous. It really was. Sutherland brought a bus, Newcastle brought a bus. We saw them, they pulled up just about at the same time Hamish and I did. And during during the women's game, during the fourth quarter, I mentioned it on the call
00:27:17
Speaker
well When the players are bringing the ball up, it's almost as like a palpable kind of um anticipation of what's going to happen. And they get into their half court set and it rises and then there's a score and one half of the stadium goes up or there's a stop and the other half of the stadium goes up. And it's just the atmosphere, it's like literally feels like the atmosphere or the air pressure in the building is changing from end to end.
00:27:47
Speaker
you know, the other team brings the ball up and it all just goes back to this anticipatory site and it was just, just waiting for one half of the stadium to absolutely explode every 20 or 30 seconds.
00:27:58
Speaker
And interestingly, like two things to touch on as the three of us are commentators, commentating games in those situations when your team, you're commentating your team in the grand final, obviously trying to stay neutral, but also trying to be as excited as possible. Um, so you do develop this almost like split personality when you're on the call, where you have to, with your vocal.
00:28:22
Speaker
So I imagine for both of you, it would have been very challenging containing yourselves given that you were commentating your home clubs in the grand final. Look, I think um from listening to Locky's call, he did a much better job at that than me in terms. No, I was, yeah, I was very much, the body was moving, the mouth wasn't, mouth wasn't as much, but yeah, look, when when there was a Mustang score, there was a bit, maybe a little bit more excitement um there, I gotta to say, looking back now, but I can't take anyway from Canberra as well. They played their heart out there, a champion for a reason. We said it throughout the broadcast.
00:29:00
Speaker
their time is going to happen again. When the Mustangs were celebrating, Canberra were just there and you could just see Glen Morrison just staring at him. Like he, you could tell he was taking it all in. I feel like they're just one play away. They just seem to have just one person a bit short to help the trio of Tui Mayfield and Morrison. If they can find that, I reckon we might have a ah fourth one. Who knows, really.
00:29:27
Speaker
And another point that I can want to make between the three of us too is that when you're commentating those games, obviously it's very exciting. It's a very loud. The atmosphere is amazing and something that you know you can't easily replicate. But I don't think people understand that even though we have our own space and we have headphones on,
00:29:50
Speaker
not a lot drowns out that noise so it can still be really hard to concentrate on what you're supposed to be doing and naturally when you're in a noisy environment you want to you have to raise your voice and speak louder but then not realizing that oh wait i'm still in a microphone in a broadcast i don't need to yell but i also can't hear i honestly at the start of the women's game I thought I was just hearing Hamish's voice coming up my microphone rather than through the channel, because it was being drowned out that much by the sound of the crowd. Yeah, that was the same for me. which baby cha it was cool So based on social media as well, Caleb, Andy mentioned it before we started recording.
00:30:36
Speaker
I saw an Instagram story of the MVP MVP MVP Will Cranston-Lown. I say that because back-to-back league and finals MVP obviously. Shooting some halfway shots at the Maitland basketball stadium at 2.30am this morning. Is this true?
00:30:54
Speaker
From what I saw, yes, yes, yes, I went at the, ah at this Pender Valley Sports Stadium. We were, ah when the celebrations were happening, everyone was like, oh, head back to the stadium, head back to the stadium. So I have no doubt that it probably even proceeded past that 2.30 AM timeline of my modest.
00:31:16
Speaker
And what was the celebrations like immediately after the grand final win more locally given that the grand final was held in Penrith and yourself about to jet set to Europe today?
00:31:27
Speaker
Yeah well I can't really, unfortunately I can't really speak to what it's like in Maitland right now but I'm sure they're all parading down High Street with ah red and black. um But yeah no I'm off to Europe so um I spent the night out here in Sydney and definitely had a few celebratory drinks with a couple of friends. As you heard before we even started my voice, it's only just started to warm up now.
00:31:51
Speaker
But yes, we are we are very happy. Everyone's to do with the club that's, as Josh Clifford said, put on that jersey at some point, um knows how much it means and how tired it is for the community. And I'm sure everyone right now, the party's going to be going on for a couple of days. so So, yeah, and I also saw some Newcastle Falcons players lucky. I'm not sure if you managed to catch this online, but it looks like Nichols and Jufferman headed straight to the local fried chicken joint. Did they go to chicken? Did they go to Chicken Man? Flappies.
00:32:21
Speaker
Flappy's fried chicken and shout out to them cause it looked incredible to the point where I'm like, Hey, can you, can you express post me some up here?
Preparations for Nationals and Future Plans
00:32:31
Speaker
But now Caleb, it might be a little bit too premature to understand what the Mustangs are thinking ahead of MBL one nationals that are going to be held next week. Have you heard any comments from coach Luke Boyle or is it all under lock and key at the moment?
00:32:46
Speaker
He spoke briefly in my interview after the game. um he just He just said about the waiting system, how he was um happy that they brought that in, um how confident he is in his team.
00:32:58
Speaker
um Yeah, they don't just want to go to nationals just to be there. They've they've gone there to compete. They um might not have a Billy Parsons and we'll see how J. Cole's ankle pulls up. I can guarantee you. Locky McPhee, the head trainer for the Mustangs, will be doing everything he can to get our J. Cole ready for that. But yeah, they they're going to be locked in ready to go. They're not just there to make up the numbers there. At the end of the day, when we said it at the broadcast and we haven't i't really said it here,
00:33:27
Speaker
The winner pretty much, it could be seen that the winner of last night's grand final could be seen as probably the most successful club for the first three years of the NBL One East. Canberra Gunners would have won two of the first three years. Maitland now have been in the last three grand finals winning one of them.
00:33:44
Speaker
So they're a successful team. They're going to keep going. So it'll be interesting to see how they go. I'm really. Personally, as someone that played in juniors against Angus Glover and seeing where he's gone, I cannot wait to see how he goes against Cranston land, because I think at this point, I don't know what else Chris and Leon has to do to get an NBL contract. Like I can see lucky right now. That's what he's like. What, what does that mean? Got to do like he is a double MVP.
00:34:13
Speaker
He just is absolutely bonkers. Even during finals, he was in a shooting sub it's yet. He was still in the 20 points per game, nine assists. And we saw what he just did in the grand final yesterday. It's just, i it's hard to fathom that that guy can't crack the NBL in my eyes. And it's going to be, I think it's just the perfect opportunity for him. This is the last little.
00:34:37
Speaker
thing he needs to do to just get into the eyes of the NBL scouts is to go to Nationals and just absolutely ball out, which I have every faith in the world he'll do. I mean, that's what I say. It's like two time MVP, like there's nowhere else for him to go, but to at least get a DP spot in the NBL. He can't prove himself anymore at NBL one level.
00:35:00
Speaker
And like, I guess like, and sometimes you hear like, Oh, he's a bit small, but even on the flip side, have you seen the man jump? He's close outs on threes. He hits the bloody roof. And then he, I'm pretty sure he leads. He's in the top five in the NBL, NBL one in steals. So you can't say that he's not a good defender because he clearly is a good defender as well. So call me a Mustang's tragic, which low key I am, but.
00:35:26
Speaker
I just don't know what that man has to do to get an NBL DP, even just in an NBL DP contract. It's just ridiculous. And speaking about size as well, he prefers to penetrate, and most of his points come from mid-range or penetration. So despite his size, he's able to score from a close range. I mean, he has a great three-point range as well, shooting five from seven yesterday in the grand final. But he can penetrate, he can distribute, very rarely gets blocked. But yeah, like he said, he's got serious hops. His vertical jump has to be, what, 60, 65 centimeters?
00:36:02
Speaker
Oh, it's ridiculous. And we've seen the highlights of him doing alley-oop dunks, being the receiver of those alley-oop dunks. There was one from Cole. There was one from Christian Little. And much to like what I said about in the second, in the first quarter where he got that six points in 20 seconds.
00:36:20
Speaker
At the end of the second quarter, he penetrates and dumps it off the Matt Gray and the Mustangs get another end one with one second going into the halftime as Canberra looked like they were again trying to get momentum going into a break. And he's got the confidence to go there. Like every time he touched the ball in this finals, he would see two to three opposition jerseys in his face.
00:36:43
Speaker
And he made the right decision pretty much every time. That is my little piece of why he creates a legend to have a contract to the NBL. But yeah, it's, it's crazy. It's crazy. Did he go to the open trials that the Cairns Taipans had a little while ago that saw Alex Higgins-Titcher get a DP contract? I can't talk. I don't know about that. I know that potentially people were looking. I don't know if it happened, what happened there. Hopefully someone did, but like it's just ridiculous. Well hopefully time will tell and it's interesting you mentioned Angus Glover given that he and Eltham just won the South Championship on the weekend. The biggest question mark though around NBL One Nationals as is every other league, how many NBL and WNBL players are actually going to be able to participate? More so than NBL players because their pre-season will start very soon. We've already seen
00:37:39
Speaker
the likes of the Brisbane Bullets already started their pre-season training and I think Brisbane or it's perhaps Illawarra have already got some pre-season games against the shi Shanghai Sharks coming up in the next couple of weeks so big question mark if ah the likes of Angus Glother are even going to be there um but just on Nationals the teams that are qualified for the men's competition are the Knox Raiders because they won Nationals last year so automatic entry for this year. Elpham from South Mandura from West, Forestville from Central, Mackay Meteors from North. Again, big question mark, they've got four to five NBL players in that squad, ah including Isaac White, and then of course our beloved Stangers. so
00:38:26
Speaker
The advantage of the Stangers is that they're all in. They have one import crucial little, I hope. it What the party will be like down high street. Oh, good, good. The Fed said it would come on if they won. NBL talent that's at risk of not participating. Stangers going for that national chip as well.
00:38:53
Speaker
Well, I think it's, it's similar when we were up there a couple of years ago or down in Melbourne a couple of years ago, Squint where Canberra took on Gold Coast and there's three Gold Coast players sitting in the stands, but they can't play because they're NBL players and Canberra, Canberra get the win because it's all, they don't have any NBL players. They just have a lot of really good NBL one players.
00:39:16
Speaker
And ah we don't see it as often in the women's competition, but the qualifying teams for nationals are as follows. We have Bendigo, who won the national championship last year. They won everything last year, undefeated. They get automatic entry. Then Waverly Falcons, they won the South competition yesterday over Kelaw Thunder. Central District Lions will be representing NBL1 Central.
00:39:42
Speaker
Rockingham Flames have the absolute gun team out west and they won the championship yesterday. Of course the Newcastle Falcons and question mark when Isla Juffamans needs to go to college. Isla Juffamans leaves on Wednesday. Right so no Isla Juffamans at MBL1 Nationals which is a shame and the controversial well semi-controversial pick of South District Spartans who came fifth in the North competition have now entered nbl one nationals as the champions rockhampton cyclones had to pull out the northside wizards who came second
00:40:19
Speaker
were also unable to participate in their place as were the third place Townsville Flames and the fourth place North Gold Coast Seahawks apparently accepted the invitation to participate in Nationals but found out through the BQ press release that they're taking the Spartans instead and all of that is not speculation if you go to the Basketball Queensland Facebook page It's all all the dirty laundry is aired on the link of that press release. Get in there before they are head to the office on Monday morning and delete the comments.
00:40:58
Speaker
Something else sometimes. Gentlemen, thank you very much for your time this morning and thank you for your contributions to MBL One East as well this season. All of our listeners go and follow Caleb on Instagram. What's your handle so people can find you properly? ah Caleb underscore FOGOODY23. Give us a shout.
00:41:19
Speaker
because Caleb has been uploading some great Maitland Mustangs content and for us fellow commentators that has been very, very helpful. Also Caleb, congratulations for being the unofficial commentator of the year according to Two Feet in the Paint. ah Yeah, religions, thank you boys. they are Much like yourselves, I've been really lucky with um the support I've gotten just people just sharing bits and pieces between yourself love of the game those two and feeding the paint boys yeah it's been really really good and it's a great little community that the nbl one east is everyone's looks out for each other which i've really found like even just at the end of the grand final um women's grand final it was just a kind of a surreal moment like the two feet into paint boys
00:42:04
Speaker
Lockie myself and Hamish were all chatting in a circle. I was just like, oh my god, this is so weird. This is everyone that I've seen throughout covering the basketball season in just the one place. It was kind of a, yeah, it was a real surreal moment. It's funny how much you don't have to introduce yourself to people. Yeah. And so I went up to Will Curtis to lead. I was like, hey, Lockie, for me it's cool. He's like, yeah, I know. I want to talk to Billy. He's like, yeah, I know who you are. Yeah, it's cool.
00:42:33
Speaker
I still find it awkward because I'm kind of like, well, I know them, but I don't know if they know me. And if I do know them, I only know them online and then you've got to meet them in person. So it's kind of like, I'm like a stalling car. I haven't developed that social skill yet. You guys were all together. Did you get a photo? Oh, this is why we can't have nice things.
00:43:00
Speaker
I'm going to say, Squint, you'll have to come down for 2025 finals and we can have everyone together. I second that. I second that. Get it down here. pure Not to commentate, purely just to annoy you all to get a photo together. We need so we need someone to remind us clearly. Anyway, gents, thanks again for the whole season, for your contributions to the league, for jumping on this morning and chatting about the finals. Go and enjoy the rest of your weekend. Caleb, please enjoy Europe to the absolute max for us. um Another good reason to go follow you on Instagram so we can live vicariously through your hot you and your holiday. Should be fun. Should be fun. We fly out tonight. so ah and Just to get on the plane. It's been a whole year and this is the finish line. but It sounds like you're having your own MBL1E grand final. Just get into the plane. This is your grand final.
00:43:55
Speaker
100%, it was the goal all year and then I was like, I've just got to chat to my friends over at Eastcott Game, tick that off, grab a coffee and we're on that way to the airport, can't wait. Awesome, well have a great time and we'll check in again next season I'm sure. 100%, love, thank you so much for having me.
00:44:14
Speaker
OK, EGG listeners, we managed to sneak in a special treat this week. Chris Bryant from the Hills Hornets was very kind enough to give us a little bit of his time before he literally flew back home the next day. And keep in mind, we recorded this interview the Wednesday before.
00:44:33
Speaker
MBL One East grand finals weekend. So if it sounds like a bit of a glitch in the timeline, that's why. But nonetheless, we had to try and catch up with him and have some Hills Hornets representation on the podcast this season. So we hope you enjoy this little interview with Chris Bryant. Welcome back to eScott game. We have managed to squeeze in a very special guest right before they literally fly home tomorrow.
00:45:01
Speaker
Someone that you remember from season one as one of our most iconic interviews, they've jumped ship from inner West Bulls and they are now well, as of one more day, technically with the Hills Hornets, but have now earned themselves an MVP nomination for the 2024 season.
00:45:21
Speaker
It's none other than Chris Bryant, AKA CB. CB, how are you? I'm good, I'm good. Thank you guys for having me on this afternoon. Very excited to see you guys and talk to you guys. And I actually seen my guy a lot up in, uh, up in, uh, Illawar. So he got to catch a good, you know, good game. It was a good, it was a good game. It was a good time. That was pretty cool for you to see that, come see that. And the week that I got to play it a week, so, you know, it was a really big weekend for me.
00:45:50
Speaker
but The way you got a wedge on a dunk.
00:45:56
Speaker
About time, right? I haven't dumped on nobody all season, I feel like. But no, yeah, that felt really good. That was a really good game. Very big, important game, too. So glad I was able to have a really good game. I always have i like playing down in the Illawarra, so I enjoy the atmosphere, people talking, talking junk in the crowd. So it was pretty fun. ah They get up and about up in the bar up there. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that was pretty disappointing how the game went.
00:46:23
Speaker
ah So CB, we are recording this on a night where you are literally about to go home the next day and the announcement of the MVP for the 2024 season is imminent. So first of all, tell us about how your seasons compared from last year to this year when you played with the Hills Hornets.
00:46:42
Speaker
I will compare my season ah from this year to last year is a just a bigger responsibility um coming in. A lot of young guys, a lot of guys who never played on this level first year tear guys and um not only having an opportunity but having the responsibility to you know really show my leadership with the young guys with development, continuity,
00:47:07
Speaker
oh just a you know us hanging out, just know having a lot of lot of real deal responsibility. And I felt like I was ah i felt like i was a player's coach for these guys, cuz these guys leaned on me a lot. Just not only for advice, but you know they see me it see me go work out in the morning, me it's work out every morning.
00:47:29
Speaker
So they see like the work ethic and not just like us just, not just me just talking about it, but just being about it and showing up every day, ready to practice, ready to play for games. So they just, you know, ah just a really big responsibility. And um it was actually something that I asked for because From last year having Alex Tisha, Tony Tolleve, Blake Murrow, I was blessed to you know be around more or some veteran guys for the season. So my load, I didn't have to carry a lot of the loads, but this year I had to carry a lot of the loads. So it just, it amped my season and for me being prepared for each and every game,
00:48:10
Speaker
to the next level. So ah it was some it was ah an experience. It was something I appreciate. I was able to ah kind of just up my stats in almost every category, um played a lot played a lot more on the wing this year. I wanted to show that I wasn't just an inside guy, but just show that I'm very much dynamic and go inside, outside, and showing that a lot this year, more of what I can do.
00:48:38
Speaker
on the outside perimeter was ah very key for me, um just to do that and just not only show that to the NBA one, but just show that to the world that hey, this guy can, he can post up, they can bring the ball up, if he can shoot threes and he shoot them. I shot 40% this season. So shoot him at a high clip. um I was trying to be 50, 40, 90 club. That was one of my goals this year. Was off a little bit with the free throws, but um it was a good experience and it was,
00:49:06
Speaker
when I can appreciate, you know, I was glad to have the opportunity. I'm glad that Hills gave me the opportunity to come and, you know, showcase my talent, you know, win a couple of Player of the Weeks along the way. Couple of Player of the Weeks. What new shoes have you bought with your $200 vouchers? So i did I did win two of them. So I purchased some white and gray dunks. That was my first pair. And then there was about $160, so I kept $40.
00:49:37
Speaker
I kept the Ford, I was like, you know what, you're probably gonna win it again. So you might want like some more expensive shoes the next time. So when I won in the last round, I bought some own black and white ah Jordan threes. I never had a pair, so I bought those. um Those was about 200 bucks. and then um And then I bought like some black, some black and like turquoise green ah dunks with like the rest of the money I had. I just paid the difference off. So end up getting three pairs too. So can't really be upset with that.
00:50:10
Speaker
Yeah, you're going to have to pay for extra baggage on your way home. That's what I'm saying. I'm sitting here like, I might have to wear a two pair of shoes. When you went to use your voucher, did you kind of just name drop yourself and go, Oh yeah, I won these vouchers for player of the week. You know, no big deal. No big deal. now I kind of just went and um I was.
00:50:31
Speaker
testing different shoes and seeing which ones that I want. I brought ah ah bought my girlfriend with me, so we was ah we just looking at some shoes. And I remember like they pulled out five, six pair of dunks for me, because I didn't know what color I wanted. And they was like, oh, we got some more in the back. So I know people was looking at me like, damn, this guy's going to get all these shoes. I was no. I was like, no, I'm just getting two and just going there with the voucher and letting them know I got the voucher. And now everything was pretty smooth.
00:50:59
Speaker
ah So you talked about, you know, mentoring almost some of the guys. who are the Who are some of the Hills players that you've taken under your wing that we need to be looking out for? um my My two biggest ones was Saxon.
00:51:16
Speaker
Jackson O'Kinney and then ah Jamie, probably two of our youngest guys, first year guys. Jamie is about 6'7", so he's about closer to my height. Played in Youth Elite last year, you know. Facts, this was his first year. It was one of our shooters coming off the bench. a Young guy, very energetic.
00:51:38
Speaker
um ah Very, yeah, very energetic. That's really the one thing I can say about him was like very energetic, but those guys would, uh, you know, act every day, like me and Ish, like when you guys going to go work out, when you guys going to work out and like, dude, you know, we work out every morning, eight o'clock, six o'clock in the morning at Hill. So it was like, you know, ah those guys would come and get a workout and see how we work, see how hard we go and, you know, trying to compete with us in drills. and
00:52:09
Speaker
you know just saying like just seeing firsthand like what it looks like being a pro and um just taking your craft seriously each and every day, day in and day out. So those two guys I feel like I took under my wing because I told them that you know regardless of whether I end up coming here, being here for a long time, or I'll be here one year and done,
00:52:32
Speaker
You know, I hope that I can hopefully you guys learn something from me and you know you learn how to be a pro. You learn how to work because I told them that. You guys are going to be the future. You guys are 18, 19 years old, and you not a lot of guys your age come in and get minutes on the NBA one level. So you know don't take it for granted, come in come in ready to work. and those are And those were the guys that I was super hard on too. So I showed them ah showed them some tough love, but I also know put my arms around them. you know when um Maybe they weren't doing too good in the game, or maybe they didn't get in.
00:53:09
Speaker
And just letting them know, like hey, these are the things that you need to do you know moving forward. you know you know If you keep getting better each and every day, then when you do reach 25, 26, you're at the start of your prom. And who knows? you You two guys can be the focal point of Hills, and you can go and just and take it over and be some of the best locals you know around New South Wales.
00:53:32
Speaker
Yeah, they were really impressive in your win against Maitland on the road. We reviewed that game for an episode of East Got Game. And yeah, we certainly made mention of how talented and how much potential some of those young players at Hills can certainly be. So lots of good seeds planted there at Hills Hornets. And um it sounds like that you were pretty well looked after by Hills as a club. Would you feel the same way?
00:53:56
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. I mean, Hills, I would i would consider you know a first-class organization. um Anything that me and Ishmael needed, they was on it from from day one, since we landed. So it was never any issues or any problems. They made sure we had you know extra things to do, like to make extra money, which was which is well much appreciated. So we always stayed busy. We always stayed around the club, always went to like our rep teams, our younger teams, and helped them practice. Youth girl 12s and boys 14 years old and going to camps and um getting compensated for that, but also just making an impact in the club. So I think for for both sides, oh you know, everything was very much appreciated. And we did have a talk with them
00:54:50
Speaker
We had, they gave us like a goodbye brunch yesterday. So um you know they kind of you know came and thanked us for all the contribution of the season, the impact. And you could tell that it was ah you know it was a lot of love both ways. And of course, they I think they will they would want us back. But regardless, this is the,
00:55:14
Speaker
more of a family family environment. So we will always be a Hills Hornet regardless of you know where we are in the world or where we are in plan. So they will always want us to at least come back and visit and stop in and say hi, are we're around the way. So that's you know that's what I call like real love. And um as a player, that's something that you don't truly find everywhere that you go. Some things are always just you know just business, business mind and business life.
00:55:42
Speaker
But when you can find a place where, you know, they love you, they they enjoy you. You can laugh and joke with everybody. Everybody's a good vibe. You know, that's the place that you can call home, you know, and also that you can call family too. And you mentioned doing things for a little bit of extra cash. Do I see you were in a commercial for one of their sponsors? Yeah, I was in a, me and this was in a StubHub commercial.
00:56:09
Speaker
oh a storage commercial, which was pretty cool. ah First time doing that and that. And that was a fun process, being able to ah show a little bit of my acting skills because I could do a little bit of everything. I sent you an ad as well for ah um an open casting for a commercial who needed basketball plays in Sydney.
00:56:28
Speaker
Yeah. yeah they said I don't know oh no why didn't they didn't they didn't choose me. I definitely wrote them, but a lot of people, you guys and probably like 15 other people who like sent me the same thing at the same time. I was like, man, this must be this must be meant for me. like Let me get that extra 5,000, 6,000. Yeah, I'll go do it for sure.
00:56:51
Speaker
Dan, we would have loved to have seen that. And they don't tell you what brand or who the client is when they send out those open casting calls with the agencies. So i would have loved to have seen your face pop up on a Rebel Sport ad or a Kmart ad or something. That would have been so cool.
00:57:07
Speaker
And um you mentioned as well that during the season with Hills, you were able to exercise your leadership skills a little bit more and you were probably a little bit more dependent on in this roster compared to when you played with Inner West. Did anything else with your role change when you were with Hills or did you have any other expectations prior to the season starting that you were tasked to achieve? I don't think so. Like far as like the club, I think ah they kind of They kind of just knew me from when I dunked Omos at NOS. So you know when I came in, a lot of people was like, oh, you the guy who dunked Omos. You had to dunk last season. and I'm like, yeah, that's me. But no, I think a lot of people was just ah
00:57:56
Speaker
was surprised to see how agile or how diverse I was as a player and um just the things I can do on the court. But I would just i would just say for me, um my expectations is always higher than I think anybody's. I think god ah think my standard is to the highest of highest level. I don't think nobody's harder on themselves than me. So myself coming in,
00:58:22
Speaker
ah you know, I didn't, I didn't, I didn't, I wasn't granted All Star Five last year. I didn't get andvp v MVP vote for last year, which I felt like oh I was in deserving of last year. So me being home and having time to reflect over the season and train, those, was those, those two things was the biggest thing on my list um coming into the season. So every day I had something to prove when I was home. So, you know, days, I didn't feel like working out or days I was tired, I would literally tell myself like, you didn't wear you didn't win all-star five, you didn't you didn't win MVP, you need you need to get up and and and go work. And that would motivate me every day. So, you know, I feel like I put in, I put in countless amount of hours of just nonstop work. And then when I got here, it was like,
00:59:14
Speaker
You hear now, the season's here. It's time to show everybody, prove everybody wrong. and They think you're gonna win and repeat it. They think you don't. you know I just used a lot of fuel as motivation every game. I will go into the games in the beginning of games right before tip off.
00:59:29
Speaker
I would just always tell myself, like you know come out come out here and show people that you're the MVP of the league. Show people that you know you deserve to be an all-star five-vote this season. So every game, win or lose, I had a chip on my shoulder and I tried to you know just go out and do the best that I could and just show people how talented I am and just show people um how deserving I am.
00:59:51
Speaker
ah So, MBL won East as well this season. CB probably also noticed, you know, being an integral part as a player. um The standard is certainly elevated to another level as well. ah Tell me who you think were your toughest competitors this year and who you enjoyed playing against the most. I enjoyed, ah man, yeah, this year was, yeah, this year was very crazy because it was like the teams that didn't make playoffs last year, they're they're making playoffs this year. um So is it's like the dynamic flipped. I enjoyed i enjoy Bankstown game, whooping against Nae and ah the other Nae Hot Tower. I enjoy those guys, because I actually know those guys, met those guys when they first got here, and um you know build a relationship with them. so
01:00:39
Speaker
Playing against Banktown was a really fun game. Granted, it was my birthday. We didn't win that game, but I did have 43 points that game. ah But that game was really fun. Hooping against those guys. ah Canberra is always, always fun because they're always tough. And they always gonna have one of the better schemes, I think, in the in the league of ah you know trying to figure out how they're gonna defend me or what they're gonna do ah with me. I didn't have a good game in that game, but ah you know I still got a lot of praise from a lot of those guys and a lot of respect. So I respect those guys, all those guys over there. Comet's game was a, it was ah that was another rough game for me, probably one of my probably my of my worst games of the season of this year. But going against Bo Ali and all those guys, like
01:01:31
Speaker
Baby chole and them talking them talking mess to me. ah So they you know, they got they they got me on that game but um that game was was really really fun and I would say that the Aubrey game I knew that game was gonna be a big game. You got Shawn coming back to heels at that, you know before that way before the season for everybody knew who I was and I was actually talking to Aubrey, and I thought I was going to end up going to Aubrey, but me and Shawn end up talking and we end up switching places. So oh that was a really big game, going to get Shawn and going to get ah Davo, who's also a contingent for for MVP. So ah yeah, a lot of those games, and I got to see Lauren Jackson play for the first time in person.
01:02:17
Speaker
So ah those games was kind of like my highlight games. I was like, wow, those are some really good games and really good competition. Whether I play well or not. As far as I was actually wondering what you might think of the game against Comets because I called that game. And I was like, was I was psyched to like, what you play and call your game. And then it was a tough one for you. So I was actually interested to see how what what you thought of that game.
01:02:45
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I got like three fouls in the first quarter. couldn't couldn't Couldn't throw a rock in the lake. ah Granted, we had, our schedule was kind of messed up because we were supposed to play comments, I think like two weeks before and we had to reschedule. So we ended up having like four games and like maybe like 10 days or something like that. So we might've been like mentally drained. I don't, like, I don't think none of us really had a good game that game and they came out like fired up, ready ready to play. They was being super duper physical.
01:03:23
Speaker
You know, there was, there was talking junk and I'm like, dang, I'm just trying to get it going. It just, just could not get it going. That game got a little frustrated with the files and not being able to put the ball in the basket. But you know, you can't, can't really determine when you're going to have your best games and your worst games. You just go out there and play and then kind of just.
01:03:44
Speaker
reflect on the game and live with the results and move on. So it wasn't too hot, too low. Like I said, I probably had three bad games under, I think that game I had like 10 points and I don't think the whole season I had anything close to under 10 points the whole season. So it's granted, it's granted you're gonna have a bad game, one or two of those. So, you know, it's all right.
01:04:06
Speaker
I think the comments boys were, ah they were mad that they were missing State of Origin. ah So that's what they were angry about. That's crazy. That's legit. I heard that they wanted to swap start times with the women's games so they could watch State of Origin and the women's team said, no, we want to watch State of Origin. But are the women for sticking to their guns? You mentioned, you know, obviously you want to get All-Star 5, you want to get MVP. and MVP, if it's not you,
01:04:33
Speaker
Who's it going to be? If it's not me, I think it'd be Davo. I mean, we had an incredible season this season. Um, almost that was the triple double. Had six games where he had a triple double. You know, we was right there. That weekend was a really big weekend for us. We played Aubrey and we played Sutherland. Because I think at the time, we was, I think it was sixth place or fifth place.
01:05:02
Speaker
trying to s slide into that fourth place and we knew we can beat them that, you know, it probably been flipped like we will be in a playoffs like I was ah that was like a middle of the season. And I was like one of the biggest games for us that we that we need to get granted we didn't we didn't get it.
01:05:20
Speaker
But David been playing incredible basketball, I got a lot of respect for him. As a as an Australian and ah and as a player, I definitely think he's one of the better Australians around and in the NBA one. I know his season last year didn't go the way that he wanted at La Warra, but you know it was a total 360 for him.
01:05:40
Speaker
going to play for Illawar and getting that experience, you know, playing back on a super high level and then taking everything that he learned and, you know, getting Aubrey in the second round of the playoffs. So I think if it's not me, I think it would definitely be him. That's a good pick because in the pre-season predictions, my pick was Davo. And the pre-season predictions, Lockie's pick was... CB. The man himself.
01:06:08
Speaker
It was your boy. I screenshotted it. I said, okay, that's bad it's not it's not personal with you. I said, okay, that's a little fire under the belt. I said, all right, cool, all right, cool. That's just even even more to work towards. So, nah, it's all good. But um yeah, like that for me, I use everything as motivation. so You know, you guys can pick whoever you want. But it's just like, uh, for me, it's just like as a competitor, like I want to try to be number one to be at the top. So when I don't see my name, I'm like, Oh, okay. So what you, what you going to do about it? Like, which you're going, you're going to prove them wrong or what you're going to do? Like you're going to be mad or you're going to just, you're going to just be like, you know what? Let's wait cause he's a star. And then, you know, we get through all the games and then when he gets to the end, let's just see who the last two men standard. Don't get bitter, get better.
01:06:59
Speaker
Yeah, that's um that's it. Just get better every day. CB, if you come back to NBL One East next season, I'm just going to go on a mad rant on social media, just bagging you out to give you that extra, extra motivation and then you'll win MVP because you'll be so fired up.
01:07:18
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. I mean, yeah, I think ah anywhere I go is NBL1. If I end up in the north, south, or I end up in in ah in a you know whole and other country, those will always be my you know my things of motivation to you know just go on sea and show and prove.
01:07:37
Speaker
try to win some awards that you can bring home. you know Those are big achievements ah for me to win awards overseas and get acknowledged. and um For me, it just helped me be even more international. Not just here, but just everywhere because I don't have people I don't have people like hit me up about like different opportunities it was like like I don't even know you but I seen you you wanna play of the week like it's like wow like they'll just you know they was excited to like see the highlights and stuff like that so it just opened up doors you know when you can you know you set those goals and you at least achieve half of those or achieve achieve some of those you're not gonna achieve them all like
01:08:22
Speaker
Yeah, I wanted the average over 25 and 10, but I wanted to get us in the playoffs. And I think for me, the only thing the guy that I wasn't able to do was get us in the playoffs. And I would say you can't you can't do it all, but you you know you set the standard high. I always say you reach for the stars and you hope you land in the clouds. I don't want to bring it bringing up bad memories, but were you watching the Sutherland Bankstown game as it happened? Oh man, was I?
01:08:49
Speaker
What was your reaction when Hayden blankly hit the speakers with the pass at the end? I was like, yeah. I said, there is a guy. Man, that game was like, it's the hardest thing to watch when you have, when you have to put, you know, all your tips into another team and you can't do anything about it. and You have to just watch and live with it. You'd have thought I had money on the game because I'm yelling and screaming at TV like,
01:09:17
Speaker
and everybody in the group texting like, yo, this game is having me stressed out. And, um, I remember like we had a chance, I think Blakely came and shot at three. He missed it. And then, uh, Nate, Nate, uh, hot, hot towel. He came and he got an officer rebound, put it in, put them up. I was like, what? I was like, Oh my God, I was sweating bullets. But, um, yeah, like I said, Sutherland went, I think it's Sutherland.
01:09:48
Speaker
And they played better defense. I think if ah the import had it going early, um yeah, they could have been a little bit more tolerant on defense. Granted, they couldn't get a lot of things going offensively. They missed like, I think they missed like, I think I counted like eight or nine free throws. You hit half of those, rolls you get a couple of stops, you win that game by at least five four or five.
01:10:08
Speaker
Well, that's actually funny you mentioned it because during the call, I mentioned that Sutherland hit their last nine free throws in a row, but before that, they were 12 of 24 at the line. you Yeah, you you hit half of those, man. You you win, and they was up. They was up a nice little bit in the first, and they were starting to stretch it away, and then Bankstown went on their run, and they had a nice little run. so and i knew they And I knew Sutherland beat them the first time, and I watched that game. I watched that game when they played at Bankstown. I was like,
01:10:38
Speaker
And it was ah it was a pretty it was a pretty good game, so I was like, maybe this time they'll do the same thing, but end up being close. And like I said, Bankstown being right there, they're getting the playoffs. So they probably had a little more motivation, a little extra juice, probably a little bit more than Sutherland, who really didn't have anything to play for, it but maybe just try to get one more win at home. So you know the spectrum, I feel like, was on Bankstown's side.
01:11:02
Speaker
I just felt so bad because we did that Instagram live and we caught you and Mason Bragg at the same time, you know, doing what you were doing. and I think Mason was in the supermarket and just being able to have both of you talk to each other on the one platform about how important those games were for the weekend for each of you. And you were going for manly and then the result just didn't fall in your favor, unfortunately. So even after that conversation and obviously knowing you from last season, we just felt so bad that you missed out.
01:11:33
Speaker
Yes, okay. i so You can't can't control everything. Just try to control what you can control. Live with the results. Like I said, they mainly end up winning. We end up you know winning out two games that we needed to win. But ah I really felt like if we and we didn't lose the game in Newcastle, we we'd have been in the playoffs. 100%. And we we had that game in the bag and had too many turnovers.
01:12:01
Speaker
in the fourth quarter, which brought them back and made it a close game. And it ended up coming down to us trying to score. And the play the play where the guy stole it from me, it could be controversial. like You could look at that as a steal, you could look at that as ah as a foul, but we shouldn't have put ourselves in that predicament in the in the first place. so Sounds a lot like the Boomers against Serbia, but we won't go there. Are you allowed to tell us what other clubs you were considering before you committed to Hills?
01:12:28
Speaker
before I was committed to Hills. I mean, I was looking at Haslam, talked with Teeman in North, Makai, talked to them, talked to Bendigo, talked to Knox, talked to Aubrey, of course talked to Bulls. So had ah had a couple of and a couple of options and um i was really I was really leaning towards Aubrey. I talked to DK.
01:12:53
Speaker
He was telling me about the opportunity and how I could possibly take that town over, a small town. um'm I'm more of a city guy than a country guy, like I love being a city. So the only thing I didn't like was, I was like, dang, I was gonna be in the country. I was so used to being in Sydney, being in here my first year.
01:13:11
Speaker
seeing all the, you know, getting all the experience. I was like, man, I want to really be back in like in the city. And then, um, it just, it was literally, it was literally before I was going to call the coach and be like, you know, I'm finna, you know, I'm finna sign. Like they, they made a picture for me and everything. I'm like, okay. And then like the next day my agent called me was like, no, he was called. Like, what do you think about his? I'm like, yeah I'm like,
01:13:40
Speaker
They wear green, green is my favorite color of all time. They still in Sydney. And um you know when I asked people around about hills, I heard nothing but you know great things. So I was like, you know I think this is probably the better opportunity for me. And then even like now when I look back over it, I still wouldn't change a thing. like I think respectfully everybody went Uh, where they were supposed to go, like Sean, Sean and Dave. Oh, they had a good year. Like who's to say? Like, if I go to Aubrey, maybe I'm not in MVP contingency. Cause we got, you know, you got two guys right there fighting for it. So I think I had a better opportunity going to heels with a younger team and really just able to just showcase everything that I can do. Yeah. Did you, and and did you see how Mackay ended their season? No, I didn't see. I didn't see what happened. Oh, they won the championship.
01:14:31
Speaker
Oh wow. So Makai last weekend won the NBL One North Championship. They're starting five, have all are all current NBL players or if at least had NBL experience. And they're coach one, coach of the year and he's just signed to be assistant coach with the Illawarra Hawks. That's crazy.
01:14:55
Speaker
That's crazy. You probably would have gotten limited minutes in that team. You probably wouldn't have played as many minutes as you did for Hills or even in West. You would have been, perhaps, I don't know, I don't know what they would have said to you or what your agent said. Nah, yeah. um I mean, but i I probably could have talked to the culture about getting on, you know, NBL, Illawar. We need to make a campaign of, you know, giving me the Illawar to play for NBL. Yeah, i need to I need to meet Mr. Tatum, make that happen.
01:15:23
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. You got to work on that residency. So what's next for you, CB? Like like we mentioned earlier, you're off you're flying back to Florida tomorrow. What's next when you get there? So mainly when I get home, oh spend some time with my daughter. My daughter will be turning six in November if I'm home that long. Last year I was able to you know celebrate her fifth birthday, but really just spend some time with the family.
01:15:50
Speaker
Spend some quality time with my daughter, catch up, you know, do dad things. So taking her to school, taking her to the park, taking her to the basketball court, taking on like little mini vacation trips to the water park and stuff like that. And kind of just, you know, just unwind a little bit, but still, I would still, you know, be training.
01:16:09
Speaker
I won't train super hard as a as I did, um you know probably going into NBL1 until I do have some other stuff on the table, um possibly going to Indonesia or going to Europe, so kind of waiting.
01:16:28
Speaker
ah for contracts to get done to see what that timeline looks like so I can ramp things back up, but I'll probably just, you know, go home and focus on my body, rest up, but I'll be in the weight room three or four times a week, and I'll probably ah go help my high school practice. A lot of young guys, a lot of young talent back home who wanted to really train with me and work out with me and just, you know, pass some knowledge on to them and compete with them and they'll keep me They'll keep me up and moving and running and running fast. So just go back to the stomping ground where it all started and um you know just take it day by day. Indonesia would be fun? Yeah, it would be. It would definitely be fun. Indonesia would be fun. Europe would be fun.
Personal Growth, Achievements, and Future Goals
01:17:15
Speaker
Sweden would be fun. Getting a lot of looks that way. And um just been thinking about you know div diversity in my
01:17:23
Speaker
my resume, oh because ah yeah I think for me, my biggest goal is to you know prove that I can play on the highest level. I know I said that before, and i was ah that was ah you know that was a big thing for NBA One. They even posted that. you know Somebody took my tweet, and you know and and I don't know who did, but somebody took my tweet, and I guess you know they was able to you know make a picture out of it and post it, which was really cool. but um You know, I always write my goals down. I always try to manifest things and speak things into existence. So, ah you know, for me, my personal goals is, you know, showing how I can play on the highest level. If that's EuroLeague, if that's Japanese B League, CBA, NBA, just, you know, proving that I can do that. And then, you know, people that I meet along the way.
01:18:13
Speaker
you know, having them have the luxury to watch me grow, not only as a man, but as a player on and out the court and be like, dang, I remember when this guy was, you know, playing an NBA one or when he was playing over here and like, just look at his growth now and look how far that, you know, he was able to just take yourself and take the game of basketball.
Cultural Reflections and Food Experiences
01:18:32
Speaker
Absolutely. We're going to be front row center of that crowd of people saying, hey, we remember CB when he first debuted for Inner West Bulls. And he was traveling around Ashfield with Blake Morrow, trying all the Asian food. Hey, some good food now. I love the food out here, so I'm going to miss that. Really, I'm going to miss that.
01:18:51
Speaker
I mean, because we're so close to Asia, we have great Asian food. And I heard here that even further north, because they're closer to Asia, like in Darwin, Darwin apparently has the best Malaysian luxas going around. And then you go overseas to the places where these foods originate from. And you're like, this is just like at home. Like we got it really good at home. Our cuisine is great. And we have good produce as well. So that helps.
01:19:14
Speaker
Yeah, and we don't have like all the authentic like Asian, Japanese spots, Korean spots in the States. So like the one thing I always love about Australia is the food, because I'm a foodie, so like just going around trying new places. I think I just had a Korean barbecue for the second time. All you can eat, an easy hundred bucks to just stuff my face. like i don't I don't know when I'm gonna eat this again, but I'm gonna go crazy. i'm gonna go crazy ah now I'm going to definitely ah miss the food and just the experience that I got here. Certainly better than the beef and broccoli at Panda Express.
01:19:54
Speaker
What are you telling? Touche. I'll be eating a lot of Chipotle. I will be telling you that. CB, thank you so much for making time to have a quick chat to us today before you literally fly back home tomorrow. Fingers and toes crossed for you that you end up clinching the MVP award in MBL 1 East 2024.
Closing Thoughts and Gratitude
01:20:12
Speaker
But nonetheless, congratulations on your nomination and your recognition and such an outstanding season with the Hills Hornets.
01:20:19
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, ah regardless if I get it or not, I appreciate NBA One and everybody that I met along the way, all the contributions, late nights, early mornings, and I appreciate you guys for always having my back and sticking beside me, giving me some extra motivation through the season. So you all know it's all love on this side always. Absolutely. You're one of our favorite guys of the league, and we sincerely hope you come back. We'll see. what We will see. But no, thank you guys, seriously.
01:20:47
Speaker
of course anytime
01:21:07
Speaker
Of course, any time. We'll see you in 2025.
01:21:54
Speaker
Okay.