Hutt Valley Lakers
| Hutt Valley Lakers | |
|---|---|
| League | National Basketball League |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Folded | 1996 |
| History | Hutt Valley Lakers 1990–1996 |
| Location | Hutt Valley, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Team colours | Yellow, dark blue, white |
| Championships | 2 (1991, 1993) |
The Hutt Valley Lakers were a New Zealand basketball team based in Hutt Valley, Wellington. The Lakers competed in the National Basketball League (NBL).
Team history
The Hutt Valley Lakers started in the second-tiered Conference Basketball League (CBL). After winning the CBL championship in 1989,[1] the team was promoted to the National Basketball League (NBL) for the 1990 season.[2] In 1991, the Lakers were regular season winners and won the NBL championship with a 103–92 win over the Wellington Saints in the final.[3] In 1993, the Lakers made it back to the NBL final, where they defeated the Canterbury Rams 68–66 to win their second championship.[4][5][6] The 1993 final saw Peter Pokai hit the game-winning jump shot to lift the Lakers over the Rams.[7] It was a special triumph for head coach Jeff Green, who was sensationally sacked early in the season, but brought back with seven games to go.[7]
At the end of the 1996 season, both the Lakers and the Saints were struggling to survive. As a result, the two teams amalgamated, with the Lakers merging into the Saints.[8]
References
- ^ "2010 Conference Basketball League" (PDF). Basketball.org.nz. p. 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2015.
- ^ "2005 League Handbook" (PDF). Basketball.org.nz. pp. 32–36. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 August 2006.
- ^ "1991 NBL CHAMPIONS: HUTT VALLEY LAKERS". nznbl.basketball. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
- ^ "1993 NBL CHAMPIONS: HUTT VALLEY LAKERS". nznbl.basketball. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
- ^ Jessup, Peter (26 July 2002). "Basketball: Coach Smurf's winning ways attract the stars". NZHerald.co.nz. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- ^ Egan, Brendon (10 October 2009). "Jeff Green eyes Southland NBL team". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- ^ a b Egan, Brendon (22 April 2016). "Coach Jeff Green loves nothing better than beating Canterbury Rams at basketball". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- ^ "Locations – Exodus Saints". Wotzon.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013.