All pumps primed for hoops
HOBART’S premier basketball competition tips off on Wednesday night with a brand new format starting at the premier level that will flow all the way down to the under-age competitions.
In partnership with Basketball Tasmania, the Hobart Chargers have introduced representative action to junior basketball in Hobart.
The five associations — Hobart Phoenix, Clarence United, Glenorchy Spartans, Kingborough-Huon Kings and Southern Wolves — will all have representative teams in all age groups from under-12 right up to the premier men’s and women’s teams.
With none of the Hobart Chargers imports playing on the North West Coast in 2018, Wednesday night’s games should see all the talent on the floor at Kingborough Sports Centre, fully charged and ready to take the Hobart competitions to the next level.
Basketball fans will not only have the opportunity to see favourites such as Kathleen Scheer and Mathiang Muo strutting their stuff, but added to that will be the excitement machine Tre Nichols and NBL star Craig Moller in the men’s competition.
Britney Smart and Klara Wischer will add class to the women’s action, and there will be plenty of highlights.
The Hobart Chargers’ investment in the development of local players also ensures the competition will be sprinkled with exciting young players, all not only representing their associations but trying to impress head coaches Anthony Stewart and Dwain Davie to lay claim to the hotly contested SEABL court minutes with the Chargers.
MEN 2017 Champions Hobart Phoenix 2017 Runners Up Southern Wolves
The defending premier’s only loss of personnel in the off-season was Dwain Davie, who is out with a shoulder issue for at least 10 rounds. With Lochie Boucher returning from Southern Wolves, Davie’s loss is easily covered. Robbie Inches, Jordan Hargrave and Joel Davie round out the local content, while Chargers import Craig Moller will complete the starting five. Hobart will again be hard to topple in 2018.
Prediction 1st Last season’s beaten grand finalists have lost the majority of their core players over the break, with only BJ Radcliffe returning from last season’s line-up.
Joining Radcliffe this year will be Jaylen Howard, former rising star Bane Sheppard, former Chargers import Cam Bennerman, and veteran Wellington player Drew Schulz will round out the five.
The key to any Wolves success will be Howard and Bennerman playing out the whole season.
Prediction 4th Without an import in 2018, the Cubs will find the going tough. Young Chargers Matt Young and Jacob Richards will need to play inside more than 2017. The good news is Sam Youl returns after last year’s knee injury to add punch to the Clarence back court.
Depth will be a problem this year for Clarence, but it will give coach Nathan Brereton a great opportunity to bring some young guys into the fold. Prediction 5th
The loss of Jarryd Moss at the point would have hit the Kings hard, but adding Chargers dynamo Tre Nichols will more than cover Moss’s absence. Lucas Simpson will join Greg Dolliver to make the paint the most dangerous place to be against the Kings. Elijah Pawson continues to impress and will no doubt learn from playing alongside Nichols.
Prediction 2nd
GLENORCHY SPARTANS
Last year’s wooden spooners were more competitive than the ladder suggested, with the side often beaten by under 10 points. The Spartans will add Mathiang Muo to the lineup, but the big question will be are there enough shots to go around? Tiri Masunda and Jack Stanwix are two of the deadliest shooters in the league, meaning Muo will need to give the Spartans grunt inside, or they will live and die by the outside shot. If coach Brennan Stanwix can make the combinations work, the Spartans will win more games than they lose in 2018.
Prediction 3rd
WOMEN 2017 Champions Clarence United 2017 Runners Up Hobart Phoenix CLARENCE UNITED
The 2017 grand final was a crowning achievement for both the players and the coach, and the challenge will be to ensure the 2018 season is not a let-down for the Cubs girls.
With Jossie Greenwood ever improving and the addition of young Charger Sarah Marston, coach Chris Somerville is going to have to find a way to get more consistent minutes from his younger players.
Prediction 3rd
HOBART PHOENIX
With six players in the Chargers mix, including the addition of Klara Wischer, Hobart appears certain to have its best chance of breaking its premiership hoodoo. New 2018 coach Adrian Giusti has the deepest talent pool in the competition and should be finally able to complete the job. Kylie McCauley is reinvigorated and Sharna Thompson gets better with age.
Prediction 1st
KINGBOROUGH-HUON KINGS
The biggest issue 2018 coach Dave Griffiths faces is a lack of depth at senior level. With Kathleen Scheer returning, only youngster Taya Stephenson and veteran Tamara Downie are there as experienced support players. Kingston’s lack of depth in younger levels will hurt its program this year. Griffiths will need to work hard to keep the Kings from falling down the ladder.
Prediction 4th
SOUTHERN WOLVES
Alex Finlayson is going around again, and Tornadoes player Ellie Collins will join the outfit. As in 2017 the depth is again questionable, and if Collins and Finlayson miss too many games the wins will be few and far between for this team.
Prediction 5th
GLENORCHY SPARTANS
With 2017 being the Spartans’ first year in the women’s competition, their depth was non-existent. However 2018 coach Justin Muskett has a much better squad to work with and improvement is expected. Chargers superstar Britney Smart will headline the show, and with the addition of Hobart Phoenix veteran Kate Berry and young North West star Sarah O’Neill, the Spartans look like they could threaten the ability of Hobart Phoenix to grab the crown.
Prediction 2nd