As the National Basketball League prepares to tip-off the 2012 iiNet NBL Championship Finals Series this Friday night, the league has announced that the average NBL attendance at games has grown for the third straight season in a row.
Following the completion of the last of the NBLs 126 regular season games last weekend, the average crowd at NBL matches rose by 3% over the 2010/11 campaign. The average attendance at an NBL fixture this season was 4,168 people, compared to an average of 4,031 last season.
Over the past three seasons the average NBL crowd has grown each year, with a total growth of 20% in crowds across the league since the 2009/10 season. This year there were almost 20,000 more fans at iiNet NBL Championship games than there were last year, with total regular season attendance growing from 507,848 to 525,143.
Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock said the leagues growth showed a continuing positive trend for the NBL and basketball.
Its gratifying to see that the hard work that the league and the NBL clubs have put in is continuing to translate into tangible growth for our sport, said Sengstock. We have now seen our NBL attendance figures increase for three straight seasons, which means were attracting thousands more fans to our sport.
When you couple that with the 11.6 per cent rise in attendances in the WNBL this season, it provides the strongest indication yet that basketball is a healthy sport that is thriving, Sengstock added. Were also seeing significant growth in the on-line sphere as well, with traffic to nbl.com.au and our club sites up from one million unique visitors in 2009/10 to being on track to hit the 2 million mark by the end of the financial year.
We still have a great deal of hard work ahead of us but we are making steps in the right direction, and not just baby steps anymore. We have genuine cause to feel optimistic about the future of our sport.
The New Zealand Breakers led the NBL in attendance growth this season, with a massive 40% increase in average game attendance on the back of their move of some games to the larger Vector Arena. Whilst the Melbourne Tigers wont be part of the playoff action, they did still experience a 5% increase in crowds this season. Cairns and Perth also increased their attendance by 3% this season while Adelaide were up 1%.
The 2012 iiNet NBL Championship Finals Series tips-off this Friday when the New Zealand Breakers host the Townsville Crocodiles at Vector Arena. The initial release of tickets for the game sold out in approximately two hours, causing the club to do a second release of additional seats which is also expected to sell-out shortly. The game is already guaranteed of setting a new record crowd not only for a Breakers home game, but for any basketball match in New Zealand.
SBL: Lightning make another huge statement (Week 14 Men's Wrap) - Jun 18, 2013
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The Perry Lakes Hawks, Perth Redbacks and Cockburn Cougars all made a statement over Week 14 men's SBL action but none could match the dominance of the top-of-the-table Lakeside Lightning.
The weekend's action began on Friday night with Perry Lakes thumping the Luke Nevill-less Kalamunda Eastern Suns 130-80 at the WA Basketball Centre and the Willetton Tigers downing the Wanneroo Wolves 111-94 at Willetton Basketball Stadium [read more]
The Perry Lakes Hawks, Perth Redbacks and Cockburn Cougars all made a statement over Week 14 men's SBL action but none could match the dominance of the top-of-the-table Lakeside Lightning.
The weekend's action began on Friday night with Perry Lakes thumping the Luke Nevill-less Kalamunda Eastern Suns 130-80 at the WA Basketball Centre and the Willetton Tigers downing the Wanneroo Wolves 111-94 at Willetton Basketball Stadium.
The Hawks showed no signs of missing head coach Shawn Dennis who has departed to take up the job in charge of the Townsville Crocodiles in the NBL while the Tigers won a crucial battle to improve to a 10-7 beating the Wolfpack who is fighting for the same positions in the standings.
All four teams from Friday night backed up on Saturday with differing results.
Wanneroo lost its second game of the weekend going down at Joondalup Basketball Stadium to the Perth Redbacks. The Redbacks won 90-83 to improve to an 11-8 record to move up to fifth position on the ladder while the Wolfpack slipped to eighth at 9-9.
Willetton wasnt able to back up its Friday performance with the Lakeside Lightning thumping the Tigers 127-87 at Lakeside Recreation Centre. That sees Lakeside improve to 16-2 on the season and to be three games clear on top of the ladder while Willetton slips to 10-8 in sixth.
The Perry Lakes Hawks were the only team that played on Friday to back up with a win on Saturday as they won a terrific battle against the East Perth Eagles.
The Hawks prevailed 82-77 at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre to consolidate second spot at 13-5 with a two-game gap now on the 11-7 Eagles.
The Suns slipped to a 3-15 record to remain anchored to the bottom with the Rockingham Flames going to Ray Owen Sports Centre and coming away with a 120-100 victory.
Other Saturday games saw the Geraldton Buccaneers beat the Goldfields Giants 109-83 at Neils Hansen Basketball Stadium. The win improves the fourth-placed Buccaneers to an 11-7 record while the Giants are out of the mix at 5-13.
The defending champion Cockburn Cougars continue to build some momentum for the first time this season having now won three straight matches following Saturday's 122-86 win over the South West Slammers at Wally Hagan Stadium.
The other match saw the Stirling Senators down the Mandurah Magic 98-89 at Warwick Leisure Centre.
There were some impressive individual displays over the weekend starting on Friday with Adrian Majstrovich finishing with 30 points and 13 rebounds for Perry Lakes.
Quinn McDowell (198-G/F, college: William & Mary) had 28 points, nine rebounds and six assists for Willetton and Trian Iliadis worked tirelessly for the Wolves with 28 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Then on Saturday, Ben Beran top-scored for Lakeside with 26 points with Jarrad Prue scoring 16 to go with a massive 28 rebounds and 10 assists.
Michael Lay hit 23 points and pulled in 10 rebounds for the Hawks, Michael Vigor led the way for the Redbacks with 25 points and eight rebounds, Damian Matacz scored 24 points and had nine rebounds for Wanneroo with Cory Cooperwood hitting 33 points and pulling in 15 rebounds to go with six assists, five steals and three blocks for the Senators.
Cooper Land scored 30 points for Rockingham and Ben Smith 34 for Kalamunda. Daniel Thomas finished with 32 points and six assists for the Buccaneers on the back of 6-of-8 shooting from three-point territory. Rob Kampman also had 28 points and 10 rebounds for Geraldton.
Article by Chris Pike Courtesy of: http://www.sbl.asn.au
The Bank of Queensland Redbacks mens State Basketball League team had an important away-game 90 to 83 win over the sixth-placed Wanneroo Wolves.
The game was a tight affair throughout with the lead changing on nine occasions and the largest gap between the two teams being just eight points.
The Redbacks overcame a three-point deficit at end of the third quarter to secure the win with a dominant 27 to 17 last quarter [read more]
The Bank of Queensland Redbacks mens State Basketball League team had an important away-game 90 to 83 win over the sixth-placed Wanneroo Wolves.
The game was a tight affair throughout with the lead changing on nine occasions and the largest gap between the two teams being just eight points.
The Redbacks overcame a three-point deficit at end of the third quarter to secure the win with a dominant 27 to 17 last quarter.
This win, combined with other results in the league, has seen the Redbacks men catapult from eighth to fifth place in the 14-team competition with a season record of 11 wins and eight losses.
Power-forward Michael Vigor (205-F/C-90) top-scored for the Redbacks with 25 along with eight rebounds and two assists.
Swing-man Bennie Lewis was their next highest scorer with 20 and 7 rebounds.
The Bank of Queensland Redbacks womens team lost 40 to 53 to the top-placed Wolves.
Centre Marita Payne continued her season-long strong form scoring 17 while bring down 15 rebounds, blocking three shots and making two assists.
19-year-old point-guard Gabby OSullivan took over her new role as primary point-guard and played gallantly in scoring eight points and making two assists.
The Redbacks womens team now has six wins and 10 losses and are in 10th place in the 12-team competition.
The Redbacks mens team has a vital game this Saturday when they take on the third-placed East Perth Eagles, who are on the same win-loss record, in a home-game at the Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre tipping-off being at 8PM.
This is preceded by the womens game between the Redbacks and the bottom-placed Eagles, which tips off at 6PM.
Article by Redbacks Media Courtesy of: http://www.sbl.asn.au
It seems a one-week break was a blessing in disguise for Melbourne and Sherbrooke with the competitions two bottom teams returning to action with wins in round 12.
SCM ROUND UP
ROUND 12
Sherbrooke showed some fight in round 12, claiming their first win in seven games and just their second victory of the season. On the end of the rising Suns was a hapless Werri-bee, who no doubt will feel this one got away from them at a time when a win was an absolute must [read more]
It seems a one-week break was a blessing in disguise for Melbourne and Sherbrooke with the competitions two bottom teams returning to action with wins in round 12. SCM ROUND UP ROUND 12 Sherbrooke showed some fight in round 12, claiming their first win in seven games and just their second victory of the season. On the end of the rising Suns was a hapless Werri-bee, who no doubt will feel this one got away from them at a time when a win was an absolute must. After a close first half the Suns edged clear in the third quarter, before man-aging to hold on in the closing stages. Best for the victorious home team included Josh Smith (17pts), David Moore (12pts, 11rbs) and Bryan Moore (196-F, college: Assumption) (14pts), while for the Devils it was up to Jordan Hughes (22pts, 11rbs) and Muka Jack Sil-ver (16pts) to keep things rolling along. Hopefully we contin-ue to see improvement and more wins coming from the Suns, meanwhile you can be assured a desperate Devils outfit will bounce back hard next round. Despite a 32-15 start against Eltham, it wasnt long before Bulleen felt some pressure after the visiting Wildcats closed things up with a 30-19 second quarter, ensuring a close game early in the third term. Good teams find a way to win and it didnt take long for the Boomers to find their funk, pushing clear for a win with a 46-26 second half. Adrien Sturt (24pts), Corey Standerfer (201-PF, college: York, NB) (19pts) and Mike Rose (18pts) all looked good for Bulleen, while the visitors were best served by James Malvaso (18pts), John Lister (16pts) and David Buchberger (15pts). Hume City missed three long bombs in the last minute of ac-tion against Melbourne in what turned out to be a thrilling 68-65 win for the Tigers, marking their first win in six games. De-spite a slow start (7-20) and then an 11pt deficit at the last break, the Tigers stormed home with a 23-9 last quarter. Rob-ert Stone (24pts) and Jack Gaze (20pts) did the damage for the Tigers, while on a sombre night it was Elliot Carr (17pts) and Alex Bogart-King (13pts) leading the way. www.bigv.com.au Corio Bay wasted little time bouncing back from a last-round loss and certainly took Diamond Valley to task with a 119-90 win. In an open game, the Stingrays overcame a 21-28 first quarter to pile on 31-15, 28-18 and 39-29 over the next three quarters. Eric Williams (30pts), MaAlo Hicks (16pts, 13rbs), Paul Hutchison (15pts) and Jason Reardon (10pts, 15rbs, 8ass) led the way for the home team in a win that featured seven Stingrays hitting double figures. The visiting Eagles werent disgraced, but they will have walked away concerned by letting in 119pts, far too much regard-less of what you are capable of putting away down the other end. Matt Fennell (28pts) did his bit in this one for the Eagles, while Luke Valentine (14pts) was the only other DV player in double digits. Ringwoods giant-killing form continued with a 105-93 win over Waverley, the result marking the Hawks sev-enth straight win and pushing them up to third on the ladder, while Waverley have now lost two of their last three games and sit in fifth place. This was a pulsating game Ringwood led by 10pts at quarter-time, scores were level at half-time, Ringwood jumped to 19pt lead at the last break, before withstanding another Waver-ley fight-back to win by 12pts. Sam Belt returned from holidays with 23pts, Matt Snowball (12pts, 11ass) looked sharp, Bryan Dougher netted 21pts with Willie Weimer (17pts) and Shaun Clarke (17pts) both deliver-ing good numbers as well. Waverley needed Brad Kelleher (24pts), Ivan Platenik (19pts) and Sedale Threatt (16pts) to provide plenty of drive, but the next best scorer was Chris Arkell back on 9pts. ROUND 12 RESULTS Sherbrooke 86 defeated Werribee 82 Corio Bay 119 defeated Diamond Valley 90 Bulleen 97 defeated Eltham 71 Ringwood 105 defeated Waverley 93 Melbourne 68 defeated Hume City 65 Jamal Brown and Jermaine Maybank were collectively held to just 15pts against Melbourne, a telling factor in the Bron-cos upset loss to the Tigers. Make no mistake, Ringwoods champion-ship-defending season is in full swing and after seven straight wins they look the goods. Wins over Corio Bay (34pts) and Waverley (12pts) in successive weeks have been all class. Courtesy of: http://www.bigv.com.au
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