Hoops Capital stars chase NBL1 finals success

Seasons will be put on the line this weekend, as finals action heats up in the 2025 NBL1 competition.

On Saturday, six Hoops Capital stars will be in win-or-go-home finals action, including Flame #172 Lara McSpadden.

The Flames centre and her Diamond Valley side will travel to the Dandenong Basketball Stadium to play the Rangers in their semi-final, fresh off a win over Frankston - a victory that the Eagles have taken a lot of confidence from.

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"The most impressive part [of our win last weekend] was our ability to play through physicality and ride the ups and downs of the game," McSpadden said.

"That win gives us a lot of confidence going into Saturday, because, after losing the previous week, to bounce back like that proves to us that we can compete with the best teams in the league.

"To ensure we keep our season alive, it's crucial we stop them in transition and limit their drives into the paint."

Another whose season will be on the line come Saturday evening will be Shaun Roger and his Sutherland Sharks.

After edging Bankstown last Saturday in a thriller, his Sharks, headlined by Kings duo Kouat Noi and Jason Spurgin, will travel to Comets Stadium to face Sydney from 7.30pm AEST.

"In a nutshell, we went out and did what we said we wanted to do [against Bankstown] – stamp our identity on the first three minutes and set the table for the rest of the game," Roger said.

"As a coach, that is what I was most impressed by.

"[Honestly] my confidence in the group has never waned – we’ve been saying since the beginning of this season that we have enough to compete against the best teams, it was always a matter of continuing to stack good days and playing the way we say we’re going to play.

"We get a chance to prove that once again, against Sydney, who is a very tough group with good depth, so the key for us is continuing to have a laser-like focus on us and being across their personnel.

"If we can contain their primary players, we believe we’re in with a chance.

"A win against the Comets means we’re fortunate enough for our season to continue on and to play in a preliminary final against the Canberra Gunners."

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Other Sydney stars in action this weekend include Mackay’s Makuach Maluach and Unique Thompson, who play Southern Districts and Sunshine Coast, respectively.

Norths trio Renae Garlepp, Carla Pitman and Caitlyn Martin, Knox pair Keli Lueapepe and Agnes Emma-Nnopu and Logan’s Mikhaela Cann all have the weekend off before preliminary finals action next Saturday.

Stay up to date with all of Hoops Capital’s off-season news here.