Rebound's Chris Hughes and FocusHoops' Darren Paul looked over the best performances from this past weekend's semis, singling out their key selection to receive the final Player of the Week award of the season.
Have your say on this week's choices and give a shout-out to the players you think deserve one using the hashtag #NBL2122 and #ReboundTOTW. Don't forget to tag us!
Twitter: @NBLengland / @Rebound__ /@FocusHoops
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Chris and Darren picked a Player of the Week each, paying attention to the following criteria:
In what was a tough decision, but Brendan Okoronkowo is my final Player Of The Week for this year.
Solent raced out to a quick start and finished the first half with a 20-point lead on the way to a 104-80 victory against Nottingham Hoods, booking a place in their third straight playoff final.
Top of the list of Okoronkwo's qualities this weekend were his playmaking and his defensive effort, with multiple assists and steals within the first quarter alone to set the tone for the hosts.
The former Worthing guard put on a shooting clinic (4-5 FGM/1-1 3PM/7-8FTM) in 28:35 minutes of action. It was a very efficient performance with just a single turnover yet still leading all players in assists (7), steals (4) and blocks (tied first with 2).
It's worth noting that Solent only gave up three turnovers in the entire game despite using a lengthy 11-man rotation, though Okoronkwo was the pick of the bunch for me.
👑 A 'catalyst' of Solent's semi-final triumph - Brendan Okoronkwo is the @Rebound__ Player of the Week!#GameTime | #NBL2122 pic.twitter.com/U51277GVCJ
— NBL (@NBLengland) April 11, 2022
It's winning time in the WNBL playoffs and Taylor Gaffney led her seventh-seed Team Solent Kestrels past the third-seed Thames Valley Cavaliers 74-67 to set up a return to Manchester and a clash with CoLA Southwark Pride.
Gaffney’s scoring prowess was peerless as she finished with a game-high 27 points on 52% shooting which included a pair of three-pointers as well as hitting 5-7 from the charity stripe.
The American also pulled down three rebounds in the game, but it was discipline with the ball that impressed me the most this weekend. Recording zero turnovers and nabbing five steals, Gaffney gave Solent the best possible chance at winning by gaining her side additional possessions in a tightly contested matchup.
In addition to not turning the ball over Gaffney committed just a single personal foul, whilst being fouled on four occasions in her 39:33 minutes of court time.
Gaffney has been a revelation for Solent down the stretch and if she performs in Manchester as she has in recent weeks, Solent may well cause a major upset against CoLA.
👑 Taylor Gaffney went off in the Playoff semi-finals 🔥#GameTime | #NBL2122 pic.twitter.com/uEmELtn35w
— NBL (@NBLengland) April 12, 2022
Luke Busumbru (TSK) - 13P/6R/3A/1S/2B/23EFF
Morakinyo Williams (NOT) - 27P/10R/1A/1B/25EFF
Hakeem Sylla (TVC) - 23P/9R/1S/1B/26EFF
Taylor Johnson (HEM) - 29P/6R/3S/26EFF
Greg Poleon (HEM) - 22P/10R/1A/1S/3B/23EFF
Isi Ozzy-Momodu (CoLA) - 12P/10R/1A/3S/20EFF
Emilie Black (CoLA) - 15P/5R/2A/3S/19EFF
Faith Okwuosa (TVC) - 11P/18R/2A/1S/3B/22EFF
Katherine Goldsby (TVC) - 19P/7R/4A/5S/16EFF
Saffie Jarju (TSK) - 10P/10R/1A/1s/2B/18EFF
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