A perfect 20-0 regular season has been capped by Megan Moody being named SEABL women’s coach of the year and Nadeen Payne and Kelly Wilson’s selection in the All SEABL First Team.

The honours come days before the Braves women open their finals campaign against Launceston Tornadoes at Bendigo Stadium this Saturday night at 7pm.

A win for Moody’s team would set up a home preliminary final in a fortnight’s time.

It would be just reward for a Braves team, which has dominated the season like few others before them in the head coach’s first season at the helm.

They sealed an unbeaten home and away season on Saturday night with a powerful 80-69 win against Nunawading, which qualified for the finals in third position.

The Braves undefeated season was the first to be achieved in the SEABL since 1992 when Dandenong Rangers notched the feat.

Moody viewed her award as a reflection of the team’s success to this point of the season.

“It’s lovely to receive an award like that, but it’s not possible without the team and everyone buying in to what we are doing,” she said.

“As nice at is, we want the championship – our goal is still to be there in that final game.

“But it’s a nice piece of recognition and fantastic for Kelly and Nads to be named in the first team.

“They have both had terrific seasons – Nads has played some fantastic basketball and Kelly is really leading our team.”

There was dual success for star point guard Wilson, who won the Golden Hands award.

The 33-year-old three-time WNBL championship player led the league with a staggering 11.8 assists per game, well clear of next best Launceston’s Alex Wilson with 5.5, and ranked third in steals with 41.

Wilson averaged 14.9 points per game, second on the team behind Payne with a league second best 23.1 points per game.

A stellar season for Payne included a team high 9.3 rebounds (ninth best in the league).

The Braves men’s return to finals action was capped by import Ray Turner’s selection in the ALL SEABL First Team and fellow American Jeremy Kendle’s selection in the ALL SEABL Second Team.

Power forward Turner, who joined the Braves after a season in the Western Australian state league with Willetton Tigers, has been an undoubted find after leading the team with 11.1 rebounds per game and scoring a league eighth-best 21.7 points per game.

Kendle, who was the league’s MVP in the Braves’ 2016 championship season, led all team-mates with a league fifth-best 23.6 points per game and finished fourth in the league in total steals and second in free throw percentage at 88.9 per cent.

Braves coach Ben Harvey said both players had hugely deserved their selections.

“Ray has obviously had a great year; he started off really well,” he said.

“There’s no doubt he’s a beast inside.

“It’s great having Ray in the first team Jeremy in the second team.

“We have two quality imports, who will be very important for us this weekend when finals get underway.”

The Braves will play Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Canberra on Saturday night after finishing the season in seventh place.

Launceston Tornadoes’ Lauren Nicholson and Melbourne Tigers’ Tom Wilson were named the respective women’s and men’s season MVPs.

The women’s defensive player of the year was Melbourne Tigers’ Louella Tomlinson, who will play for Bendigo Spirit in the 2018-19 WNBL season.

The 30-year-old led the league in blocks with 65, 15 ahead of her nearest rival Hobart’s Kathleen Scheer, and averaged 8.5 rebounds per game.

MVP: Tom Wilson (Melbourne Tigers) and Lauren Nicholson (Launceston Tornadoes).

Coach of the Year: David Biwer (Nunadawing Spectres) and Megan Moody (Bendigo Braves).

Defensive Player of the Year: Owen Odigie (Kilsyth Cobras) and Louella Tomlinson (Melbourne Tigers).

Australian Youth Player of the Year: Tom Wilson (Melbourne Tigers) and Ezi Magbegor (Diamond Valley Eagles).

All-SEABL First Team: Tre Nichols (Hobart Chargers), Peter Hooley (Ballarat Miners), Craig Moller (Hobart Chargers), Tom Wilson (Melbourne Tigers) and Ray Turner (Bendigo Braves);

Lauren Nicholson (Launceston Tornadoes), Nadeen Payne (Bendigo Braves), Lauren Scherf (Diamond Valley Eagles) and Kelly Wilson (Bendigo Braves).

All-SEABL Second Team: Isaac Turner (Kilsyth Cobras), Jeremy Kendle (Bendigo Braves), Mason Bragg (NW Tasmania Thunder), Tom Wright (Nunawading Spectres) and Daniel Trist (Frankston Blues);

Bec Cole (Melbourne Tigers), Keely Froling (Canberra Capitals), Emilee Harmon (Albury/Wodonga Lady Bandits), Rachel Jarry (Sandringham Sabres) and Alex Wilson (Launceston Tornadoes).

Leading Scorers: Tre Nichols (Hobart Chargers) and Lauren Nicholson (Launceston Tornadoes).

Leading Rebounders: Lauren Scherf (Diamond Valley Eagles) and Craig Moller (Hobart Chargers).

Golden Hands: Lucas Barker (Dandenong Rangers) and Kelly Wilson (Bendigo Braves).

Club of the Year: Nunawading Spectres.