SEABL young guns in Turner's sights; Bendigo Braves ready for Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence.

The 28-year-old was on Sunday named in the All SEABL First Team following a regular season in which he averaged 21.7 points and 11.1 rebounds for the 11-9 Braves.

Honoured to be recognised for his efforts during his debut season in the league, Turner said it was team success that he craved more.

That means leading the Braves past the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence (COE) in this Saturday night’s elimination final in Canberra and hopefully deep into a finals run.

“(All SEABL team) selection was pretty exciting, but I’m not fully happy – I obviously want to do better and want more,” he said.

“I am always striving to become better in basketball.

“Team success is what this game is all about and that’s what I and everyone here wants.”

The Braves will head to Canberra having split their final round games 1-1, with a win against Frankston and loss to Nunawading.

While Turner admitted entering finals on the back of a loss was not ideal, it was in many ways reflective of how the Braves’ season had unfolded.

“The season has been a bit up and down, but I think our guys now have a better understanding of what it is going to take to get the job done from here out and that’s bringing home a grand final,” he said.

“As bad as you want it, you have to go out and get it – it’s not going to be given to you.

“It won’t be easy, not with the teams that are here in the playoffs, but we’ve got to make every game count.”

The Braves have had their struggles with the COE this season, losing 91-87 in Canberra in early May, and 86-75 at Bendigo Stadium just two weeks’ later.

Turner, who has averaged 29 points this season against the SEABL competition’s young guns, was confident of being able to turn the tables on the COE in  a pressure cooker final.

“They brought a lot of energy to our games, so we need to match that,” he said.

“Even when we were up 12 or 10 points, they’ve pushed back and got us.

“If we are in that situation again we need to stretch (the lead) out and keep the pressure on them.

“Come this point on, it’s win or go home.

“I’m confident as confident can be myself; that’s my high expectation, that we will be ready to go right from the tip-off.”

Turner was not the only Braves star to earn individual honours.

Fellow import Jeremy Kendle was selected in the All SEBAL Second Team, after averaging 23.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists in a highly productive season for the Braves.

Qualifying final one: Nunawading Spectres (1st) v Ballarat Miners (4th), Saturday July 28, 7.30pm.

Qualifying final two: Kilsyth Cobras (2nd) v Hobart Chargers (3rd), Saturday July 28, 8pm.

Elimination final one: Geelong Supercats (5th) v North West Tasmania Thunder (8th), Saturday, July 28, 7pm.

Elimination final two: BA COE (6th) v Bendigo Braves (7th), Saturday, July 28, 7pm.