IN the mid-season break, Basketball Draft Central takes a look at each National Basketball League (NBL)1 team in both the men’s and women’s competition and will analyse how they have performed to date, some of their top performers, and the run home to see if they can make finals. Today we analyse the Geelong Supercats, who are the top performing team over both competitions, sitting first and third in the women’s and men’s competition respectively.

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Men:

Position: 3rd
Wins: 9
Losses: 5

Home: 5-2
Away: 4-3
Last 10: 7-3

Points For: 1162
Points Against: 1119
Percentage: 103.8
Points: 27

Summary:

The Supercats have been a consistent performer in their 14 games so far this season, winning nine, including seven of the past 10. After being mid-table with a split 5-5 record after 10 games, the Supercats have recorded four consecutive wins and are mounting an assault on the top two sides. Demarcus Gatlin has been huge this season with 21.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.4 steals. Lewis Thomas (15.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.9 steals) and Ma’alo Hicks (10.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.9 steals) have been near-unstoppable off the boards this season. Anthony Williams (14.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals) has been the other starter who has been important in Geelong’s rise up the table.

The run home:

R10: Ballarat Miners (H)
R11: North West Thunder (H)
R12: Southern Sabres (A)
R13: Ballarat Miners (A) | Ringwood Hawks (A)
R14: Nil.
R15: Bendigo Braves (H)

The Supercats’ have a mixed bag on the run home. Their toughest encounters come against Ballarat Miners with two games in the final six, while also having matches against bottom two sides, Ringwood Hawks and Southern Sabres. The Supercats will not have any issues making finals given they already have nine wins on the board, but they will be keen to lock up a double chance by finishing top four.

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Women:

Position: 1st
Wins: 13
Losses: 1

Home: 7-0
Away: 6-1
Last 10: 10-0

Points For: 1195
Points Against: 912
Percentage: 131.0
Points: 39

Summary:

The Supercats are the side to beat in the women’s competition, sitting on top of the table with just one loss in 14 games, and four games clear of third spot. With just Bendigo Braves for company in the top two with one loss as well. They have a great core of talented players, some of which are world class, while others are developing into future stars. Ezi Magbegor will take to the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) after the season, and she has been a star with 17.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game, working well with Sara Blicavs (16.1 points. 8.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.1 steals). Zitina Aokuso (16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists) and Alex Duck (7.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.5 steals) have been the other regular starters, while Jazmin Shelley (11.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals) and Isabelle Bourne (10.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals) have been terrific off the bench.

The run home:

R10: Ballarat Rush (H)
R11: Launceston Tornadoes (H)
R12: Southern Sabres (A)
R13: Ballarat Rush (A) | Ringwood Hawks (A)
R14: Nil.
R15: Bendigo Braves (H)

The Supercats are all but locked into a top two spot given their massive four-game advantage and huge percentage. They have a relatively softer draw in the run home as it is, with the last round clash against the Braves the one to watch in a potential grand final preview. They take on Ballarat Rush twice, as well as bottom four sides, Launceston Tornadoes and Southern Sabres.