Joondalup Wolves

The Joondalup Wolves (formerly the Wanneroo Wolves) are a basketball club from Perth, Western Australia competing in the semi-professional State Basketball League (SBL), Women's State Basketball League (WSBL) and Junior Western Australian Basketball League (WABL). Located at the Joondalup Basketball Stadium and affiliated with the Wanneroo Basketball Association, the club is sponsored by the City of Joondalup and the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro.

History

Established in 1983 by the Wanneroo Basketball Association, the Wanneroo Wolves were a foundation club for the State Basketball League's inaugural season in 1989, entering teams for both the men's and women's competitions.^[1] Success quickly arose for the Wolves as the women won three early championships in 1990, 1992 and 1995, while the men won their first championship in 1993.

In 2011, the men's SBL grand final between the Wanneroo Wolves and the Perry Lakes Hawks became the first event to sell out the WA Basketball Centre since the venue's opening in early 2010. It's 2000 seat capacity was sold out, forcing Basketball WA to release 100 standing room tickets.^[2] The Wolves were successful in defeating the Hawks to claim their first title in 12 years, as they were guided by head coach Ben Ettridge and led by Wanneroo local and Perth Wildcats forward Greg Hire.^[3] Wildcats' guard Brad Robbins also played an important role for the champion Wolves.

In 2013, both the Wolves men and women made it through to the MSBL and WSBL Grand Finals for the first time in club history.^[4] However, the men were unable to produce the goods against the Lakeside Lightning after the women overwhelmed the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.

In 2014, the Wanneroo Basketball Association changed the team name from Wanneroo Wolves to Joondalup Wolves, but success did not follow suit as the women lost in the semi-finals, while the men failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2007.^[5]

Moving on from the hiccup of 2014, the men redeemed themselves in 2015 as they finished the regular season three games clear on top of the standings and went on to win the club's third men's SBL championship with a 30-point Grand Final victory over the South West Slammers, largely thanks to head coach Ben Ettridge and Grand Final MVP Trian Iliadis.^[6][7]

In August 2015, the Wanneroo Basketball Association announced the retirements of Life Members and longstanding employees Van and Mary Kailis. Having commenced work with the Wanneroo Basketball Association in 1986, Van and Mary Kailis were considered the forefront of basketball's growth in the Wanneroo area, building one of the most successful and professionally operated basketball associations in Western Australia.^[8]

Honours

Current roster

Joondalup Wolves men's roster Players Coaches Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. 4.5 !F/C 4 AUS ! Timms, Louis 7000204999999999999♠2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 3.5 !F 5 AUS ! Manyang, Ngor 7000200000000000000♠2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 1.5 !G 6 AUS ! Curtis, Sam 7000188000000000000♠1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 3.5 !F 7 AUS ! Thwaites, Logan 7000198000000000000♠1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 5.0 !C 8 USA ! Davis, Kevin (I) 7000204999999999999♠2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 1.5 !G 9 AUS ! Questel, Joel 7000180000000000000♠1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 3.5 !F 10 AUS ! Wellsteed, Jordan 7000194000000000000♠1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 1.5 !G 11 AUS ! Salinas, Seb (C) 7000186000000000000♠1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 1.5 !G 12 AUS ! Ironmonger, Ben 7000186000000000000♠1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 3.5 !F 13 AUS ! Easther, Sean 7000194000000000000♠1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 3.5 !F 14 AUS ! Gates, Doug 7000195000000000000♠1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 1.5 !G 15 AUS ! Iliadis, Trian 7000190000000000000♠1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 1.5 !G 20 AUS ! Zivanovic, Nikola 7000180000000000000♠1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 4.5 !F/C 22 AUS ! Huntington, Robert 7000202999999999999♠2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 3.5 !F 24 AUS ! Alexander, Jacob 7000194000000000000♠1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 4.5 !F/C 33 AUS ! Matacz, Damian 7000204000000000000♠2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Head coach Ben Ettridge Assistant coach(es) Luke Brennan Craig Friday Team manager Donna Ironmonger Legend (C) Team captain (IN) Inactive (I) Import player Injured

Joondalup Wolves women's roster Players Coaches Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. 1.5 !G 4 AUS ! Burns, Chelsea 7000175000000000000♠1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 2.5 !G/F 5 NZL ! Martin, Nikita-Lee 7000184000000000000♠1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) 1.5 !G 6 AUS ! Ironmonger, Abbie 7000176000000000000♠1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) 1.5 !G 7 AUS ! Mercer, Rebecca 7000174000000000000♠1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) 3.5 !F 8 AUS ! King, Hannah 7000183000000000000♠1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 1.5 !G 9 NZL ! Edmondson, Toni 7000181000000000000♠1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) 4.5 !F/C 10 AUS ! Kidner, Amy 7000183000000000000♠1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 1.5 !G 11 NZL ! Martin, Noni 7000175000000000000♠1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 5.0 !C 12 AUS ! Ironmonger, Ellyce 7000193000000000000♠1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 3.5 !F 13 AUS ! Kerr, Alex 7000185000000000000♠1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 3.5 !F 14 AUS ! Dougan, Taarika 7000183000000000000♠1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 5.0 !C 15 AUS ! Lockwood, Casey 7000185000000000000♠1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 1.5 !G 21 AUS ! Laurie, Parris 7000178000000000000♠1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 1.5 !G 22 AUS ! Amos, Shani 7000170000000000000♠1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) Head coach Vlad Alava Assistant coach(es) Peter Nalder Corry Lynn Wellsteed Team manager Narelle Atkin Legend (C) Team captain (IN) Inactive (I) Import player Injured

References

External links

• Team profile at Eurobasket.com
• Official website
• Joondalup Wolves on Facebook
• Joondalup Wolves on Twitter