Willetton Tigers | |
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Leagues | NBL1 West |
Founded | 1989 |
History | Willetton Tigers 1989–present |
Arena | Willetton Basketball Stadium |
Location | Perth, Western Australia |
Team colors | Navy blue and white |
CEO | Mark Winnett |
Chairman | Brad Counsel |
Head coach |
|
Championships | 10 |
Website | willettontigers |
Willetton Tigers is an NBL1 West club based in Perth, Western Australia. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 West. The club is a division of Willetton Basketball Association (WBA), the major administrative basketball organisation in the Melville/Canning region. The Tigers play their home games at Willetton Basketball Stadium.
Club history
[edit]Background
[edit]Willetton Basketball Association (WBA) was formed in 1973 as a division of the Willetton Sports Club (WSC), with teams representing the club competing in the Canning Districts Basketball Association in Riverton. Following strong growth in participation, four outdoor courts were established in 1978/79 at the current site of Willetton Basketball Stadium on Burrendah Boulevard and Willetton basketball teams relocated from Canning to form its own domestic competition. In 1979/80, Tangney District Basketball Association was formed by amalgamating Melville Districts Basketball Association and Willetton Basketball Division of WSC.[1][2][3] Following further growth in numbers, the existing facility was expanded to eight outdoor courts, and by the end of 1985, a new four-court indoor stadium was completed.[1] The stadium did not receive expansion until 2020, with an extra four courts added.[4]
In 1987, both the A-grade men's and women's teams won premierships, with the men reaching the grand final again in 1988.[1]
SBL / NBL1 West
[edit]1989 saw the formation of the State Basketball League (SBL) with both a men's and women's competition. Willetton, trading as the Tigers, entered a team into both the Men's SBL and Women's SBL.[5][6]
Between 1996 and 1999, the women's team played in four straight grand finals, winning championships in 1997 and 1999. They won back-to-back championships in 2004 and 2005 and then played in four straight grand finals between 2008 and 2011, winning a three-peat of championships between 2009 and 2011.[1][7][8] They returned to the grand final in 2015[9] and then won their eighth WSBL championship in 2016.[10]
The men's team made grand finals in 2002 and 2008[11] before winning their first championship in 2010.[12]
In 2021, the SBL was rebranded as NBL1 West.[13][14] The Tigers women were crowned minor premiers in the inaugural NBL1 West season and reached their 13th grand final, where they defeated the Joondalup Wolves 65–54 to win their ninth championship.[15][16] They returned to the grand final in 2022, where they lost 87–61 to the Warwick Senators.[17] They reached their third straight grand final in 2023,[18] where they lost 68–61 to the Cockburn Cougars.[19][20] In 2024, the Tigers men reached the grand final for the first time since 2010,[21][22] where they lost 91–89 to the Mandurah Magic.[23][24]
Accolades
[edit]Women
- Championships: 9 (1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2021)
- Grand Final appearances: 15 (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023)
- Minor premierships: 9 (1998, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2021)
Men
- Championships: 1 (2010)
- Grand Final appearances: 4 (2002, 2008, 2010, 2024)
- Minor premierships: 3 (2000, 2006, 2017)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Willetton Basketball Association – About Us" (PDF). WillettonTigers.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- ^ "Willetton Basketball Association Facility Expansion Feasibility Study". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- ^ "The Willetton Basketball Association Sponsorship Proposal 2008". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- ^ Alphonse, Geraldine (27 August 2020). "New Willetton Stadium wows local sport fans". yourlocalexaminer.com.au. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^ "SBL Standings 1989". CockburnCougars.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
- ^ "Mens Standings & Playoffs – 1989–1992". sblonline.net. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Tigers Claim Fifth Championship". BasketballWA.asn.au. 25 August 2009. Archived from the original on 3 October 2009.
- ^ "WSBL History". SBL.asn.au. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020.
- ^ Pike, Chris (28 August 2015). "Inspired Whitcomb leads Flames to back-to-back women's SBL titles". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- ^ Pike, Chris (2 September 2016). "Malpass the hero as Tigers win Women's SBL Grand Final". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ "MSBL History". SBL.asn.au. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020.
- ^ Kagi, Jacob (23 August 2010). "Willetton Tigers clinch SBL double". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- ^ "NBL1 West to tip off in 2021". NBL1.com.au. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ Garlepp, Josh (30 October 2020). "State Basketball League to become NBL 1 West as WA clubs agree to unite under national second-tier banner". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Women's Grand Final Preview: Willetton Tigers v Joondalup Wolves". NBL1.com.au. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ "Tigers overpower Wolves in Grand Final to savour". NBL1.com.au. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ "NBL1 West Recap | Women's Grand Final". nbl1.com.au. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- ^ Pike, Chris (6 August 2023). "NBL1 West Recap | Preliminary Finals". NBL1.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Cockburn Cougars crowned NBL1 West women's champions". NBL1.com.au. 11 August 2023. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ Pike, Chris (11 August 2023). "NBL1 West Recap | Women's Grand Final 2023". NBL1.com.au. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ Pike, Chris (4 August 2024). "Recap NBL1 West | Preliminary Finals Saturday". NBL1.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024.
- ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (9 August 2024). "Mandurah Magic and Willetton Tigers to clash for NBL1 West championship at RAC Arena". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024.
- ^ Pike, Chris (10 August 2024). "Recap NBL1 West | Men's Grand Final". NBL1.com.au. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Mandurah Magic win the 2024 NBL1 West men's championship". NBL1.com.au. 10 August 2024. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024.
External links
[edit] Media related to Willetton Tigers at Wikimedia Commons