Knox Basketball Inc
Encyclopedia
City of Knox
The City of Knox is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of and has a estimated population of 155,969 people.-History:...
with a sporting and social infrastructure to develop and promote personal, team and social skills in a sporting environment. Founded by Alf Stevens, Alice Jago and Heather Kemp it began as an after school competition at the Mossfield Avenue Facility, Ferntree Gully
Ferntree Gully, Victoria
Ferntree Gully is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in the Dandenong Ranges, 29 km east from Melbourne's central business district. It is in the Local Government Area's of the Shire of Yarra Ranges and the City of Knox...
in 1974. In 1980 its headquarters moved to the 3 court facility in Park Crescent at Boronia
Boronia, Victoria
Boronia is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 29 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Knox...
which was expanded to six courts in 1989.
Achievements
Regarded as one of the foremost sporting associations in the country, at the end of 2006, Knox Basketball ran competitions containing more than 1,000 teams with around 8,000 participants on a weekly basis. Its downfall is the coaching and tryout procudures which driven away loyal and dedicated players.In August 2007, Knox Basketball Inc was awarded the Basketball Australia
Basketball Australia
Basketball Australia is the governing and controlling body of basketball in Australia, responsible for the development and promotion of the sport at all levels.Formed in 1939 the organisation was constituted in 1946...
"2007 Best Large Association Award", the highest recognition a basketball association can receive in Australia.
2007
* Under 14.1 Boys win National Championships
* Under 14.1 Boys win State VJBL Championships
* Under 12.1 Boys Runner-up in State VJBL Championships
* Under 14.1 Boys and Girls qualify for National Championships
* Big V Youth League Women Runner-up
* Basketball Australia Large Association of the Year Award
* Basketball Victoria Awards
o Best Referees Program Award
o Association of the Year
o Laurie Joyce awarded Jack Carter Memorial Administrator of the Year Award
2006
* SEABL Men were South Conference Champions
* Big V Youth League Women were runner-up
* Big V Youth League Men were runner-up
* Under 14 Junior Raider Girls qualified for the National Championships
* Named the SEABL Club of the Year
We received four major awards from Basketball Victoria
o Association of the Year Best Referees Program
o Best Regional Media Coverage for “The Basketball Hour” Laurie Joyce awarded Jack Carter Memorial Administrator of the Year Award
2005
* Selection of Sean Carroll and Natasha Main in the Under 20 State sides.
* Our SEABL Women were runner-up in that competition and also in the national titles.
* Basketball Victoria Largest Association
* Basketball Victoria Best Referees Program
* Big V Youth League Women runner-up
* Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball League women runner-up
* Individual awards to Senior Knox Raiders –
o Brad Robbins – SEABL South Men Youth Player of the Year
o Hollie Grima – SEABL Women All Star 5
2004
* State Selections
o Sean Carroll Under 18
o Luke Solomon Under 18
o Ben Healey Under 16
o Josh Ashman Under 16
o Tania Steed Under 16 Emergency
o Ally Healey Victorian State Schools Team
* SEABL Men South Conference Runner-up
* Senior Raiders Individual Awards
o Glenn Siegle - SEABL South Men All Star 5
o Nerida Gray - SEABL Women All Star 5
o Brad Robbins - SEABL South Men Youth Player of the Year
o Paul Borg - VBL Coach of the Year
o Robyn Ladd - 250 SEABL Games
o Chelsea Laing - 250 SEABL Games
* SEABL Women's Administration of the Year
Representative teams
The representative arm of the Association is the Knox Raiders with 38 junior teams competing in the Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL), a men and women's team in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL), men and women's team in the (Big VBig V
The Big V is the senior basketball league in Victoria, Australia comprising 102 semi-professional teams in 10 competitions.These competitions comprise both genders, and incorporate four levels of senior competition , three levels for women and youth leagues...
), and a team in the Women's National Wheelchair Basketball League (WNWBL).
Elite players
A number of elite players got their start playing in Knox junior domestic clubs and Knox Raiders; for example:- David Stiff (Melbourne TigersMelbourne TigersThe Melbourne Tigers are Australia's oldest and most respected basketball team, established circa 1931 in a local church hall League. Entering the National Basketball League in 1984, they are now the only Melbourne team, after the South Dragons withdrew from the league.The Melbourne Tigers are the...
, NBLNational 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....
) - Tom Greer (Melbourne TigersMelbourne TigersThe Melbourne Tigers are Australia's oldest and most respected basketball team, established circa 1931 in a local church hall League. Entering the National Basketball League in 1984, they are now the only Melbourne team, after the South Dragons withdrew from the league.The Melbourne Tigers are the...
, NBLNational 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....
) - Brad Sheridan (Sydney KingsSydney KingsThe Sydney Kings are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. They are the only team to date to win three consecutive championships in the NBL and currently sit third behind the Adelaide 36ers and Melbourne Tigers two away from the record five wins...
, Townsville CrocodilesTownsville CrocodilesThe Townsville Crocodiles are a professional Australian basketball team based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in the National Basketball League...
, NBLNational 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....
) - Jo Myers (Bulleen Melbourne Boomers, WNBLWomen's National Basketball LeagueThe 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...
) - Natasha Main (Dandenong RangersDandenong RangersThe Dandenong Jayco Rangers are an Australian Women's Basketball League team based in Melbourne, Australia. Historically, they have been one of the more successful franchises in league history, but over recent years have struggled to make the playoffs, generally finishing 5th or below...
, WNBLWomen's National Basketball LeagueThe 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...
) - Jess Eason (Big VBig VThe Big V is the senior basketball league in Victoria, Australia comprising 102 semi-professional teams in 10 competitions.These competitions comprise both genders, and incorporate four levels of senior competition , three levels for women and youth leagues...
, Metro State College of Denver, Colorado) - Megan Sinclair (Big VBig VThe Big V is the senior basketball league in Victoria, Australia comprising 102 semi-professional teams in 10 competitions.These competitions comprise both genders, and incorporate four levels of senior competition , three levels for women and youth leagues...
, Metro State College of Denver, Colorado) - Shelly Chaplin (WNWBL, University of Illinois)
- Kathleen O'Kelly-Kennedy (WNWBL, University of Illinois)
- Kelly Smith (WNBL Melbourne Tigers, Australia Under 21, 4 x Vic Metro)
- Anita Huber (WNBL Dandenong)
- Mandy Huber (WNBL Dandenong)
- Tammy Goyne (WNBL Dandenong, USA College, European National League)
- Michelle Smith (WNBL Coburg, 2 x Vic Metro)
- Sharon Kraehenbuehl (4 x Vic Metro)
- Dearne Dummett (4 x Vic Metro)
- Sue Williams (4 x Vic Metro)
Opals players Hollie Grima and Emma Randall are also members of the Knox Raiders SEABL Women's team.
Domestic teams
Knox Basketball is home to a thriving junior domestic competition, with seventeen clubs fielding boys and girls teams from Under 8s to Under 23s. Junior games are played on Saturdays and Sundays at a number of venues throughout the City of Knox and surrounding areas.These clubs are:
- Knox All Stars
- Basin Wildcats
- Boronia Buffaloes
- Belgrave South Red Devils
- Chandler Park Jets
- Emerald Lakers
- Ferntree Gully Falcons
- Knox City Cougars
- KSC Phoenix
- Mountain Tigers
- Ranges Basketball Club
- Saints Basketball Club
- South East Eagles
- Southern Bears
- Wantirna Jetbacks
- Wantirna Wasps
Knox Basketball also hosts a large senior domestic competition which runs throughout the week. This includes men's, women's, veterans and wheelchair comps. The senior domestic comps are primarily made up of independent teams, although a number of club-based teams also compete.