SBL Basketball History

CONVERTING REGULAR SEASON SUCCESS INTO A CHAMPIONSHIP
(By Ken Brown)
Finishing on top in the Regular Season does not always lead to a team winning the Grand Final.
Fourteen of the Ladder leaders in the Men’s competition have gone on to be crowned the Champions – in 36 seasons.
The Regular Season leaders have won the Women’s Grand Final on 21 occasions – including 8 of the past 10 seasons.
Most amazing performances in the Men’s Play-offs occurred in 1993 and 2014 when the Wolves and the Eagles respectively, actually finished seventh – then went on to win the title.
In the Women’s competition, the seventh placed Flames took out the 2019 Championship.
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CHAMPIONS – MEN
1989 – Redbacks – 17-5 Third
1990 – Redbacks – 17-9 Fifth
1991 – Mustangs – 22-4 FIRST
1992 – Cougars – 19-5 Second
1993 – Wolves – 11-13 Seventh
1994 – Hawks – 22-4 FIRST
1995 – Slammers – 18-8 Fifth
1996 – Slammers – 21-5 FIRST
1997 – Redbacks – 19-5 FIRST
1998 – Slammers – 15-9 Third
1999 – Slammers – 21-5 FIRST
2000 – Buccaneers – 17-2 First (West Conference)
2001 – Hawks – 24-2 FIRST
2002 – Hawks – 26-0 FIRST
2003 – Hawks – 16-3 First (North Conference)
2004 – Hawks – 17-7 Fourth
2005 – Lightning – 18-6 Second
2006 – Lightning – 14-10 Fifth
2007 – Giants – 17-7 Second
2008 – Giants – 19-7 Third
2009 – Lightning – 22-4 FIRST
2010 – Tigers – 21-5 Second
2011 – Wolves – 18-8 Second
2012 – Cougars – 17-9 Third
2013 – Lightning – 23-2 FIRST
2014 – Eagles – 14-12 Seventh
2015 – Wolves – 23-2 FIRST
2016 – Cougars – 22-4 FIRST
2017 – Redbacks – 16-10 Fourth
2018 – Hawks – 18-8 Fourth
2019 – Buccaneers – 19-7 Third
2021 – Hawks – 18-4 FIRST
2022 – Flames – 18-4 Second
2023 – Buccaneers – 17-5 Second
2024 – Magic – 13-9 Fourth
2025 – Buccaneers – 18-4 Second

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CHAMPIONS – WOMEN
1989 – Redbacks – 14-7 Second
1990 – Wolves – 14-7 Third
1991 – Mustangs – 16-5 FIRST
1992 – Wolves – 16-4 Second
1993 – Mustangs – 18-2 FIRST
1994 – Senators – 15-5 Third
1995 – Wolves – 22-2 FIRST
1996 – Mustangs – 21-3 FIRST
1997 – Tigers – 18-6 Fourth
1998 – Hawks – 18-6 Second
1999 – Tigers – 27-0 FIRST
2000 – Redbacks – 15-5 Second
2001 – Hawks – 21-1 FIRST
2002 – Hawks – 21-1 FIRST
2003 – Hawks – 12-4 First (North Conference)
2004 – Tigers – 13-7 Fifth
2005 – Tigers – 20-2 FIRST
2006 – Lightning – 15-7 Third
2007 – Hawks – 18-4 Third
2008 – Hawks – 22-2 Second
2009 – Tigers –15-7 Second
2010 – Tigers – 19-3 FIRST
2011 – Tigers – 18-4 FIRST
2012 – Slammers – 15-7 Third
2013 – Wolves – 16-6 Third
2014 – Flames – 20-2 FIRST
2015 – Flames – 20-2 FIRST
2016 – Tigers – 17-5 Third
2017 – Hawks – 20-2 FIRST
2018 – Lightning – 21-1 FIRST
2019 – Flames – 13-9 Seventh
2021 – Tigers – 15-3 FIRST
2022 – Senators – 18-2 FIRST
2023 – Cougars – 18-2 FIRST
2024 – Flames – 18-2 FIRST
2025 – Cougars – 20-0 FIRST

FINISHING ON TOP
(By Ken Brown)
Obviously every team wants to finish on top of the Ladder at the end of the Regular Season.
This gives them a better path into the Play-offs.
But topping the table does not always translate into a Championship.
In the 36 seasons of NBL1 WEST/SBL competition a total of 14 Men’s teams – and 19 Women’s teams – have gone on to annex the Championship after taking out the Regular Season honours.

TOP OF THE TABLE – MEN
1989 – Buccaneers (19-3) – Lost Grand Final
1990 – Mustangs (23-3) – Lost Quarter Final
1991 – Mustangs (22-4) – WON GRAND FINAL
1992 – Slammers (22-2) – Lost Grand Final
1993 – Buccaneers (19-5) – Lost Semi Final
1994 – Hawks (22-4) – WON GRAND FINAL
1995 – Hawks (20-6) – Lost Quarter Final
1996 – Slammers (21-5) – WON GRAND FINAL
1997 – Redbacks (19-5) – WON GRAND FINAL
1998 – Cougars (20-4) – Lost Grand Final
1999 – Slammers (21-5) – WON GRAND FINAL
*2000 – Buccaneers (17-2) – WON GRAND FINAL
2001 – Hawks (24-2) – WON GRAND FINAL
2002 – Hawks (26-0) – WON GRAND FINAL
#2003 – Hawks (16-3) – WON GRAND FINAL
#2003 – Cougars (16-3) – Lost Grand Final
2004 – Cougars (21-3) – Lost Semi Final
2005 – Hawks (20-4) – Lost Grand Final
2006 – Tigers (21-3) – Lost Semi Final
2007 – Lightning (20-4) – Lost Grand Final
2008 – Hawks (21-5) – Lost Quarter Final
2009 – Lightning (22-4) – WON GRAND FINAL
2010 – Lightning (21-5) – Lost Grand Final
2011 – Lightning (24-2) – Lost Semi Final
2012 – Wolves (23-3) – Lost Semi Final
2013 – Lightning (23-3) – WON GRAND FINAL
2014 – Buccaneers (19-7) – Lost Grand Final
2015 – Wolves (23-3) – WON GRAND FINAL
2016 – Cougars (22-4) – WON GRAND FINAL
2017 – Tigers (20-6) – Lost Semi Final
2018 – Buccaneers (23-3) – Lost Quarter Final
2019 – Wolves (20-6) – Lost Grand Final
2021 – Hawks (18-4) – WON GRAND FINAL
2022 – Buccaneers (19-3) – Lost Grand Final
2023 – Flames (19-3) – Lost Preliminary Final
2024 – Buccaneers (20-2) – Lost Preliminary Final
2025 – Flames (19-3) – Lost Preliminary Final

* Buccaneers won the West Conference
# Hawks won North Conference, Cougars won South Conference

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TOP OF THE TABLE – WOMEN
1989 – Hawks (15-6) – Lost Grand Final
1990 – Senators (19-2) – Lost Grand Final
1991 – Mustangs (16-5) – WON GRAND FINAL
1992 – Mustangs (18-2) – Lost Grand Final
1993 – Mustangs (18-2) – WON GRAND FINAL
1994 – Mustangs (16-4) – Lost Semi Final
1995 – Wolves (22-2) – WON GRAND FINAL
1996 – Mustangs (21-3) – WON GRAND FINAL
1997 – Hawks (19-5) – Lost Semi Final
1998 – Tigers (22-2) – Lost Grand Final
1999 – Tigers (27-0) – WON GRAND FINAL
2000 – Hawks (20-0) – Lost Grand Final
2001 – Hawks (21-1) – WON GRAND FINAL
2002 – Hawks (21-1) – WON GRAND FINAL
*2003 – Tigers (15-1) – Lost Quarter Final
2004 – Magic (17-3) – Lost Semi Final
2005 – Tigers (20-2) – WON GRAND FINAL
2006 – Magic (19-3) – Lost Grand Final
2007 – Senators (20-2) – Lost Grand Final
2008 – Tigers (22-2) – Lost Grand Final
2009 – Hawks (19-3) – Lost Semi Final
2010 – Tigers (19-3) – WON GRAND FINAL
2011 – Tigers (18-4) – WON GRAND FINAL
2012 – Wolves (16-6) – Lost Semi Final
2013 – Tigers (17-5) – Lost Quarter Final
2014 – Flames (20-2) – WON GRAND FINAL
2015 – Flames (20-2) – WON GRAND FINAL
2016 – Wolves (19-3) – Lost Grand Final
2017 – Hawks (20-2) – WON GRAND FINAL
2018 – Lightning (21-1) – WON GRAND FINAL
2019 – Lightning (16-6) – Lost Semi Final
2021 – Tigers (15-3) – WON GRAND FINAL
2022 – Senators (18-2) – WON GRAND FINAL
2023 – Cougars (18-2) – WON GRAND FINAL
2024 – Flames (18-2) – WON GRAND FINAL
2025 – Cougars (20-0) – WON GRAND FINAL

* Tigers won the South Conference

West Spotlight | Norman, Keyes fire Buccs to big win The Geraldton Buccaneers continued their hot form with the 47-point hammering on the road to the Warwick Senators on Sunday.West Spotlight | Norman, Keyes fire Buccs to big win

BASKETBALL RESULTS
NBL1 West. Round 16. MEN. Thursday: East Perth Eagles d Lakeside Lightning 71-69, Perry Lakes Hawks d Rockingham Flames 110-88. Friday: Perth Redbacks d Eastern Suns 102-92, Mandurah Magic d Willetton Tigers 101-98, Cockburn Cougars d South West Slammers 95-78. Saturday: Geraldton Buccaneers d Cockburn Cougars 94-84, Rockingham Flames d Joondalup Wolves 97-69, East Perth Eagles d Perth Redbacks 108-87, Willetton Tigers d Warwick Senators 100-89, Perry Lakes Hawks d Goldfields Giants 104-75. Sunday: Geraldton Buccaneers d Warwick Senators 111-64.
WOMEN. Thursday: Rockingham Flames d Perry Lakes Hawks 87-78, East Perth Eagles d Lakeside Lightning 91-76. Friday: Cockburn Cougars d South West Slammers 98-70, Mandurah Magic d Willetton Tigers 116-68, Eastern Suns d Perth Redbacks 68-64. Saturday: Perth Redbacks d East Perth Eagles 96-93, Willetton Tigers d Warwick Senators 78-73, Rockingham Flames d Joondalup Wolves 69-62, Goldfields Giants d Perry Lakes Hawks 91-84.

West Spotlight | Buccs overrun J***y-less Cougars There was no J***y Narkle for the Cockburn Cougars but it took until the fourth quarter for the Geraldton Buccaneers to take charge for the 10-point win.West Spotlight | Buccs overrun J***y-less Cougars