Albury Wodonga Bandits

Albury Wodonga Bandits is a NBL1 club based in Albury, New South Wales. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1. The club is a division of the overarching Border Basketball Club, the major administrative basketball organisation in the Albury–Wodonga region. The Bandits play their home games at the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre. For sponsorship reasons, the two teams are known as the Southern Vale Homes Bandits.

Albury Wodonga Bandits
LeaguesNBL1
Founded1984
HistoryMen:
Wodonga Border Bulldogs
1984–1985
Albury Wodonga Bandits
1986–present
Women:
Albury Wodonga Bandits
2006–present
ArenaLauren Jackson Sports Centre
LocationAlbury, New South Wales
Team colorsRoyal Blue, Black and White
Main sponsorSouthern Vale Homes
PresidentLuke Smith
Vice-president(s)L
Head coachM: Brad Chalmers
W: [Matt Papps]
Championships1 (2012) (M)
0 (W)
WebsiteGoBandits.net

Club history

Men's team

In 1984, a team known as the Wodonga Border Bulldogs entered the South Eastern Basketball League (SEBL). Based out of the Victorian city of Wodonga, the Bulldogs' home venue was the Wodonga Sports and Leisure Centre. The Wodonga stadium was the original home court in 1984 before the venue split games with the newly constructed Albury Sports Stadium the following year. The Bulldogs' final game they hosted at the Wodonga Sports and Leisure Centre was on 25 August 1985 before changing their name to the Albury Wodonga Bandits in 1986 and re-locating to nearby Albury.[1][2]

Not a lot of success came for the Bandits over their first 17 seasons in the SEBL/SEABL/CBA/ABA. That changed in 2001 when coach Leigh Gooding and players Allen McCowan, Matt Sheehan, Russell Hinder, Nick Grylewicz and Nick Payne helped lead the Bandits to championship success in the ABA's East Conference.[3][4][5]

The Bandits next tasted success in 2012 when they not only won the SEABL's South Conference title,[6] but took home the SEABL National Championship after defeating the East Conference champion Dandenong Rangers in the grand final.[7]

In 2015, the Bandits returned to the SEABL Grand Final after winning the East Conference Championship, but couldn't claim National Championship honours after losing to the Mount Gambier Pioneers.[8]

Women's team

In 2006, an Albury Wodonga Bandits women's team entered the SEABL. After missing the playoffs in each of their first three seasons, the Lady Bandits qualified for the post-season for the first time in 2009 behind coach Kennedy Kereama and star import duo Lisa Wallbutton and Toni Edmondson.[9] Heading into the 2014 season, the Lady Bandits had a 39–153 win/loss record.[10]

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References
  1. Smith, Steve (15 July 2011). "Change of scene for Albury-Wodonga ladies". BorderMail.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  2. "Bandits back where it began". BorderMail.com.au. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  3. Smith, Steve (8 September 2011). "Self-belief put Bandits on top". BorderMail.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  4. Smith, Steve (9 June 2012). "Stadium right for final tribute". BorderMail.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  5. Smith, Steve (18 April 2013). "House of Payne: Bandits champ set for 300". BorderMail.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  6. Smith, Steve (3 September 2012). "Border Bandits win SEABL GF". BorderMail.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  7. Potter, Jarrod (13 September 2012). "It's a dandy feeling as Bandits drive home top title". awnw.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  8. "2015 REPORT CARD- ALBURY/WODONGA". Basketball.net.au. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  9. Smith, Steve (13 March 2013). "Effort is the key for Lady Bandits". BorderMail.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  10. Smith, Steve (21 March 2014). "Albury-Wodonga Lady Bandits' time to end the SEABL easy-beats tag". BorderMail.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
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