McCarron, Roxburgh win NBL1 Central title

Adelaide 36ers Mitch McCarron and Fraser Roxburgh have tasted success after West Adelaide Bearcats were crowned NBL1 Central men’s champions on Saturday night.

The Bearcats, sparked by a 41-point second quarter explosion, held on in the final frantic minutes to claim a 106-95 success against Forestville Eagles at Adelaide 36ers Arena.

West Adelaide captain McCarron had high praise for the Eagles, who fought back from a 17-point deficit twice in the game to reduce the Bearcats lead to a single basket with three minutes remaining.

“Full credit to Forestville they played a really good game – when we got our big runs we were able to capitalise and that helped us in the end,” McCarron said.

“We knew we could get some substance at the end of the game (when the Eagles pushed at them in the final quarter) we knew they were going to make some shots and make a run at us, but we just believed in ourselves to get it done.”

The 189cm combo guard scored 18 points, while dishing a game-high 11 assists and grabbing six rebounds to lead from the front.

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Returning Adelaide 36ers development player Roxburgh showed his full potential, scoring seven points and grabbing six rebounds, and also had a thunderous drive and dunk in the second quarter as the Bearcats made their charge.

The young wing’s potential has been on full show this season, averaging 13.2 points per game and shot over 40 per cent from the three-point line, while largely operating as the Bearcats’ sparkplug off the bench.

“This is my first year playing NBL1 properly in Central, and it’s huge to go into pre-season off a big win and accomplishment like winning the title,” Roxburgh said.

“I think it will really fuel me and really get me pumped and going for NBL pre-season.

“When I moved over to West Adelaide I felt like I could talk to Macca (McCarron) a little bit more, because in the NBL there are a lot more guys on the team, and I suppose I was a little bit timid since I had never been exposed to the professional environment.

“This has really helped me get to know the guys, and I’ve been asking a lot more questions and learning a lot more from them, and now I have a really good relationship with them both which has been really good.”