Hutt Valley Lakers

The Hutt Valley Lakers were a New Zealand basketball team based in Hutt Valley, Wellington. The Lakers competed in the National Basketball League (NBL).

Hutt Valley Lakers
LeagueNational Basketball League
Founded1990
Folded1996
HistoryHutt Valley Lakers
1990–1996
LocationHutt Valley, Wellington,
New Zealand
Team coloursYellow, dark blue, white
Championships2 (1991, 1993)

Team history

The Hutt Valley Lakers started in the second-tiered Conference Basketball League (CBL). After winning the CBL championship in 1989,[1] the team was promoted to the National Basketball League (NBL) for the 1990 season.[2] In 1991, the Lakers were regular season winners and won the NBL championship with a 103–92 win over the Wellington Saints in the final.[3] In 1993, the Lakers made it back to the NBL final, where they defeated the Canterbury Rams 68–66 to win their second championship.[4][5][6] The 1993 final saw Peter Pokai hit the game-winning jump shot to lift the Lakers over the Rams.[7] It was a special triumph for head coach Jeff Green, who was sensationally sacked early in the season, but brought back with seven games to go.[7]

At the end of the 1996 season, both the Lakers and the Saints were struggling to survive. As a result, the two teams amalgamated, with the Lakers merging into the Saints.[8]

References
  1. "2010 Conference Basketball League" (PDF). Basketball.org.nz. p. 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2015.
  2. "2005 League Handbook" (PDF). Basketball.org.nz. pp. 32–36. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 August 2006.
  3. "1991 NBL CHAMPIONS: HUTT VALLEY LAKERS". nznbl.basketball. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  4. "1993 NBL CHAMPIONS: HUTT VALLEY LAKERS". nznbl.basketball. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  5. Jessup, Peter (26 July 2002). "Basketball: Coach Smurf's winning ways attract the stars". NZHerald.co.nz. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  6. Egan, Brendon (10 October 2009). "Jeff Green eyes Southland NBL team". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  7. Egan, Brendon (22 April 2016). "Coach Jeff Green loves nothing better than beating Canterbury Rams at basketball". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  8. "Locations – Exodus Saints". Wotzon.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013.
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