Wheelchair National League '09

[Homer]

The new season of the NWBL is about to kick of on the 30th of May.
It seems so long between seasons, especially after a Paralympic year.
The Australian season is brought forward to be completed before the Games.
Should be a great season with the Australian Gold Medalists playing for their respective clubs.
Right now they are over in Manchester, England for the Paralympic World Cup.
Many of our National Team players play professionally in Europe so the Aus season should be great.

ROUND 1
4:30 PM
Sat 30/May Sydney WheelKings vs Wollongong Roller Hawks
Auburn Basketball Centre, Sydney

6:00 PM
Sat 30/May Dandenong Rangers vs Perth Wheelcats ('08 Champs)
Dandenong Stadium, Melbourne

1:00 PM
Sun 31/May Dandenong Rangers vs Perth Wheelcats
Dandenong Stadium, Melbourne
.

[Homer]

From Noel Rowsell in Sydney.

"Australia’s men’s wheelchair basketball team, the Rollers, have advanced to the Semi Final of the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester as the top seed after victories against Great Britain and the United States overnight. Trailing by two points with one quarter to play Australia fought back to defeat Great Britain 64-56 in the early game before backing up with a 70-58 victory over the United States in the second match of a double-header. Australia defeated Germany in the opening game of the tournament, 62-51, and will now face Great Britain in tomorrow morning’s Semi Final (1:15am on Saturday 22 May AET)."

[Homer]

From Noel Rowsell in Sydney

"Australia’s men’s wheelchair basketball team, the Rollers, have advanced to the Gold Medal Match of the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester undefeated after a 48-35 win over Great Britain in the Semi Final overnight. The Rollers set up the win with a blistering 13-5 first quarter while Great Britain were let down by their accuracy, shooting just 1-of-8 from the charity stripe and 30 per cent from the field to the Rollers' 6-of-8 from the line and 37 per cent from the field. Beijing Gold Medalist Tristan Knowles did most of the damage on the scoreboard, leading all players with 15 points and nine rebounds, supported by fellow Paralympian Shaun Norris with 10 points and four rebounds. Dan Highcock top-scored for Great Britain with 14 points and six rebounds. In the other semi final overnight the United States defeated Germany 67-50 to advance to the decider against the Australians.

In earlier rounds the Rollers recorded a 70-58 victory over the United States.

The Rollers will line up against the USA in the final tonight at 4.45pm in Manchester (1.45am on Sunday 24 May AET)."

[Skindog the Hawk]

The West Sydney Razorbacks will open their season on Sunday 7 June at Bankstown Basketball Stadium (Third Avenue, Condell Park) against the Wentworthville WheelKings - admission is free, a good game guaranteed ;)

SD.

[Homer]

The Rollers defeated the USA comfortably in the Gold Medal game of the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester today 69 - 48

Well done Aussies.

[Homer]

From Saturday 30th - Sunday 31st May 2009, the National Wheelchair Basketball League was officially launched
for the 2009 season, with matches taking place between the Victorian Dandenong Rangers and the Perth Wheelcats.
The Wheelcats claimed victory in both games of the opening round for the season.

RESULTS
Saturday 30th May - 6.00pm
Wheelcats d Rangers (91 - 72)
Rangers top scorers:

* Stuart Edwin 21 points
* Shaun Groenewegan 16 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists
* Dylan Alcott 12 points (including four 3 point baskets)
* Campbell Message 10 points

Sunday 31st May - 1.00pm
Wheelcats d Rangers (99 - 68)
Rangers top scorers:

* Shaun Groenwegan 23 points, 11 rebounds
* Dylan Alcott 15 points (including three 3 point baskets)
* Campbell Message 10 points

While defeated, the Victorian team had a solid start to the season and will build upon this result in the coming weeks.
The team included the following players: Ben Hodgens, Jannick Blair, Jeremy Synot, Dylan Alcott, Michael D'Amelio,
Shaun Groenewegan, Ben Noble, Stuart Elwin, Campbell Message and Brook Quin.

[Homer]

MEDIA RELEASE
2009 Asia Oceania Championship
To be held at the Dandenong Basketball Stadium 13 – 17 October 2009

Graeme Allen, General Manager of Dandenong Basketball Association today welcomed the Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs, James Merlino to the Dandenong Basketball Association to announce a major sporting win for Australian Basketball. Australia has won the bid, over Japan, to host the prestigious “Asia Oceania Championship” in October at the Dandenong Basketball Association. “This is an outstanding coup for Basketball Australia, Basketball Victoria, Wheelchair Sports Victoria and in particular the Dandenong Basketball Association and the City of Greater Dandenong. To be selected to host such a prestigious event is testament to the outstanding facilities we have,” said Allen. The tournament will run from October 13th – 17th and the teams competing in the tournament are; Australia, Japan, China, Korea, Kuwait and Malaysia. The Australian Rollers are currently ranked number 1 in the world. Mr Merlino was excited to announce this tournament adding that Basketball in Victoria is a massive sport at the grass roots level and enjoys massive participation. Larry Sengstock, CEO of Basketball Australia said “Wheelchair Basketball was one of the most exciting sports seen at the Beijing Paralympics and to be able to have the Rollers here in Melbourne against the best in the Asia Oceania region will provide great impetus for the sport both in Melbourne and Australia. We thank IWBF Asia Oceania Zone for awarding this Championship to Australia.” Wayne Bird, CEO of Basketball Victoria said “Following the success of the Rollers at the Beijing Paralympics where they were the Gold medallists and the subsequent interest they generated in the wider population, this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase high quality wheelchair basketball in Melbourne”. The Championship will be hotly contested between the 6 countries as only three will qualify for positions in the 2010 IWBF World Championships to be held in Birmingham, England in 2010. “Both Basketball Australia and Basketball Victoria are looking forward to working with Dandenong Basketball Association, Wheelchair Sports Victoria and the City of Greater Dandenong to ensure we make the maximum effort to showcase these very talented athletes to the wider community”, said Bird. Wheelchair Sports Victoria CEO, Rob Anderson added “Considering the long relationship WSV has enjoyed with the Dandenong Basketball Association we are proud to be involved in this event. This event serves as a great promotion as to what is possible for athletes with a disability”. Along with the President of the Dandenong Basketball Association, Charles Ryan, Mayor of the City of Greater Dandenong, Pinar Yesil, Councillors, and invited guests from the basketball community, today’s announcement brings yet another significant event to the Dandenong Basketball Association and the Greater Dandenong Community.