Central Australian Basketball League
Encyclopedia
The Central Australian Basketball League (Central ABL) is the South Australia
n conference of the Australian Basketball Association
(ABA). The Central ABL is used as a development league for the Adelaide
teams competing in the NBL
and the Women's National Basketball League
.
The winner of the CABL plays off against the winners of the other ABA conferences at the Australian Basketball Club Champions Finals. No team from the Central ABL has ever won a national final.
with 16 teams competing.
After World War II
, basketball
resumed at the O.B.I. in the city, and suburban drill halls, with 27 teams. In the 36 times the Australian Championships was held between 1946 and 1984, South Australia
won 14 titles and finished second another 13 times. The Australian Women's Championship first was held in 1955 and was held 29 times until it too was discontinued in 1984. South Australia won the title 14 times and finished second another 11 times.
In 1951, the District Association was formed and in 1953 the Forestville
Stadium, with one court, was built, then the first of its kind in Australia
. By 1954, there were 57 teams competing in all grades in the District Association.
In 1956 a second court was built at Forestville
and in 1958, a third.
The Association continued to grow at a rapid rate and in 1961, Bowden Stadium was built with two courts. In 1963, a third court was built at Bowden
.
By 1964, 350 teams were competing in all grades of the Association and further expansion was needed to house all the teams wanting to play. So, in 1965 the first court was built at Marion with a second added in 1966.
As the Association grew, a landmark in Australian and South Australian basketball came about in 1969 when the Apollo Entertainment Centre was built. It had one court and the capacity to seat 3,000 people and became the home for basketball in South Australia providing offices for the administration of the B.A.S.A. It was a beginning for many more buildings to come until the major boom for basketball occurred in the 1980s with the formation of the National Basketball League
in 1979.
Meanwhile, the Basketball Association of South Australia continued to grow and expand. In 1971, two courts were built at Hillcrest
. In 1975, two more courts were built at Colonel Light Gardens and in 1976, two were built at Morphett Vale. A third court was added in 1985 and a fourth five years later.
In 1980, Barry Richardson was installed as General Manager of the Association and he consolidated the Associations assets and continued its growth.
1985 marked the formation of the Adelaide 36ers
as the one team representing South Australia
in the National Basketball League
. This sparked a tremendous upsurge in the involvement and interest of both the public and media in the State.
In 1986, the Association expanded even further with the addition of the Woodlands Sporting Complex at Athol Park, housing four basketball courts and both indoor and outdoor tennis
courts. The year also was memorable for the Adelaide West End 36ers winning the National Basketball League
championship for the first time.
The State Basketball League and the Netball
Association had begun consistently to attract sell-out crowds to their grand finals at the Apollo, setting the scene for a feasibility study into the development of a multi-sports complex.
The Adelaide Arena was opened on Thursday, December 19, 1991 at a cost of $16 million with the capacity to revert to a three-court international-standard facility. It is the finest basketball complex in Australia.
In 1998 the State Basketball League joined the expanding Australian Basketball Association
as the Central Australian Basketball League Conference.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n conference of the Australian Basketball Association
Australian Basketball Association
The Australian Basketball Association, often abbreviated to the ABA, is the second-tiered semi-professional men's and women's basketball minor leagues in Australia which sit under the professional National Basketball League and Women's National Basketball League .The ABA is representative of the...
(ABA). The Central ABL is used as a development league for the Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
teams competing in the NBL
National Basketball League (Australia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
and the Women's National Basketball League
Women's National Basketball League
The Women's National Basketball League is the pre-eminent women's professional basketball league in Australia. It currently is composed of ten teams. The league was founded in 1981 and is the women's counterpart to the National Basketball League...
.
The winner of the CABL plays off against the winners of the other ABA conferences at the Australian Basketball Club Champions Finals. No team from the Central ABL has ever won a national final.
History
The South Australian Metropolitan Basketball Association was founded in 1936. All games were played at Duncan Buildings, Franklin Street, AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
with 16 teams competing.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
resumed at the O.B.I. in the city, and suburban drill halls, with 27 teams. In the 36 times the Australian Championships was held between 1946 and 1984, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
won 14 titles and finished second another 13 times. The Australian Women's Championship first was held in 1955 and was held 29 times until it too was discontinued in 1984. South Australia won the title 14 times and finished second another 11 times.
In 1951, the District Association was formed and in 1953 the Forestville
Forestville
Forestville is the name of several places:In the United States:* Forestville, California* Forestville, Connecticut, the southeastern portion of Bristol, Connecticut* Forestville, Maryland* Forestville, Michigan* Forestville, Minnesota...
Stadium, with one court, was built, then the first of its kind in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. By 1954, there were 57 teams competing in all grades in the District Association.
In 1956 a second court was built at Forestville
Forestville
Forestville is the name of several places:In the United States:* Forestville, California* Forestville, Connecticut, the southeastern portion of Bristol, Connecticut* Forestville, Maryland* Forestville, Michigan* Forestville, Minnesota...
and in 1958, a third.
The Association continued to grow at a rapid rate and in 1961, Bowden Stadium was built with two courts. In 1963, a third court was built at Bowden
Bowden
-Places:Australia:* Bowden Island, one of the Family Islands in Queensland, Australia* Bowden, South Australia, a northwestern suburb of Adelaide, Australia** Bowden railway stationCanada:* Bowden, Alberta, a town in central Alberta, CanadaEngland:...
.
By 1964, 350 teams were competing in all grades of the Association and further expansion was needed to house all the teams wanting to play. So, in 1965 the first court was built at Marion with a second added in 1966.
As the Association grew, a landmark in Australian and South Australian basketball came about in 1969 when the Apollo Entertainment Centre was built. It had one court and the capacity to seat 3,000 people and became the home for basketball in South Australia providing offices for the administration of the B.A.S.A. It was a beginning for many more buildings to come until the major boom for basketball occurred in the 1980s with the formation of the National Basketball League
National Basketball League (Australia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
in 1979.
Meanwhile, the Basketball Association of South Australia continued to grow and expand. In 1971, two courts were built at Hillcrest
Hillcrest, Queensland
Hillcrest is a suburb of Logan City, Queensland, Australia.Hillcrest lies to the west of Browns Plains and was originally part of that suburb. It is bounded by Johnson Road, Mount Lindesay Highway, the interstate railway and Coronation Road to the south. It was gazetted as a place name in June 1987...
. In 1975, two more courts were built at Colonel Light Gardens and in 1976, two were built at Morphett Vale. A third court was added in 1985 and a fourth five years later.
In 1980, Barry Richardson was installed as General Manager of the Association and he consolidated the Associations assets and continued its growth.
1985 marked the formation of the Adelaide 36ers
Adelaide 36ers
The Adelaide 36ers are Adelaide's men's professional basketball team, established as the Adelaide City Eagles when they joined the National Basketball League in 1982. The Adelaide 36ers tally of four championships is equal with the Melbourne Tigers and second behind the Perth Wildcats as the most...
as the one team representing South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in the National Basketball League
National Basketball League (Australia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
. This sparked a tremendous upsurge in the involvement and interest of both the public and media in the State.
In 1986, the Association expanded even further with the addition of the Woodlands Sporting Complex at Athol Park, housing four basketball courts and both indoor and outdoor tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
courts. The year also was memorable for the Adelaide West End 36ers winning the National Basketball League
National Basketball League (Australia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
championship for the first time.
The State Basketball League and the Netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
Association had begun consistently to attract sell-out crowds to their grand finals at the Apollo, setting the scene for a feasibility study into the development of a multi-sports complex.
The Adelaide Arena was opened on Thursday, December 19, 1991 at a cost of $16 million with the capacity to revert to a three-court international-standard facility. It is the finest basketball complex in Australia.
In 1998 the State Basketball League joined the expanding Australian Basketball Association
Australian Basketball Association
The Australian Basketball Association, often abbreviated to the ABA, is the second-tiered semi-professional men's and women's basketball minor leagues in Australia which sit under the professional National Basketball League and Women's National Basketball League .The ABA is representative of the...
as the Central Australian Basketball League Conference.
Current Teams
- Central District Lions
- Eastern Mavericks
- Forestville Eagles
- North Adelaide Rockets
- Norwood Flames
- South Adelaide PanthersSouth Adelaide Basketball ClubSouth Adelaide Basketball Club was formed in 1948. It was one of the founding clubs of basketball in South Australia. The club has had much success with both Senior & Junior teams...
- Southern Tigers
- Sturt Sabres
- West Adelaide BearcatsWest Adelaide BearcatsThe West Adelaide Bearcats are a semi-professional basketball team competing in the Australian Basketball Association.-NBL:The West Adelaide Bearcats was a foundation club in the NBL which merged with the Adelaide 36ers in 1985. Founded in 1946, it won the NBL championship 80–74 against the Geelong...
- Woodville Warriors
Past winners
| Year | Men | Women |
| 1986 | Sturt Sabres | Norlunga City Tigers |
| 1987 | South Adelaide Panthers | West Adelaide Bearcats West Adelaide Bearcats The West Adelaide Bearcats are a semi-professional basketball team competing in the Australian Basketball Association.-NBL:The West Adelaide Bearcats was a foundation club in the NBL which merged with the Adelaide 36ers in 1985. Founded in 1946, it won the NBL championship 80–74 against the Geelong... |
| 1988 | West Adelaide Bearcats West Adelaide Bearcats The West Adelaide Bearcats are a semi-professional basketball team competing in the Australian Basketball Association.-NBL:The West Adelaide Bearcats was a foundation club in the NBL which merged with the Adelaide 36ers in 1985. Founded in 1946, it won the NBL championship 80–74 against the Geelong... |
North Adelaide Rockets |
| 1989 | South Adelaide Panthers | North Adelaide Rockets |
| 1990 | Forestville Eagles | North Adelaide Rockets |
| 1991 | South Adelaide Panthers | North Adelaide Rockets |
| 1992 | Norlunga City Tigers | West Adelaide Bearcats West Adelaide Bearcats The West Adelaide Bearcats are a semi-professional basketball team competing in the Australian Basketball Association.-NBL:The West Adelaide Bearcats was a foundation club in the NBL which merged with the Adelaide 36ers in 1985. Founded in 1946, it won the NBL championship 80–74 against the Geelong... |
| 1993 | Norlunga City Tigers | West Adelaide Bearcats West Adelaide Bearcats The West Adelaide Bearcats are a semi-professional basketball team competing in the Australian Basketball Association.-NBL:The West Adelaide Bearcats was a foundation club in the NBL which merged with the Adelaide 36ers in 1985. Founded in 1946, it won the NBL championship 80–74 against the Geelong... |
| 1994 | West Adelaide Bearcats West Adelaide Bearcats The West Adelaide Bearcats are a semi-professional basketball team competing in the Australian Basketball Association.-NBL:The West Adelaide Bearcats was a foundation club in the NBL which merged with the Adelaide 36ers in 1985. Founded in 1946, it won the NBL championship 80–74 against the Geelong... |
North Adelaide Rockets |
| 1995 | South Adelaide Panthers | Norwood Flames |
| 1996 | West Adelaide Bearcats West Adelaide Bearcats The West Adelaide Bearcats are a semi-professional basketball team competing in the Australian Basketball Association.-NBL:The West Adelaide Bearcats was a foundation club in the NBL which merged with the Adelaide 36ers in 1985. Founded in 1946, it won the NBL championship 80–74 against the Geelong... |
Norlunga City Tigers |
| 1997 | South Adelaide Panthers | Norwood Flames |
| 1998 | Norlunga City Tigers | North Adelaide Rockets |
| 1999 | Norwood Flames | Norwood Flames |
| 2000 | Woodville Warriors | Norwood Flames |
| 2001 | Sturt Sabres | Forestville Eagles |
| 2002 | Sturt Sabres | Sturt Sabres |
| 2003 | Forestville Eagles | Forestville Eagles |
| 2004 | Eastern Mavericks | North Adelaide Rockets |
| 2005 | Woodville Warriors | Forstville Eagles |
| 2006 | Forstville Eagles | Sturt Sabres |
| 2007 | North Adelaide Rockets | Norwood Flames |
| 2008 | Norwood Flames | Forestville Eagles |
| 2009 | Norwood Flames | Sturt Sabres |
| 2010 | Sturt Sabres | Forestville eagles |