Team History Townsville Crocodiles

1 team history

1.1 1986–1992: gaining admission nbl
1.2 1993–1998: years
1.3 1998–2001: name change , finals basketball
1.4 2002–2006: missed opportunities
1.5 2006–2009: return finals
1.6 2013–2016: financial troubles , disbandment

team history
1986–1992: gaining admission nbl

former brisbane bullets guard mark bragg, townsville resident, began campaigning bring nbl franchise townsville in late 1980s. franchise adopted name of townsville s state league team, becoming townsville suns. nbl ready admit suns, along fellow queenslanders gold coast cougars, in 1990, financial backing suns venue fell through.

local government got behind bragg s bid, , townsville entertainment , convention centre completed in time suns debut in february 1993.

1993–1998: years

with bragg @ helm head coach, suns struggled during debut season, took 5 games before recorded first-ever nbl win, victory on newcastle falcons. townsville broke mould in 1993, becoming first australian team hire import player country other united states; lithuanian player rimas kurtinaitis crucial part of team during debut season. suns finished 4-22 , took wooden spoon.

townsville not reach playoffs in first 6 seasons, although came perilously close in 1997 season; needing 1 win final 6 games ensure historic playoff appearance, suns went 0-6 after centre clarence tyson suffered season-ending knee injury in canberra. after disappointing 1998 campaign, mark bragg sacked head coach. 151 games played out of suns 164, jason cameron player have played in 6 suns seasons.

throughout, townsville fans stuck team, ensuring club set australian record attendances; suns sold out first 69 games @ furnace (capacity 4,141), streak broken after venue expanded 1998 season.

1998–2001: name change , finals basketball

it different team took court in 1998/99 season. team had been involved in dispute nba s phoenix suns, held suns trademark in australia. faced prospect of paying phoenix royalties on merchandise sales, team changed name townsville crocodiles. new head coach ian stacker took reins, , attracted top-name talent australian olympic player sam mackinnon, take 1 more season before townsville s long-suffering fans saw playoff basketball.

the crocodiles finished second in nbl in 1999/2000 22-6 record, meaning got first-round bye in nbl playoffs. faced battle-hardened perth wildcats team in semi-finals, , defeated 2-1 in front of disappointed home fans. perth go on win championship.

the crocs again went 22-6 following year and, under league s new playoff system, eliminated both sydney kings , victoria titans. came down grand final series, team lost 2 games 1- 95-92 in final game- after thrilling fourth-quarter comeback wollongong hawks.

2002–2006: missed opportunities

townsville missed playoffs in 2002 , 2003 season looked no better, crocodiles strung 16-game winning streak again finish second on nbl ladder. (the streak equaled nbl record.) townsville lost opening-round series 2-1 wollongong, virtue of nbl rules, got second chance advance; eliminated eventual champion sydney kings.

after disappointing season in 2005–06, townsville head coach ian stacker s contract not renewed. crocodiles again failed make playoffs.

trevor gleeson appointed coach , team improved on failed 2005-06 season making play-offs. won first final against 1 of newcomers in singapore slingers lost second sydney kings.

2006–2009: return finals

2007–08 saw crocs struggle in first ten games, winning 3 matches. before season, team struggling injuries both 7 foot centre s ben pepper (back) , greg vanderjagt (knee) along swingman bradley sheridan (back). team ended losing newly signed import rosell ellis suffered freak of injury when tore pectoral muscle during weight session after 2 matches. in 2 matches saw ellis 27 points , 11 rebounds in both matches. crocs brought in streetball legend corey homicide wiliams saw crocs turn strong team. crocs bench saw them finish season in fifth place record of 17-13. 2006-07 season, saw crocs win first game against newcomer gold coast blaze once again saw them smashed team finished 1 win higher crocs in perth wildcats 96-78.

the crocs have made push make top 4 in 2008-09 season when re-signed imports williams , ellis , signings brad williamson , steven broom brisbane bullets , former boomer russell hinder.

the 2008/09 season saw them struggle have full roster bradley sheridan (ankles), ben pepper (personal reasons) , steven broom (shoulder) leaving club before season had began. local fans able rally behind club finish 5th. crocs unable make grand final series knocked out eventual champions south dragons.

2013–2016: financial troubles , disbandment

on april 8, 2013, crocodiles announced barrier reef basketball pty ltd relinquishing national basketball league license, putting crocodiles 2013–14 season in doubt. in september 2013, crocodiles re-entered league community owned club under head coach, shawn dennis.

in june 2014, crocodiles announced townsville rsl stadium new home court 2014–15 season. following 2014–15 season, crocodiles decided place voluntary administration. on 21 may 2015, re-entered league second time after regaining control of deed of company arrangement , subsequently received nbl approval re-enter competition. crocodiles announced returning townsville entertainment , convention centre 2015–16 season. in february 2016, queensland police seized compressed air launcher use team on ten years launch folded t-shirts crowd, after device deemed category b weapon.

on 14 april 2016, crocodiles pulled out of 2016–17 season due financial pressures , failing economy in area.