Basketball
16 December, 2024
McKenzie crowned CBL grand final MVP
Austin McKenzie's 42 points in the Hornets' grand final win over Mount Gambier earned him the MVP, and he said he couldn't have done it without his teammates.
"It's all to my teammates, and it's a credit to them," McKenzie said.
"They all found me in the right spots, allowing me to do my best.
McKenzie said getting the premiership was a relief, and he relished the high-pressure situation late in the match.
"It's a bit of a relief as we were confident heading into this season that we could win, and to come back with a strong and improved team, and doing the job, is unreal," McKenzie said.
"I have been in plenty of situations where I have been under enormous pressure, and it just came naturally late in the game.
"I knew what I had to do and found shots in close, and the boys did well to find Micah [Livingstone] and myself, and Freddy [Frew] took over in the last with penetrating passes."
Speaking of Livingstone, this season, they played like they have been playing for 10 years, and McKenzie puts it down to their similar game style.
"We both understand how each other plays, and it comes naturally, as I know where he is going to be," McKenzie said.
"When I come into a spot, and I know I would be in that spot, I can tell he would be in that spot, and I can throw the ball without thinking about it. The connection was unreal."
McKenzie said that his All-Star Five selection was unbelievable.
"It's unbelievable, and even if I didn't have it or win the final MVP, as long as I got the grand final win, that's all that matters to me," McKenzie said.
"We set out to win, and we accomplished it, and it's a good reward for all the hard work we put in during the season."
