1982–83 National Basketball League season

The 1982–83 Just Juice National Basketball League season was the eleventh season of the National Basketball League formed in 1972.[1]

1982–83 National Basketball League season
LeagueNational Basketball League
SportBasketball
Number of teams13
Roll of Honour
National League championsCrystal Palace Supersonics
  National League runners-upSunderland
Play Off's championsSunderland
  Play Off's runners-upCrystal Palace Supersonics
National Cup championsSolent Stars
  National Cup runners-upBirmingham Barrett Bullets

The league was sponsored by Just Juice for the second consecutive year and Crystal Palace won yet another league title but Sunderland claimed the Play Off's and the Solent Stars successfully defended their National Cup crown.[2]
The league received a welcome boost when a new national TV channel called Channel 4 decided to show live action every Monday evening.

Team changes

Leicester returned to top tier action as the one new team admitted to the expanded 13 team first division which retained the previous twelve members. Team Talbot, Guildford Pirates moved to Bracknell and became the Bracknell Pirates. Sunderland Saints became Sunderland Maestros towards the end of the season following a new two year sponsorship deal with a North East car dealer.
The leagues most famous player Alton Byrd left Crystal Palace to join Murray International Edinburgh.

League standings

First Division
Pos Team P W L F A Pts
1Crystal Palace Supersonics242132083185042
2Sunderland Saints/Maestros241862323202436
3Ovaltine Hemel Hempstead241862169193836
4Birmingham Barrett Bullets241772465222634
5Solent Stars241682383206832
6Planters Leicester241682176197232
7TCB Brighton Bears2413112216220726
8John Carr Doncaster2412122115212924
9Club Cantabrica Kingston2410142033205720
10Warrington Lada Vikings247171971211514
11Manchester Giants24420203824648
12Bracknell Pirates24321198823356
13Wakewood Liverpool24123188924642

Second Division

Fine Ceramics Bolton, West Bromwich, Crestol Halifax Hawks, Camden & Hampstead, McEwan Gateshead, Bradford Mythbreakers, Newcastle, Brunel Uxbridge Ducks, Milton Keynes, Team Telecom Colchester, Watford Royals, Ashfield Glass Nottingham

Just Juice playoffs

Semi-Finals
venue & date Team 1 Team 2 Score
March 18, Wembley ArenaSunderland Saints/MaestrosOvaltine Hemel Hempstead76-74
March 18, Wembley ArenaCrystal Palace SupersonicsBirmingham Barrett Bullets72-67

Final

Paul Stimpson landed a basket for the Crystal Palace Supersonics which was adjudged to be just after the buzzer. It would have won the game for Palace but the game went into overtime and Sunderland won an incredible match.

19 March[3]
Sunderland Maestros 75–74 aet Crystal Palace Supersonics
Pts: Art Wearren 29, James McCauley 16, Jim Brandon 16, Ken Nottage, Clive Hartley Pts: Greg McCray 20, Dave Shutts 16, Pete Jeremich 12, Dan Lloyd 12, Paul Stimpson 10
Wembley Arena
Attendance: 9,000
Sunderland Coach Tom Becker
Palace Coach Danny Palmer

Asda National Cup

Second Round
Team 1 Team 2 Score
Fine Ceramics BoltonClub Cantabrica Kingston81-93
Crystal Palace SupersonicsWest Bromwich98-69
Sunderland SaintsTCB Brighton Bears96-90
Planters LeicesterJohn Carr Doncaster71-57
Solent StarsCrestol Halifax Hawks130-66
Camden & HampsteadMcEwan Gateshead83-72
Bradford MythbreakersBirmingham Barrett Bullets69-134

Quarter Finals
Team 1 Team 2 Score
Birmingham Barrett BulletsPlanters Leicester89-87
Club Cantabrica KingstonSunderland Saints97-88
Ovaltine Hemel HempsteadCrystal Palace Supersonics81-84
Camden & HampsteadSolent Stars58-119

Semi Finals
Leg Team 1 Team 2 Score
First LegCrystal Palace SupersonicsSolent Stars92-84
Second LegSolent StarsCrystal Palace Supersonics83-65
First LegClub Cantabrica KingstonBirmingham Barrett Bullets70-83
Second LegBirmingham Barrett BulletsClub Cantabrica Kingston80-86

Final

Birmingham's Russ Saunders an imported American scored a record 43 points in a final but still found himself on the losing side.

Live on Channel 4
24 January 1983[4]
Solent Stars 98–97 Birmingham Barrett Bullets
Pts: TJ Robinson 33, Tony Walton 29, Mark Saiers 12, Karl Tatham 12, Paul Philp 4, Ken Watson 4, Roy Lewis 4 Pts: Russ Saunders 43, Greg White 22, Dip Donaldson 11
Granby Halls, Leicester
Attendance: ?
Solent Coach Steve Fitzsimmons
Birmingham Coach Greg White
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References
  1. Matthews & Morrison, Peter & Ian (1987). The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Sports Records & Results. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. ISBN 0-85112-492-5.
  2. "Men's Senior League Winners". Basketball England.
  3. "Nicholas Harling. "Haefner a natural successor." Times [London, England] 21 Mar. 1983". The Times Digital Archive.
  4. "Nicholas Harling. "Solent stage another escape." Times [London, England] 25 Jan. 1983". The Times Digital Archive.

See also
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