Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Swan City Mustangs

Swan City Mustangs
Swan City Mustangs logo
LeaguesState Basketball League
Founded1989
Dissolved2003
HistorySwan City Mustangs
1989–1996; 1999–2003
ArenaSwan Park Leisure Centre
LocationMidvale, Western Australia
Team colorsBlack, white, red
Championships4
WebsiteSwansBasketball.com

Swan City Mustangs was a State Basketball League (SBL) club based in Perth, Western Australia. The club fielded a team in both the Men's SBL (MSBL) and Women's SBL (WSBL). The club was a division of the now-defunct Swan Districts Basketball Association (SDBA), an administrative basketball organisation in the City of Swan. The Mustangs played their home games at Swan Park Leisure Centre.

Club history

Background

Swan Districts Basketball Association (SDBA) was founded in 1964.[1] Swans entered the District Competition in 1974, with the men's team winning the grand final that year under coach Bob Muir.[1] The association's next A-grade premiership came in 1982 when the women's team were victorious under coach Fred Pesqua.[1] The women's team won again in 1983,[2] while the men's team won their second A-grade premiership in 1985.[3] Swan Districts did not play in 1987 and 1988.[3][4][5]

SBL

1989 saw the formation of the State Basketball League (SBL) with both a men's and women's competition. Swan Districts entered a team into both the MSBL and WSBL, with both teams recording winless inaugural seasons.[6][7]

In 1990, the Mustangs women recorded one win,[8] while the men earned the MSBL minor premiership with a first-place finish and a 23–3 record.[9] In 1991, both teams collected minor premierships and earned grand final berths. In the WSBL Grand Final, the Mustangs defeated the Perth Redbacks 79–66; and in the MSBL Grand Final, the Mustangs defeated the Souwest Slammers 123–120.[10]

In 1992, the women won their second straight minor premiership and again reached the WSBL Grand Final, where they lost 74–64 to the Wanneroo Wolves.[8] In 1993, the women won their third straight minor premiership and again reached the WSBL Grand Final, where they defeated the Stirling Senators 109–51 to win their second championship.[8] In 1994, the women won their fourth straight minor premiership[8] while the men reached their second MSBL Grand Final,[9] where they were defeated by the Perry Lakes Hawks 107–86.[10]

In 1995, the women returned to the WSBL Grand Final, where they lost 2–0 in the best-of-three series to the Wanneroo Wolves.[8] In 1996, the women collected their fifth minor premiership in six years and advanced through to their fifth grand final in six years.[8] In the 1996 WSBL Grand Final, the Mustangs defeated the Willetton Tigers 66–61 to win their third championship.[10]

In 1999, the Mustangs returned to the SBL after a two-year hiatus[8][9] where the Association sought to re-build the programme through juniors and local players.[11] The women's team finished last on the ladder four straight years between 1999 and 2002, winning just one game.[8] The men's team finished last or second last in each of those years as well.[9] In 2002, men's captain Jarrad Mohr was named joint Men's SBL MVP alongside Kurt Slabolepszy of the Stirling Senators.[12] Mohr joined Ken Epperson (1993) as the only Mustangs players to earn MVP honours.[13] In 2003, the women had a 6–10 record while the men had an 11–8 record.[8][9]

SDBA at this time was in financial difficulty with increasing debt in excess of $40,000 to Basketball Western Australia.[14] Following the 2003 season, the Swan City Mustangs SBL club and the Association ceased to operate.[14][8][9]

Season-by-season results

References

  1. ^ a b c 1983 Fixtures District Competition. Western Australian Basketball Federation (Inc.). 1983. p. 15.
  2. ^ 1984 Fixtures District Competition. Western Australian Basketball Federation (Inc.). 1984. p. 17.
  3. ^ a b McDonald's State Basketball League Fixtures 1988. Western Australian Basketball Federation (Inc.). 1988. p. 38.
  4. ^ Peters State League Division One Programme 1987. Western Australian Basketball Federation (Inc.). 1987.
  5. ^ McDonald's State Basketball League Grand Final Friday Sept. 30 1988 Perry Lakes. Western Australian Basketball Federation (Inc.). 1988. p. 16.
  6. ^ "SBL Standings 1989". CockburnCougars.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Mens Standings & Playoffs – 1989–1992". sblonline.net. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "WSBL History". SBL.asn.au. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "MSBL History". SBL.asn.au. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020.
  10. ^ a b c "PAST CHAMPIONS". SBL.asn.au. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  11. ^ Canard, Duncan (28 March 2001). "All quiet in the eastern corridor". goldencity.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 April 2001. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  12. ^ "Congratulations J Mo! – Joint Men's 2002 SBL MVP". SwansBasketball.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2002.
  13. ^ "Most Valuable Player". sblonline.net. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Eastern Suns History". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 16 October 2017.