Payne, Turner win Braves MVP awards

The MVP announcements were made at the Braves awards night on Sunday and came exactly a week after Payne and Turner were named in All SEABL First Teams.

Payne, who finished one vote behind Launceston’s Lauren Nicholson in the league’s MVP voting, and Turner are both in their first seasons with the Braves.

Both top scored for their teams in the first week of finals, which brought a 22 point elimination final win for the men and a seven point qualifying final loss for the women.

Turner scored a game-high 37 points and 11 rebounds as the Braves defeated bogey side Centre of Excellence 97-75.

It continued a brilliant season for the Texan, who has averaged 22.4 points and 11 rebounds for the season.

Payne, who led the Braves women with 19 points and 13 rebounds against the Tornadoes, has dominated the competition this season and averaged team-highs in points (22.9ppg) and rebounds (9.4rpg).

In other Braves women’s awards, Kelly Wilson, who was also named in the All SEABL First Team, won the coaches award, while young centre Maddi Wild was awarded most improved.

Wild averaged 5.4 points and 5.1 rebounds and had 12 steals in her first non-interrupted season for the SEABL team.

Emerging Braves Tanner Rayner and Jake Lloyd won the men’s coaches awards.

Meanwhile, a stellar season in which she averaged 17.64 points, 8.59 rebounds and 2.73 assists earned Danielle O’Toole the Young Lady Braves’ MVP award.

Shardae Sharp was awarded most improved, while Anna Meade won best defensive player.

MVP for the Young Braves was Aidan Brohm, who averaged 11.42 points, 6.05 rebounds and 4.53 assists.

Sam Beks was runner-up, while Mark Swiney won the coaches award.

Hayden Farley capped an outstanding season for the Wheelchair Braves by winning the MVP award, while Brianna O’Bryan won the coaches award.

A year after being awarded life membership, Catherine Moller was honoured as the technical officer of the year.

Courtney Cross was voted most improved technical officer.