Wheelchair Basketball

[A Higher Authority]

Australia into the SF's of the U23 World Championships.
Aust v USA, Sweden v Spain

[A Higher Authority]

Flogged 86-41 by USA in SF.:(:(

Now play Sweden in 3rd/4th playoff.

[Homer]

I've been trying to contact our Aussie ref, Gabe Caigiuri over there.
Apparently he started out well but I haven't heard which playoff game he got.
Safe to say he won't have the bronze medal game though.
Have you any news on that appointment?

[A Higher Authority]

The news out of the tournament is almost "no news".
You can look at the website to get game results and top scorers but that's about it.
The box scores should show who refereed but of course, the box scores don't work / open.
Australia lost the Bronze Medal game by 1 point.
USA won the Gold over Spain.

[Homer]

Yeah, I've been pretty dissapointed with the minimal info I could get out of the web site.
I thought it may have been my lack of computer savvy that stopped me seeing the appropriate info.
I hope Gabe got the Gold game.
I still haven't heard from him.
I know things get hectic around medal day and I'm sure replying to me would be down on his list of priorities.

[A Higher Authority]

So there's a big International tournament coming up (starts 29/7/09).
Has everyone seen the promos and will Sydney-siders come out and support the event, as they did in massive numbers at the 2000 Paralympic Games?

[Homer]

There's a bit happening around the place this weekend ................

7:00 PM Fri 24/Jul Sydney WheelKings Vs Perth Wheelcats @ Auburn

3:00 PM Sat 25/Jul Dandenong Rangers Vs West Sydney Razorbacks @ Dandenong

5:00 PM Sat 25/Jul Wollongong RollerHawks Vs Perth Wheelcats @ Shellharbour

7:00 PM Sat 25/Jul Brisbane Bullets Vs Adelaide Thunder @ Auchenflower

11:00 AM Sun 26/Jul Sydney WheelKings Vs Perth Wheelcats @ St Ignatius Coll.

12:30 PM Sun 26/Jul Brisbane Bullets Vs Adelaide Thunder. @ Auchenflower

1:00 PM Sun 26/Jul Dandenong Rangers Vs West Sydney Razorbacks @ Dandenong

[Homer]

West Sydney Razorbacks defeated Dandenong Rangers last night after trailing until the well into third quarter. Rollers veteran Troy Sachs top scored with 57 points.

Dandenong defeated West Sydney Razorbacks today (Sunday) in the return game after nearly repeating last nights final quarter fade out, only today West Sydney showed a little fatigue after going on the road with only 6 players due to other commitments.

So the Razorbacks split the road trip 1/1.

[A Higher Authority]

Gliders in action in Ottawa, Canada
http://wheelchairbasketball.ca/en/tournament.aspx?id=1018

Rollers in action in Sydney, Australia
http://www.basketball.net.au/index.php?id=726

[Homer]

The National Wheelchair Basketball League playoff weekend is fast approaching.
September 11 - 12 - 13 at Sydney Uni.

If you have heard of Wheelchair Basketball but never seen it, get along to one (or more) of these games.
Unless you head to the Paralympics, this is as good as it gets in Aus.
Plenty of people seeing it for the first time at elite level, return for more.

Friday 11th : Game One: Time 8.3Opm.
Team (1) plays team (2).
The winning team advances to the Gold medal game (G5).

Saturday 12th: Game Two: Time 11.00am.
Team (3) plays team (4),

Saturday 12th: Game Three: Time 7.00pm.
The winner of (G2) plays the loser of (G1)
The winning team advances to the Grand Final (G5).

Sunday 13th: Game Four: Time 10.30am.
Bronze medal game,
Loser (G2) v Loser (G3)

Sunday 13th : Game Five: Time 1.00pm.
Gold medal game
The winner of (G1) plays the winner of (G3)

[Homer]

Game 1 at 8:30pm 11th September will feature the Perth Wheelcats and the Highlube Roller Hawks from Wollongong.
Wollongong managed to snatch a win from Perth in the regular season - a very rare loss for Perth.
Perth are sure to be out to make amends and grab the first Grand Final spot!

Game 2 Saturday 12th (11:am) sees the host Wheelkings take on the Troy Sachs led Sydney Razorbacks in a sudden death game.
The winner of this game will advance to meet the loser of the Friday night game to determine the 2nd Grand Final team.

Dandenong finished fifth on equal points with the Razorbacks but missed a playoff spot (by two points) on the result of the matches between the two teams during the season.

[A Higher Authority]

The Perth Wheelcats through first to the GF with a good win over the Wollongong Roller Hawks in the major semi final.
Shaun Norris is a freak three-point player and his combination with Justin Eveson kept the Wheelcats in control.
The Wheelkings defeated the Razorbacks in the minor semi final and now meet the Roller Hawks in the Preliminary Final (starting right about now - 7pm).
Troy Sachs did try hard to keep the Razorbacks in the game but his '47 points' weren't quite enough.
Grand final tomorrow at 1pm - tough to imagine anyone beating the Wheelcats.
UPDATE: Wheelkings def Roller Hawks 90-74 to also move into the GF tomorrow.
Local team so hopefully Sydney fans will get down to the Sydney Uni Sports & Aquatic Centre at 1pm for the GF.

[A Higher Authority]

Friday 11/9/09 Major Semi Final: Perth Wheelcats def Wollongong Roller Hawks 99-76
http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/17/01/00/13/560F8bJEqbA/

Saturday 12/9/09 Minor Semi Final: Wenty Leagues Wheelkings 98 def West Sydney Razorbacks 83
http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/17/01/00/14/41pbKXzlzNUI6/

Saturday 12/9/09 Preliminary Final: Wenty Leagues Wheelkings 90 def Wollongong Roller Hawks 74
http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/17/01/01/20/10lzyRYihca/

SUNDAY 13/9/09 3rd / 4th Playoff: Wollongong Roller Hawks 89 def West Sydney Razorbacks 70
http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/17/01/01/40/358dMGGNQMIKU/

SUNDAY 13/9/09 GRAND FINAL: Perth Wheelcats 106 def Wenty Leagues Wheelkings 73
http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/17/01/01/41/81EYsBHBNTc/

[Homer]

Quick GF review
http://www.sportingpulse.com/team_info.cgi?client=1-4219-72986-72318-8843498&sID=148887&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=10009719&sectionID=148887
Major awards winners
http://www.sportingpulse.com/team_info.cgi?client=1-4219-72986-72318-8843498&sID=148887&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=10009721&sectionID=148887

Great display of wheelchair basketball over the weekend.
For those that didn't get down there, you missed out on some very talented
basketball players doing their stuff.

[Homer]

Report on the NWBL championship game at Sydney Uni recently

http://www.basketball.net.au/index.php?id=302&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=887&tx_ttnews[backPid]=615&cHash=04a680d563

Also Rollers honored buy world body.

http://www.basketball.net.au/index.php?id=302&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=901&tx_ttnews[backPid]=615&cHash=cedf747a6d

Also starting Tuesday October 6th, the Australian Paralympic Youth Games Wheelchair Basketball at MSAC running through to Saturday 10th October.

Also the following Monday, 12th October, the Asia Oceania Qualifying tournament for wheelchair basketball for the 2010 World Championship.
Definitely worth a look at our Rollers playing against the best teams in Asia Oceania for a place in the World Champs.

[Homer]

Starting Tuesday October 6th, the Australian Paralympic Youth Games Wheelchair Basketball at MSAC running through to Saturday 10th October.
The opening ceremony is this afternoon but too many commitments to get to MSAC for it.
Should be good. Games on in the afternoon and evening.
If you're near MSAC get in and have a squiz.

[A Higher Authority]

http://www.wsv.org.au/events/australian-paralympic-youth-games.html

[A Higher Authority]

The results were up to date for Day 1 and 2 but nothing for 3 and 4 :(

They've put up Athletics for Day 3 but have now ignored Basketball.

[A Higher Authority]

1st: USA
2nd: WA (Win the Australian title to grab the Senior (Perth Wheelcats NWBL) / Junior Quinella)
3rd: NSW
4th: Vic
5th: Qld
6th: Tas

[Redwhat]

So is this the new equivalent to the old Junior Nationals format? If so I'm kind of ambivalent about the name. I know the able-bodied athletes have something similar, but there's just something nostalgic in me that likes "National Junior Wheelchair".

Anyway, back on topic properly, good to see Tas back in junior bball and even better not to see my home State finish last. Love the kids we've had in recent years but iirc it's been a lean run since the days of Jace Clare.

Can anyone put up a list of who was coaching whom? Just curious to see who is involved as I have been out of the loop for a few years.

[A Higher Authority]

Even a player list per team would have been good information.
You're just getting greedy asking for the names of officials as well :???:

[Homer]

Even a player list per team would have been good information.
You're just getting greedy asking for the names of officials as well :???:
This is the best info I can find.

http://www.wsv.org.au/assets/files/APYG%202009/APYG%202009%20-%20Scores%20and%20Scores%20(End%20of%20Tournament) .pdf

[Homer]

The draw is out now for the first two days of competition at the Asia / Oceania Men's Qualifying Tournament
for the 2010 World Championships in Birmingham England being held at Dandenong Basketball Stadium.

Tuesday 13 Oct.

10.00 am Japan Vs Korea (Jpn 69 def Kor 55)
Noon Malaysia Vs China (Chi 84 def Mal 22)
6.30 pm Australia Vs Kuwait (also televised live on ABC2)
8.30 pm China Vs Japan

Wednesday 14 October

10.00 am Malaysia Vs Australia
Noon Australia Vs Japan WOMEN
4.00 pm Korea Vs China
6.30 pm Australia Vs Japan (telecast on ABC2 at 6.30pm)
8.00 pm Kuwait Vs Malaysia

[A Higher Authority]

This is the best info I can find.

http://www.wsv.org.au/assets/files/APYG%202009/APYG%202009%20-%20Scores%20and%20Scores%20(End%20of%20Tournament) .pdf

I've seen the NSW team list and will post it shortly, once I recover it from a different website.

[A Higher Authority]

The draw is out now for the first two days of competition at the Asia / Oceania Men's Qualifying Tournament
for the 2010 World Championships in Birmingham England being held at Dandenong Basketball Stadium.

Tuesday 13 Oct.

10.00 am Japan Vs Korea (Jpn 69 def Kor 55)
Noon Malaysia Vs China (Chi 84 def Mal 22)
6.30 pm Australia Vs Kuwait (also televised live on ABC2)
8.30 pm China Vs Japan

Wednesday 14 October

10.00 am Malaysia Vs Australia
Noon Australia Vs Japan WOMEN
4.00 pm Korea Vs China
6.30 pm Australia Vs Japan (telecast on ABC2 at 6.30pm)
8.00 pm Kuwait Vs Malaysia

Rollers undefeated, with a pretty ordinary win in the GF (IMO).
Japan locked up the middle and Australia seemed to struggle more than expected, then Japan got into foul trouble and it was all over.
Australia, Japan and Korea qualify for next year's World Championships.

Gliders defeated Japan 3-1 in their 4-game friendly.

[Homer]

Big week at Dandenong at the Asia/Oceania Zone Qualifying tournament for the men's wheelies.
The Aussie Rollers defeated Japan to take the #1 ranking in the draw in Birmingham, UK in '10.
The all important third qualifying position to Birmingham between Korea and the big improver China was decided in the last 20 seconds when Korea's international experience came to the fore with a two point win.
The 5v6 game was played between Malaysia and Kuwait. Until this game Kuwait had gone winless,
having lost to Malaysia in the rounds by one point.
In the final game Kuwait jumped out to an early start and at one point led by 20 points.
Never to be headed and finishing in the fifth place.
Great tournament and fun catching up with international friends I haven't seen in person for a while.

[A Higher Authority]

I've seen the NSW team list and will post it shortly, once I recover it from a different website.

http://parramatta.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=3970

The NSW Team was:
Keegan Oh-Chee
Clarence Grogan
Josh Horner
Joshua Meoli
David Moreira
Luke Pople
Colin Smith
Evan Fragiadakis
Jessica Pellow
Michael Auprince

[UserFriendlyRoll]

Congrats Rollers.

[A Higher Authority]

Possibly even more dramatic news for Sydney basketball.
Very big rumour the West Sydney Razorbacks (or Sydney Razorbacks if you prefer) and Wenty Wheelkings are losing key players for 2010.
Wollongong appear to be the biggest beneficiary of a rumoured huge off-season player move, which could ultimately see the playing rosters at the Wollongong Roller Hawks and Perth Wheelcats light years ahead of the rest of the country.
SA and Qld are already very poor due to lack of player numbers and if the Razorbacks fold and Wheelkings run a very decimated playing roster, it will do little to improve the overall player strength across the country.
Interestingly, the Australian head coach is rumoured to be instrumental in the player exodus to Wollongong.

[Homer]

Bad news if this is true regarding the Razorbacks.
The league can't afford to lose teams and they need to be evenly matched too.
We can't have a decent league if there are only 3-4 clubs playing in it.

[A Higher Authority]

Ok it's not basketball but I don't care - this was a phenomenal effort from wheelchair athlete Kurt Fearnley to conquer the Kokoda Track
http://www.bigpondsport.com/news/tabid/281/newsid/39523/fearnley-conquers-kokoda-track/default.aspx

[Homer]

Just as we didn't take advantage of the popularity of Wheelchair Basketball after the Sydney Paralympics (20K people at Homebush),
we haven't managed to take advantage of a great Asia/Oceania tournament at Dandenong.

After the Sydney Paras we had a 9 month break before the NWBL season began.
Now after the AOZ QT we have to wait until May for a National League game here.

[A Higher Authority]

Are there local comps (state based) in the meantime or not enough players to go around?

[Homer]

Are there local comps (state based) in the meantime or not enough players to go around?
Sure, there are state based competitions but I'm not sure at what level they are.
Melbourne has their local competition at Knox. 2 A Grade and 2 B Grade teams.
Pretty relaxed social type comp. If a team is short, anyone available fills in.
Victoria has their regional comps around the state throughout the year.

Not sure about Sydney, Adelaide, Brizzy and Perth

Regardless, if new spectators see the Wheelies for the first time, most love watching it.
They want to see more of a similar standard ....... our NWBL.
No one is going to watch local comp, in any state.

[Skindog the Hawk]

Sydney League has just finished up for the year, however Jackie Lauff from Basketball Australia has been quite energetic in getting some training sessions and some "come and try" days organised - Bankstown now has wheelchair basketball sessions every Saturday from 9:30am to 10:30am, however I think that this Saturday (12 December) will be the final one until 2010.

SD.

[A Higher Authority]

Nothing at all in the local papers so it's being kept very hush-hush.

Alright for those potential players who are perhaps already connected to Wheelchair Sports but chasing others or even giving it some press so the word can stretch a bit further? Guess not!

Homer's spot on - keep the wheelies hidden in the cupboard until the World's or Paralympic Games are on (and NWBL) - otherwise "Mum's the word"

[Skindog the Hawk]

Nothing at all in the local papers so it's being kept very hush-hush.

Alright for those potential players who are perhaps already connected to Wheelchair Sports but chasing others or even giving it some press so the word can stretch a bit further? Guess not!

All depends on whether the sub-editor of your local rag will give someone connected with the sport some inches about it. Having spoonfed stuff to local papers, it's not easy - you write a decent report and supply a photo and still they don't print it.

The main thing is to basically have the article written for them and ready to go. Find a good contact at your local paper and keep pumping material to them - usually they'll print it.

SD.

[A Higher Authority]

I understand the process.

I'm more concerned BA hasn't done any of the steps you suggest.

[Skindog the Hawk]

I understand the process.

I'm more concerned BA hasn't done any of the steps you suggest.

BA actually have spoonfed our local rag with some of the stuff about their promotional work here in the local area. Unfortunately the NWBL leave their individual clubs to do that in their local area.

SD.

[A Higher Authority]

If BA is doing the work on the ground (development), they should be ensuring the work is done in the media.
There are no "local" NWBL clubs in Sydney as such.
Wenty Leagues are in the middle of association districts and the Sydney Razorbacks don't have a regular base, as they jump between Bankstown and Liverpool.
Henceforth, the body with the greater media connections (BA) should be providing this service.
I don't doubt BA are smothering the Mercury with NBL or similar material - we aren't discussing that aspect of our sport - we're talking about finding and attracting 'wheelies' to basketball.

[Skindog the Hawk]

If BA is doing the work on the ground (development), they should be ensuring the work is done in the media.
There are no "local" NWBL clubs in Sydney as such.
Wenty Leagues are in the middle of association districts and the Sydney Razorbacks don't have a regular base, as they jump between Bankstown and Liverpool.

Small point here - the Razorbacks wheelchair team have been at Bankstown for several years now and I don't see them going back to Liverpool any time soon. ;)
Henceforth, the body with the greater media connections (BA) should be providing this service.
I don't doubt BA are smothering the Mercury with NBL or similar material - we aren't discussing that aspect of our sport - we're talking about finding and attracting 'wheelies' to basketball.
When I mention my local rag, I'm actually talking about the Bankstown Torch, not the Illawarra Mercury - Jackie Lauff at BA has been quite productive with some articles in their direction. FWIW Tim Keeble at the Mercury has written some good stuff about the Wollongong Rollerhawks when called on.

SD.

[A Higher Authority]

Small point back - they have also been playing at Liverpool (probably because Bankstown was full at the time).

The only news in Bankstown must be in the Express, because there hasn't been anything in the Torch.

Tim Keeble does an excellent job with all basketball in the 'Gong - no issue.

Anyway enough of our little spat - there's simply not enough being done.

[RandyOrton]

Ben Ettridge has resigned as coach of the Perth Wheelcats to concentrate on his role as coach of the Rollers and his position with Basketball Australia.

New coach to be announced in the next week or so.

[A Higher Authority]

Any predictions?

The Gliders trialed two weekends back and the team was to be announced the following Monday 18/1/10 - however still no news from BA.

[RandyOrton]

Any predictions?

The Gliders trialed two weekends back and the team was to be announced the following Monday 18/1/10 - however still no news from BA.

A Higher Authority: Maybe you missed this announcement from BA on the 29th Jan:

Gliders team named for Osaka Cup - 29.01.10 (http://www.basketball.net.au/index.php?id=302&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1111&tx_ttnews[backPid]=334&cHash=5c6f7bc2f6)

[A Higher Authority]

A Higher Authority: Maybe you missed this announcement from BA on the 29th Jan:

Gliders team named for Osaka Cup - 29.01.10 (http://www.basketball.net.au/index.php?id=302&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1111&tx_ttnews[backPid]=334&cHash=5c6f7bc2f6)

Thanks, Randy
I did see it when they sent out the news 4 days after my post.
Just can't hurry good news.

[RandyOrton]

Thanks, Randy
I did see it when they sent out the news 4 days after my post.
Just can't hurry good news.

Sorry, for some reason I thought your post was this month!

Wheelcats coach still not announced here in WA.