ELTHAM Wildcats star Angus Glover added another feat to his impressive career, leading his side past the Ballarat Miners to claim the 2024 National Basketball League (NBL)1 South Men’s championship over the weekend.

The season came to an end on Saturday, when the two best sides faced off in a grand final at a neutral venue in the Dandenong Basketball Stadium. Both teams had booked a spot in the decider in dramatic fashion, with the Wildcats defeating the Blues by two points, while the Miners bested the Sabres by the same margin.

It was the perfect start for Ballarat, jumping out to a 12-point lead by quarter time and restricting the opposition to just 12 points in a suffocating defensive display. However, the Wildcats lifted in the second term to get the deficit to a manageable seven points at the main change, and struck again in the third to take the lead into the final term. It was a low scoring fourth quarter, with a combined 25 points scored, and in the scrappy circumstances, it was Eltham that emerged nine-point winners.

As he has done for several teams across multiple competitions in the past, Glover stood up to deliver a match-winning performance.

Ballarat Miners (70) def. by Eltham Wildcats (79)

Angus Glover – 30 points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal

Glover showed his offensive capabilities once again in the win over Ballarat, knocking down some massive shots to help the Wildcats bring home the sliverware.

His 30 points came on 11/22 shooting from the field, doing most of his damage from behind the arc. The guard knocked down seven triples for the match and was extremely important in dragging his side back into the match after a slow start.

Glover’s start to the match was reflective of Eltham’s as a whole, missing some shots and conceding a couple of turnovers in the opening stages of the game. However, he improved as the game rolled on, and his lift on the offensive end helped the Wildcats overpower the Miners.

He was particularly damaging in the third quarter as Eltham took the lead, posting 12 points for the term and truly finding his range from behind the arc. His highlight came in the form of a step back three-pointer on the eve of three-quarter time, ensuring the Wildcats took the lead into the final term.

With the championship on the line in the final term, Glover knocked down back to back triples to slam the door shut and put his team up by 12 points. It was a decisive patch of play, and proved telling in the end result.

Glover has proven himself as a big-game player in the past (many will remember his heroics in the 2023 NBL finals), and showed that again over the weekend.