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 […]
The Advocate
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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 […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE Anyone who has watched an NBA All-Star game in recent years knows that it is not so much a game, but a glorified three-point and slam-dunk contest run over 48 minutes that involves players who are avoiding any contact like the plague. Basketball lovers like myself […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE North-West Thunder coach Sam Armstrong said the team will need to tighten up their game plan for the NBL1 season after their victory over the NWBU All-Stars in a practice game at Penguin. The Thunder broke the game open after half-time as the All-Stars […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE North-West Thunder chairman Tony Barker is excited about the exposure his club could possibly receive this year after it was announced that Basketball Victoria had partnered with the National Basketball League to create NBL1. Video on NBL1 website But after months of fine-tuning, NBL1 […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE The continued rise of Australian basketball on the world stage has helped lure the North-West Thunder’s two latest imports to our shores. Nick Banyard and Jordan Bowling both have aspirations of playing in the ever-growing National Basketball League and see a move to Tasmania as the ideal […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE The North West Thunder have finished their recruitment process for the 2019 season with the signing of New South Wales point guard Lachlan Dent. The 18-year-old will come to the Thunder with an impressive resume of state and national junior representation including appearances at the 2015 FIBA Under 16 […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE Basketball Tasmania has announced the state teams for the 2019 Under 20 and Ivor Burge National Championships at the Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Canberra. The under 20 men will be looking to improve on a seventh place finish in 2018 and have named 10-man squad […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE The North-West Thunder have completed their off-season import search ahead of the 2019 Victorian Elite League roster, signing American small forward Jordan Bowling. Standing at 198 centimetres, the 24-year-old is the second import secured by the club in as many days after securing the services of power forward Nick […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE The first piece of the import puzzle is complete for the North-West Thunder in 2019, with the club signing American forward Nick Banyard for the upcoming venture into the Victorian Elite League. Thunder coach Sam Armstrong hopes the 24-year-old Texan, who stands at 203 centimetres and […]
ANDREW MATHIESON THE SUNDAY EXAMINER The future of the Hobart Chargers appears to be in further limbo following an extraordinary board meeting on Saturday morning. The current SEABL men’s champions are reconsidering its position to withdrawal an application to play in the new elite Victorian-based league. The club board announced last Friday […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE It is business as usual according to North-West Thunder chairman Tony Barker after a dramatic day in Tasmanian basketball that has seen the Hobart pull out of the newly established Basketball Victoria Elite League. The Chargers, who took out the 2018 SEABL men’s title, decided to […]
Southern Huskies coach Anthony Stewart confirmed there would only one player to feature in the inaugural campaign in New Zealand’s Sal’s NBL. The Southern Huskies announced the Burnie-raised former Hobart Chargers coach Anthony Stewart as the team’s coach and Burnie’s Mason Bragg as one of two players signing on Wednesday. Stewart said although […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE The list of players leaving the North-West Thunder has grown, with coach Sam Armstrong confirming Mason Bragg had departed the club to “explore other opportunities” in his quest to return to the NBL. Also on the way out is Lachlan Barker, who Armstrong said would be […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE A meeting early next month is expected to play a key role in hopefully helping the North-West Thunder solve their Victorian Elite League double-header problems. Basketball Tasmania chief executive Chris McCoy on Thursday said the meeting in Melbourne involving his organisation on the first weekend of December […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE North-West Tall Timbers Thunder chairman Tony Barker has confirmed his side has applied to be part of Basketball Victoria’s “elite” competition, but said there was still much to learn before deciding whether it would take the plunge into the new league. This is despite the fact that the […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE The Tall Timbers North-West Thunder have a pulse, but there is still some way to go before guaranteeing the club’s future into 2019. Chairman Tony Barker confirmed on Friday that his club, as well as Tasmania’s other now former SEABL outfits Hobart Chargers and Launceston Toarnados, had been […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE The future of the North West Thunder and the two other Tasmanian SEABL clubs will be decided on Friday with the Basketball Australia board holding a meeting to make a final decision on the SEABL. Basketball Australia announced their decision to withdraw its management of the league after […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE North West Thunder and Somerset guard Lachlan Barker is making an impression at the Sydney Kings in the National Basketball League, selected in the 12-man squad for their opening round 94-83 loss to the Adelaide 36ers. Barker did not get any game time in the loss, joining […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE Basketball Tasmania CEO Chris McCoy can see plenty of light at the end of the tunnel for Tasmania’s three SEABL clubs after Basketball Australia’s announcement that it was withdrawing its support of the league. With the chances of the SEABL not even being around […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE The North-West Thunder, along with Tasmania’s two other SEABL clubs, look set to for a change of scenery after Basketball Australia’s decision to withdraw its management of the league after the 2019 season. Clubs were reportedly left blindsided by the decision, which was dropped on them at […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE North-West Thunder and Wynyard guard Tre Armstrong says the opportunity to represent Australia has given him confidence to chase loftier basketball goals. Armstrong came off the bench and played the shooting guard and small forward positions for the duration of the FIBA Under 18 Asian Championship, […]
THE ADVOCATE The North West Tall Timbers Thunder have opened up applications for their head coach for next year and have asked Sam Armstrong to reapply. As chairman Tony Barker told The Advocate this week, it is club protocol to advertise the position. “(But) I’d be rapt if we could Sam back in that role […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE NWBU women’s coaches Tony Webb and Shane Hayward believe the reintroduction of a North-West Thunder women’s program needs consideration to assist the development of female basketball in the region further. The Thunder has been a men’s only program for 10 seasons now after the women’s team folded at […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE North-West Tall Timbers Thunder chairman Tony Barker says he is “cautiously optimistic” about the plans of those behind Tasmania’s NBL bid’s plans for his club and region. Southern Huskies consortium bid spokesman David Bartlett last week told The Advocate he envisaged the Thunder as being an official feeder side […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE There was no miracle return to form for the North-West Tall Timbers Thunder as they crashed out of the SEABL finals with a 96-74 loss to Geelong in Saturday night’s elimination final. It was always going to be a difficult task for the Thunder after falling […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE North-West Tall Timbers Thunder captain Jeremiah Ingram is confident his spluttering team can get rolling again in preparation for Saturday night’s SEABL elimination final. The eighth-placed Thunder, who finished the season losing three out their last four games, head interstate to face Geelong, a team that stormed home with […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE The North-West Coast is firmly in the view of those behind Tasmania’s proposed NBL team Southern Huskies, with consortium spokesman David Bartlett labelling the region as the “home of basketball” in the state. While the prospect of the side playing regular season matches on the Coast is out […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE A season that looked set to finish on a sour note for the North-West Tall Timbers Thunder has been given a lifeline to see them claim the last spot in the SEABL finals. Sandringham’s 85-71 win over Mount Gambier on Saturday night, which saw the Sabres produce a stunning 26-10 […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE The finals hopes of the North-West Tall Timbers Thunder now officially hang on the fortunes of others after crashing to a heavy 104-63 defeat at the hands of Tasmanian rivals Hobart on Friday night. The result leaves the Thunder awaiting the result of Saturday’s game between Mount Gambier […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE Coach Sam Armstrong says defence will be key for the North-West Tall Timbers Thunder as they fight for their 2018 SEABL life against the Hobart Chargers on Friday. Armstrong is well aware of their intrastate rival’s potency, with Tre Nichols and Craig Moller in the top three scorers […]
Faced with an opportunity to seal their finals destiny, the North-West Tall Timbers Thunder will instead have to defeat its bogey side in the final round after a disappointing 95-91 loss to Diamond Valley in Devonport on Saturday night. Following a set of favourable results in the penultimate round’s other games, a victory to the Thunder […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE Supreme play from point guard Mason Bragg made sure the North-West Tall Timbers Thunder were able to split their SEABL round 13 Victorian road trip to keep their finals hopes alive. The Thunder opened their back-to-back games with a narrow 79-73 loss at the hands of the Bendigo […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE The North West Tall Timbers Thunder face their toughest test of their season with a road trip double-header against Bendigo Braves and the Melbourne Tigers in SEABL round 13 action this weekend. The eighth-placed Thunder start the weekend against the sixth-placed Braves on Saturday night, followed by the […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE A dream come true is the way Tre Armstrong has described his selection for the Australian Emus for the Under 18 Asian Championships in Bangkok next month. “This is a huge step for me hopefully towards bigger things and something that I have really dreamt about as a […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE The North-West Tall Timbers Thunder have put aside a first-quarter horror show to keep their SEABL finals chances alive with an 84-73 victory over Dandenong at Ulverstone on Saturday night. Needing a win to keep to get their season back on track and potentially return to the top […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE On a SEABL ladder which has reached a significant logjam, North-West Tall Timbers Thunder coach Sam Armstrong is only interested in the column that contains the amount of wins his team has. Currently sitting at 8-7 with five games remaining, the Thunder are looking to rebound from […]
ARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE North-West Tall Timbers Thunder coach Sam Armstrong said his team was outplayed in back-to-back games in their round 11 SEABL road trip against the Sandringham Sabres and Nunawading Spectres The Thunder opened their weekend with a 97-92 loss against the Sabres at the Sandringham […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE It’s not quite season-defining, but North-West Tall Timbers Thunder assistant coach Nick Haywood is acutely aware of the importance of this weekend’s pair of games. The Thunder set off on just their second two-game road trip in 2018, heading to Sandringham on Saturday night before […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE The North-West Tall Timbers Thunder are still searching for answers after the final stages of Saturday night’s thrilling victory against Melbourne at Ulverstone were marred by an incident involving a laser beam from a member of the crowd. With his team trailing by one point, Tigers guard Billy […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE North-West Thunder defeat Melbourne Tigers in SEABL match A stirring last-quarter comeback has given the North-West Tall Timbers Thunder a memorable 94-92 win over Melbourne in Saturday night’s SEABL game at Ulverstone. After hanging tough with the hot-shooting Tigers and gaining a three-point advantage midway through the […]
REBECCA MORRIS THE ADVOCATE North-West Tall Timbers Thunder will take on the Melbourne Tigers in the annual Todd Nothrop memorial fundraising match. Chairman Tony Barker said the match would be a great chance to remember someone who gave so much to the local basketball community. “His family is still very […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE A refreshed North West Tall Timbers Thunder side welcome the Melbourne Tigers to Ulverstone Sports and Leisure Centre for round 10 SEABL action on Saturday night. The Thunder entered the break sitting with a 7-5 record sitting in eighth place with eight more games in the regular season. […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE North West Tall Timbers Thunder and Wynyard guard Tre Armstrong is one step away from representing Australia after being selected for the Emus selection camp ahead of the FIBA Under 18 Asian Championships. Armstrong was the only Tasmanian chosen in the squad of 15 and will head to Basketball […]
ALEX FAIR THE ADVOCATE North-West Tall Timbers Thunder coach Sam Armstrong has praised the mental strength of his troops following Saturday night’s one-point triumph against Canberra in the nation’s capital. The Thunder collected a 67-66 over the win-less Gunners at Belconnen Basketball Stadium, one highlighted by an improved defensive effort after quarter-time […]
JARRYD MCGUANE THE ADVOCATE North West Tall Timbers Thunder coach Sam Armstrong says his side will not underestimate the winless Canberra Gunners in the round 9 SEABL clash on Saturday night. The Thunder travel to Belconnen Basketball Stadium with a 5-5 record to sit just outside the top eight, while the […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE Just when the North-West Tall Timbers Thunder looked like they had developed into a consistent team capable of beating the SEABL big boys, problems of old appear to have resurfaced at a crucial time of the season. That was the wash-up from the 92-78 loss to Ballarat on […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE It will be all hands on deck for the North-West Tall Timbers Thunder at Ulverstone on Saturday night as they face their hardest test of the year against Ballarat. Currently sitting in ninth place on the SEABL ladder with a 5-4 record, Thunder coach Sam Armstong […]
BRAD COLE (@BJCole10) THE ADVOCATE Mason Bragg says his time at this week’s NBL Next Gen Camp was a confidence-boosting experience as he looks to get himself back on a NBL roster. The 24-year-old from Burnie spent Monday and Tuesday showing the eight NBL coaches what he can do on […]
BRAD COLE THE ADVOCATE The North-West Tall Timbers Thunder have received a boost in their attempts to qualify for SEABL finals, receiving a win on forfeit against Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence. The COE players are heading to Italy to play in a NBA Global Camp Europe event from […]