Matt Barlow
08 December 2025, 8:15 PM

The Lismore Storm were outclassed in the Men's Division 1 Sunshine Conference Grand Final, but several team members received individual honours for their efforts throughout the season.
The Storm travelled to Coffs Harbour on Saturday to take on the Valley Braves in the decider, but a slow start cost the Lismore side any chance of victory.
At one stage in the first quarter, the Braves had pushed out to a 25-4 lead in front of a vocal home crowd, with the Lismore fans stunned after a poor start.
Jade Chandler managed to finish the quarter with a flurry to see the score reduced to 29-11 at the first break.
In a low-scoring second quarter, Lismore managed to increase the defensive pressure but were still unable to score freely on the offensive end, winning the quarter 14-13 but still being down 42-25 at the main break.
The Braves had done their homework, with the side's top scorers, Toby Barlow and Zac Knight, finding it difficult to find space and opportunities.
Lismore fought hard in the third quarter, scoring the first 10 points of the stanza to reduce the margin to 7 before the Braves steadied, leading 61-46 at the final break.
Unfortunately for the Storm, the good shooting continued for the home side, and they eventually ran out comfortable winners 81-59.
Chandler top-scored for the Storm with 15, Barlow had 14, and Kaleb Jeffery and Kane Daley both finished with 10 apiece.
The Sunshine Conference Awards ceremony took place immediately after the final, with Toby Barlow receiving the competition's Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, leading the points scoring across the season.

Zac Knight, along with Barlow, was named in the All-Star 5 Team, recognition for both players' contributions.
The awards did not stop there for the Storm, with Poppy Latta and Grace Simpson named in the Women's All-Star 5.
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