By BACT Media Unit – 31 August 2023

Basketball ACT’s Premier League Finals tipped off on Wednesday night with the Qualifying and Elimination Finals of Premier 1. As we close out August, it is Premier 2’s turn to hit the court on Thursday 31 August 2023.

The 2023 Premier 2 competition, as always, proved a close affair, with all finalists capable of taking out the Championship.

Here is a preview of the Qualifying and Elimination Finals being held at Belconnen Basketball Stadium.

Premier 2 Men

Qualifying Final – Vikings v Norths

The 2022 Grand Finalists go at it again in the Qualifying Final, with the defending champions, Norths, and the 2023 Minor Premiers, Vikings, aiming to put a big dent in each others confidence.

Vikings, who finished on a 18-2 record in 2023, will look to their “Triple J’s in 2023 MVP contender Jordan Sembel, Jesse Tait and Jack Street to continue their hot form to delivery a victory.

Norths will rely on Omar Moustakim, Darcy O’Keeffe and James Fouquet to lead their title defence, and emulate their P1M counterparts and force their way into the big dance.

Games were split in 2023 – 1-1 – Norths grabbing a 73-65 win in Round 1, while Vikings hit back with a 77-57 win in Round 12.

Tip-off at 7:15pm – Belconnen Basketball Stadium (Court 1).

Elimination Final – Rats v Wests

Rats take on Wests in a “Belco Battle” in the Elimination Final, with a chance to keep their 2023 season alive.

Rats have built their season on the back of combining shared team scoring, with the added sparkle of young gun Dante Bruton weaving his scoring magic on-court. Rats will need to dig deep and share the scoring, if they want to advance.

Wests have looked to mainstays Duot Duot, Jarryd Heywood and Majak Wel for the bulk of their scoring in 2023, but have several players capable of double figure nights peppered through the squad.

Games in 2023 favour Rats – 2-0 with wins in Round 1 (61-54) and Round 12 (74-64).

Tip-off at 8:45pm – Belconnen Basketball Stadium (Court 2).

Premier 1 WOMEN

Qualifying Final – Dodgers v Stallions

A really tight Premier 2 season saw both Dodgers and Stallions finish on the same win/loss for 2023, with points differential being the decider in who finished Minor Premiers.

Dodgers, Grand Finalists in 2022, will be looking to force their way back into this year’s Grand Final, with Penny Toledo-Ocampo, Belinda Turk and Emma Slater leading the charge for the Dodgers on-court.

Stallions, will be looking to go one better in 2023, after being bundled out in the Preliminary Final in 2022. Katie Williams, Kirsten Ayre and Vanessa and Jana Hatzis have been team leaders all season, and will need to stand-up on the stat sheet to give them their best hope of a Grand Final spot.

Games were split – 1-1 – during the season, with Stallions grabbing a Round 5 win (55-49) and Dodgers grabbing one back in Round 14 (56-48).

Tip-off at 8:45pm – Belconnen Basketball Stadium (Court 1).

Elimination Final – Rats v Vikings

Similar to the Qualifying Final, both Rats and Vikings finished the season on the same win/loss ratio, ensuring it will be a tight game in the Elimination Final, when the

Rats will look to their P1W success as motivation, for a Preliminary Final spot, with Keira Mapley, Kath McMullan and Lila Howell providing plenty of points in 2023.

The defending champs, Vikings, know what it takes to make the Grand Final, and will look to Gracie Silberberg, Tegan Ketels and and Sophie Anderson to lead the way

Rats had the wood on Vikings in 2023 – 2-0 – with wins in Round 5 (57-54) and Round 14 (61-41).

Tip-off at 7:15pm – Belconnen Basketball Stadium (Court 2).