ALL National Basketball League (NBL1) competitions have wrapped up, and in the Central Men’s, it was Lachlan Olbrich that led the West Adelaide Bearcats past the Forestville Eagles.

It was a battle of the top two sides in the 2023 season to close things out in South Australia, with the strongest sides left standing in the last matchup. The Bearcats finished at the top of the table with 15 wins from 18 games, while Forestville secured 13 from the same number of outings. However, the two sides faced off in the semi final for a spot in the big dance, and it was the Eagles that got the job done by two points in a thriller. West Adelaide cruised past Sturt in the prelim to secure a spot in the grand final at 36ers Arena on Saturday night.

History looked a chance to repeat in the first term, as the Eagles took control of the match and a seven-point lead into the first change. Forestville looked eerily similar to the team that took home the chocolates a couple of weeks prior, but the second quarter changed everything. The Bearcats outscored the opposition 41-21 in that time, exploding on the offensive end and storming out to a 13-point lead at half time. Although the Eagles improved defensively in the third term and brought things back to six points heading into the last, West Adelaide held on to claim the ultimate prize with a 106-95 win.

On a stacked Bearcats side, it was Olbrich that shined brightest, exploding in the biggest game of the season with a stirring performance.

Forestville Eagles (95) def. by West Adelaide Bearcats (106)

Lachlan Olbrich – 24 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, one block

Olbrich was deservingly named MVP of the match for his mesmerising showing against the Eagles when it mattered most, showing exactly what he could become at just 19 years of age.

Despite there being more experienced talent on the floor, it was the young gun that top scored for the match with 24 points, proving a reliable source of scoring. He made 10 of his 15 field goal attempts, and even chimed in with a couple of three-pointers to really stretch the defence.

He could have had an even bigger total in the points column had he made the most of his trips to the charity stripe. Olbrich made just two free throws despite taking seven attempts, leaving a few points out there despite an exceptional game nonetheless.

The forward used his towering size to make an impact on the glass too, pulling down 10 boards for the match, which was also a game-high figure. He looked hungrier than anyone to get first hands on the ball and was able to help halt Forestville’s momentum.

He flirted with a triple-double by showcasing his playmaking skills with eight dimes for the match. His high usage rate often meant the defence would try and trap him in the post, especially given how fluently he was scoring the ball. However, Olbrich never looked overwhelmed, and consistently found wide open teammates with his excellent vision.

It was a coming of age performance of sorts from Olbrich, who put his name in lights in South Australian basketball with an impactful showing in the grand final.