Chargers’ eyes on prize

WINNING the SEABL championship would be just reward for the Hobart Chargers, says president David Bartlett, and a packed house at the Derwent Entertainment Centre is likely to see them get there.

Bartlett said coach Anthony Stewart had done amazing things with the Chargers this season and nothing short of the title would be fitting.

“I have absolute faith in the great work that Anthony Stewart has done as head coach, not only on the court but out in the community with thousands of young Tasmanians and inspiring them to play basketball,” Bartlett said.

“It would be just reward for Anthony and this great team that we have put together to go on and win the grand final and I’m hoping they have that joy and get that privilege.”

Tickets to the Chargers’ SEABL semi-final at the DEC next week are selling fast. At the close of business yesterday, almost 2000 had been sold and hopes were high of a sellout.

“We sold 1000 tickets in the first three hours,” Bartlett said. “This is going to be the biggest game of basketball in Tasmania since the Devils days.

“Wouldn’t it be a magnificent sight to have 3000 or 4000 Tasmanians cheering on a Chargers outfit charging toward a grand final. That would fill me with great pride.”

The popularity of basketball in Tasmania right now is almost unprecedented.

“There is a great confluence of events going on at the moment,” Bartlett said.

“There’s a lot of talk about Australians trying out in the NBA, there’s a lot of pre-season hype about NBL, and the Southern Huskies have launched their brand and started to engage with people. All of those things have come together at the right time.” THE position of Hobart Chargers women’s coach Dwain Davie is up for review.

“Dwain has done an outstanding job this year,” Bartlett said. “On paper, that team was definitely championship material. Sadly through an extraordinary run of injuries we dropped too many games in the first half of the season to make up for in the second half.”