ANDREW MATHIESON THE EXAMINER Basketball Tasmania has placed the blame squarely on debt levels and not the working relationship for the failure of Southern Huskies to forge ahead into a second New Zealand NBL season. The Tasmanian club that was seeking to join the NBL said its dealings […]
The Advocate
185 posts
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE North-West Thunder chairman Tony Barker hopes basketball in the south of the state can rebound quickly after the shock withdrawal of the Southern Huskies and Hobart Huskies from the New Zealand NBL and NBL1 competitions. In a statement released on Friday afternoon by chief […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE Kobe Jackson will fulfill a life-long dream next week when he leaves the country to start his journey as a college basketball player. The North-West Thunder and Wynyard point guard will move on campus at North Dakota’s Minot State University and will play basketball at NCAA […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE The NBL1 All-Star team which will feature in Tasmania during the NBL Blitz will be announced next week, and at this stage it is “expected to include Tasmanian players and coaches”, the league confirmed on Wednesday. The team will play the Brisbane Bullets on night one […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE Ulverstone and Devonport stadiums have been confirmed as host venues for NBL Blitz pre-season contests next month, with three of the 10 matches that will be staged in Tasmania in this region. Ulverstone will host a double-header to open the four day visit from the national […]
ANDREW MATHIESON THE EXAMINER The worst kept secret in Australian basketball can be revealed: Tasmania will be named the home of the 10th NBL club, earmarked for as early as the 2020-21 season. “We are on that path and we hope by the end of this year we can announce […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE North-West Thunder forward Nick Banyard has been rewarded for a consistent second half of the season by being named in the top 20 nominees for the NBL1 most valuable player award. Banyard led the Thunder in points (17.8) and rebounds (9.2) per game and was second […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE It has been a whirlwind two months since Wynyard’s Tre Armstrong left the North-West Coast for the start of his college journey at Califoria Baptist University and he says he is enjoying the challenge. The sharpshooter is back in the country this week for the Lancers’ […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE Import Jordan Bowling has taken out the North-West Thunder’s most valuable player award after a thrilling count at Ulverstone on Friday night. With a number of players in contention, Bowling took out the award on 45 votes, just one clear of fellow import Nick Banyard on […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE Like any sportsperson will attest to, you can’t perform consistently in the regular season if you haven’t prepared in the pre-season. That was the reality that faced the North-West Thunder ahead of its 2019 NBL1 campaign. With the new league not officially revealed until […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE In a game that summed up their season in a nutshell, the North-West Thunder have ended their maiden NBL1 campaign on a positive note with a dramatic 103-95 victory over Waverley at Ulverstone on Saturday night. With their finals hopes on the line after […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE Finals may be out of reach, but the North-West Thunder can still make an impact on who will and who won’t continue on to next week’s NBL1 post-season when they host Waverley on Saturday night. The Falcons arrive in Tasmania for their two-game road trip in […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE The North-West Thunder’s finals hopes hang by a thread and coach Sam Armstrong says this weekend’s Victorian road trip will go a long way to deciding their fate. The Thunder sit 11th on the ladder with a 7-10 record and travel to face the Ringwood Hawks […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE Ulverstone appears to be in the box seat to host NBL Blitz games on the Coast as both of the councils associated with the region’s suitable basketball stadiums expressed interest on Wednesday in being a host venue. NBL owner and executive chairman Larry Kestelman on Tuesday […]
BRAD COLE ADVOCATE A campaign of consistent inconsistency has continued for the North-West Thunder after falling to a 86-81 loss to Kilsyth on Saturday night at Ulverstone. Sam Armstrong’s team have been unable to string consecutive wins together all year, and the trend continued against the Cobras to […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE Success for the North-West Thunder on Saturday night won’t only be judged by what the final score is in its NBL1 encounter with Kilsyth. A cause just as worthy will be staged off the court when the club holds its annual Todd Nothrop memorial […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE North-West Thunder coach Sam Armstrong is hoping the final stages of last week’s game can transfer to the start of Saturday night’s must-win NBL1 clash with Kilsyth at Ulverstone. After hanging in for long periods against Melbourne, the Thunder finally sprung to life in […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE Kai Woodfall has carried the North-West Thunder to a thrilling 90-82 overtime win over Melbourne in Friday night’s NBL1 clash in Launceston. Playing at the Elphin Sports Centre stadium he called home throughout his junior career, Woodfall sent the game into an extra five minutes […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE While finals are still a possibility, they are a long way from being front of mind for North-West Thunder coach Sam Armstrong as he tries to get his team playing a better brand of basketball. The Thunder head up to Launceston on Friday night […]
JOSH PARTRIDGE THE EXAMINER As Tasmania looks set to accomplish its NBL dream, the ball is in Launceston’s court as to whether the North remains involved. Larry Kestelman, owner and executive chairman of the NBL, has flagged his desire to buy the Derwent Entertainment Centre and Wilkinsons Point and has […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE North-West Thunder coach Sam Armstrong is set to delve deep into the inconsistency issues currently plaguing his team following Saturday night’s 74-61 loss at home to Knox. The result drops the Thunder to 15th on the 18-team NBL1 men’s ladder with a 6-9 record, and while […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE The NBL1 finals chances of the North-West Thunder hang by a thread after they crashed to a 74-61 loss to Knox at Ulverstone on Saturday night. After a loss to Geelong on the road the night before, the Thunder returned home to face the 15th-placed Raiders […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE A nightmare second quarter has helped consign the North-West Thunder to their eighth loss for the NBL1 season in their Friday night road trip to Geelong. The Thunder looked like winners when they led the third-placed Supercats by 17 points in the second period, a lead […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE A road trip of a different kind awaits an undermanned North-West Thunder this weekend as they try to stay in contention for the NBL1 finals. Sam Armstrong’s team, which sits in 11th spot with a 6-7 record, begins its journey in Geelong on Friday night with […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE Taran Armstrong and Reyne Smith have made the cut for Mark Radford’s Australian Under-17 team for the Oceania Championships. The North-West Coast duo made the final team following the weekend’s selection camp in Canberra, but there was no room in the women’s team for Sharn Hayward. […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE Mark Radford’s standing within the national basketball coaching ranks continues to be held in high regard after he was appointed as coach of the Australian under 17 boys team for the upcoming Oceania Championships. The Basketball Tasmania development manager last led a national side in 2017 […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE A vastly improved effort on defence has helped the North-West Thunder retain the title of Tasmania’s best NBL1 team in a 75-54 victory over Hobart at Ulverstone on Saturday night. Led by centre Paul Campbell, the Thunder made it two from two against their […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE It will be a case of how and not how many for North-West Thunder coach Sam Armstrong as he tries to return his side to the NBL1 winners list in Saturday night’s Tasmanian derby with Hobart. After a inspiring win over Albury Wodonga last […]
HAMISH GEALE THE ADVOCATE Tasmania is “ready” to have its own team in the NBL, says Basketball Australia chairman Ned Coten. The state has been absent from the national stage since the Hobart Tassie Devils exited the NBL in 1996, but growing participation statewide and the creation of […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE The search for a four-quarter performance continues to frustrate North-West Thunder coach Sam Armstrong after he watched his side go down 94-85 to Geelong in Saturday night’s NBL1 game at Ulverstone. While the final margin of nine points may suggest the Thunder were in contention for […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE The North-West Thunder will be looking to farewell one of its rising stars in style on Saturday night in its must-win NBL1 clash against Geelong at Ulverstone. Shooting guard Tre Armstrong will be suiting up for the final time before heading off to the US next […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE The North-West Thunder have returned home empty-handed and back in the pack of teams fighting for a NBL1 finals spot after the weekend’s road trip. Without import Nick Banyard for the second week in a row due to injury, the Thunder were no match for the […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE As his team continues to battle illness and injury, North-West Thunder coach Sam Armstrong is seeking a double dose of the effort given last week to give them a chance of a successful NBL1 road trip this weekend. The eighth-placed Thunder start their travels in Ballarat […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE North-West Thunder chairman Tony Barker has expressed some caution at the idea of the Southern Huskies playing NZNBL games on the North-West Coast, believing the idea could only be a success if both clubs were part of the planning process. Barker was responding to Huskies owner […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE With their backs against the wall and illness in the squad, the North-West Thunder have returned to the winners list in style with a 97-75 victory over Albury Wodonga in Friday night’s NBL1 clash at Ulverstone. Seeking a response after a poor showing last week, the […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE North-West Thunder coach Sam Armstrong is sweating on the fitness of big man Nick Banyard as he tries to find a way to get his team back on the NBL1 winners list against Albury Wodonga on Friday night at Ulverstone. The import, who is averaging 17.3 […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE North-West Thunder coach Sam Armstrong is sweating on the fitness of big man Nick Banyard as he tries to find a way to get his team back on the NBL1 winners list against Albury Wodonga on Friday night at Ulverstone. The import, who is averaging 17.3 […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE A collapse at both ends of the court has left North-West Thunder coach Sam Armstrong searching for answers in the wake of his team’s heavy 109-76 loss to Dandenong at Ulverstone on Saturday night. The Thunder looked set for a competitive night against the talent-laden Rangers, […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE Having only not that long ago being unsure of their future, the North-West Thunder are now more determined than ever to ensure they don’t forget their responsibilities as a good community citizen of the region. Marketing manager Michael Rowlands has embarked on the second stage of […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE The North-West Thunder are finally back home and eager to turn its Ulverstone stadium into an NBL1 fortress that opposition teams struggle to invade. After a healthy opening-round win on March 30, the Thunder have been on the road since, including a home game in Launceston, […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE North-West Thunder coach Sam Armstrong says there is work to be done after his side finished with one win and one loss in the NBL road trip. The Thunder closed their road trip with a hard-fought 100-95 victory over Eltham on Sunday. The Thunder were in […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE It’s only five games into the 2019 NBL1 season, but already the North-West Thunder have clocked up the kilometres as they look to make an impression in the new league. After starting with a home game, the Thunder have travelled to Launceston, Hobart, Bendigo and Waverley […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE There was mixed fortunes for the North-West Thunder on their NBL1 Victorian weekend of fixtures, finishing with one win and one loss from the two games. The Thunder’s win came against the Waverley Falcons on Sunday, requiring overtime to claim a 121-116 victory at the Waverley […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE Ahead of a tough two-game road trip to Victoria this weekend, North-West Thunder coach Sam Armstrong hopes that a raft of big performances from his playing group at local level can transfer to the NBL1 stage. Wednesday night’s round of NWBU games was awash with impressive […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE The North-West Thunder will head into the NBL1 Easter break on a winning note after scoring a long-awaited 102-95 win over intrastate rivals Hobart on Saturday night. After a see-sawing opening three quarters where neither side could gain a definitive edge, the Thunder trailed by one […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE For the North-West Thunder over the past two seasons, games against a team from Hobart have resulted in nothing but heartache, frustration and a blowout loss. But in 2019 it’s a new league, a new Hobart team and even a different stadium for the first […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE For the North-West Thunder over the past two seasons, games against a team from Hobart have resulted in nothing but heartache, frustration and a blowout loss. But in 2019 it’s a new league, a new Hobart team and even a different stadium for the first Tasmanian […]
ALEX FARE THE ADVOCATE The NWBU All Stars For Women’s Cancer clash on Sunday night has been declared a success by president Kim Robinson. The match between the East and the West All-Stars was described as a high quality encounter by Robinson, which was won by the West All-Stars […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE well-drilled Nunawading outfit showed there is still plenty of room in the modern game for size and experience after they dealt the North-West Thunder its first loss of the NBL1 season with a 92-79 victory in Launceston on Saturday night. After an even start, the […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE A three-point barrage from Tre Armstong has given the North-West Thunder the perfect start to its new NBL1 campaign, easily defeating the Southern Sabres 96-63 at Ulverstone on Saturday night. Armstrong was fire from beyond the arc, sinking six of eight attempts in the first half […]