WAIS Warriors

WAIS Warriors
LeaguesState Basketball League
Founded1989
Dissolved1991
HistoryWAIS Warriors
1989–1991
ArenaSuperdrome (1989)
University of Western Australia (1990–1991)
LocationPerth, Western Australia
Team colorsGreen, gold, black, white
Championships0

The WAIS Warriors were an Australian basketball team based in Perth, Western Australia. As part of the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS),[1] the Warriors competed in the Men's State Basketball League (SBL) and played their home games at the Superdrome and the University of Western Australia (UWA).

Team history

Background

In 1987, the Western Australian Institute of Sport collaborated with the Western Australian Basketball Federation to establish a men's basketball team. Led by director Wally Foreman and head coach Warren Kuhn, the team entered the A division of the State League in 1987 and was based at the Superdrome in Graylands.[2] In 1988, the team adopted the name "WAIS Junior Wildcats".[2]

The program's goal was to bring the best young players together in the one team to hasten their development, and then test them against senior teams.[1] Kuhn created a legacy as one of WA basketball's great innovative coaches and basketball minds, and was considered an effective big man coach.[1]

SBL

1989 saw the formation of the State Basketball League (SBL) with both a men's and women's competition. The WAIS men's team, now known as the Warriors, entered the SBL for its inaugural season.[3] The Warriors competed in the first three seasons of the SBL, recording six wins in 1989, two in 1990, and going winless in 1991.[1][3] Their home venue was the Superdrome in 1989,[2] followed by the UWA Gymnasium in 1990 and 1991.[4][5] The Warriors played in green, gold, black and white colours.[1]

Former SBL games-record holder Troy Clarke played for the Warriors in 1990 and 1991.[6] Clarke served as captain of the team in his second year.[1]

The program was discontinued at the end of 1991.[1]

Season-by-season results

Year Won Lost Pos Titles
1989 6 16 9th
1990 2 24 14th Wooden spoon
1991 0 26 14th Wooden spoon

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Pike, Chris (31 May 2025). "Clarke always thankful to WAIS Warriors". authory.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "WAIS Warriors" (PDF). SBL.asn.au. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b "MSBL History". SBL.asn.au. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Goldfields Giants 110, WAIS Warriors 111". goldencity.com.au. 29 July 1990. Archived from the original on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Goldfields Giants 129, WAIS Warriors 113". goldencity.com.au. 28 July 1991. Archived from the original on 15 October 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Troy Clarke 500 SBL Games" (PDF). basketballwa.asn.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 September 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2024.