Chris Cedar

Christopher Cedar (born 18 October 1988) is an Australian professional basketball player for the USC Rip City of the NBL1 North. He has previously played in the National Basketball League for the Townsville Crocodiles, and has had stints with QBL clubs the Townsville Heat, Rockhampton Rockets and Mackay Meteors.

Chris Cedar
USC Rip City
PositionPoint guard
LeagueNBL1 North
Personal information
Born (1988-10-18) 18 October 1988
Townsville, Queensland
NationalityAustralian
Listed height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Listed weight80 kg (176 lb)
Career information
High schoolTownsville State
(Townsville, Queensland)
Playing career2007–present
Career history
2007–2013Townsville Crocodiles
2008–2013Townsville Heat
2014Rockhampton Rockets
2015–2019Mackay Meteors
2016Townsville Crocodiles
2020–presentUSC Rip City
Career highlights and awards

Early life

Born and raised in Townsville, Queensland, Cedar began playing basketball as a youth for the Whirlwinds Basketball Club.[1] He attended Townsville State High School, where he led the basketball team to the 2006 National Schools title and was regarded as one of the best young Australian guards at the time.[2] The following year, he led the Queensland Under 20 side at the U20 National Championships in Ballarat, Victoria.[2]

Professional career

Townsville Crocodiles and Heat (2007–2013)

Cedar first joined his hometown NBL team, the Townsville Crocodiles, as a development player for the 2007–08 season. There, he teamed up with his brother, Michael, who first joined the Crocodiles in 2005. Cedar appeared in eight games in his first season, averaging 1.3 points per game.[3] Following the conclusion of the NBL season, he joined the Crocodiles' QBL affiliate team, the Townsville Heat. In 21 games for the Heat in 2008, he averaged 17.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.[4]

Cedar retained his development player role with the Crocodiles for the 2008–09 season[5] but did not receive any game time during his second season. He returned to the Heat for the 2009 QBL season and averaged 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 16 games.[4]

As a development player in 2009–10, Cedar stepped up to cover the absence of injured guard Kelvin Robertson during the second half of the season.[6] He subsequently played in 15 games for the Crocodiles and again averaged 1.3 points per game.[3] With the Heat in 2010, he averaged a career-high 20.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 17 games.[4]

Cedar spent one final season as a development player in 2010–11,[6] playing in a career-low six games for the Crocodiles while scoring just four total points.[3] He had another solid season with the Heat in 2011, averaging 11.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 17 games.[4]

In 2011–12, Cedar joined the Crocodiles as a full-time squad member and subsequently recorded his best NBL numbers. In 31 games, he averaged 4.6 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.[3] With the Heat in 2012, he averaged 17.9 points, a career-high 6.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.4 steals in 14 games.[4]

In 2012–13, Cedar began competing with Mitch Norton for minutes at the guard spot and subsequently averaged just 1.8 points and 1.2 rebounds in 26 games.[3] With the Heat in 2013, he averaged 17.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 15 games.[4] Following the 2013 QBL season, he parted ways with the Crocodiles and the Heat after not receiving a new contract from the Crocodiles for the 2013–14 season.

In 86 games for the Crocodiles over six seasons, Cedar averaged 2.6 points and 1.0 rebounds per game.[3]

Rockhampton Rockets (2014)

On 14 February 2014, Cedar signed with the Rockhampton Rockets for the 2014 QBL season.[7] He helped the Rockets finish the regular season with a 14–2 record and subsequently by-passed the quarter-finals and straight into the semi-finals due to finishing first on the ladder. After defeating the Ipswich Force 115–97 in their semi-final match-up, the Rockets moved on to the best-of-three grand final series where they faced a Mackay Meteors team that featured Cedar's brother, Michael, and their former Crocodiles teammate Todd Blanchfield.[8] The Rockets ended up sweeping the Meteors 2–0 to win back-to-back championships for the first time in club history.[9][10] He appeared in all 19 games for the Rockets in 2014, averaging 13.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game.[4]

Mackay Meteors (2015)

On 26 November 2014, Cedar signed with the Mackay Meteors for the 2015 QBL season[11] and was named team captain. Much like with the Rockets in 2014, Cedar helped the Meteors finish in first place on the ladder at the conclusion of the 2015 regular season, earning a 15–2 record and moved straight into the semi-finals. There they faced a resurgent Toowoomba Mountaineers team, but with a 104–92 win, the Meteors moved on to the grand final series for the second straight year. They faced the Brisbane Capitals in the best-of-three decider, eventually winning the series 2–1, with Cedar scoring 16 points in the decisive Game 3. With the victory, Cedar helped the Meteors win their third championship in five years, while Cedar garnered his second straight QBL title.[12] He appeared in all 21 games for the Meteors in 2015, averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.[4]

Townsville Crocodiles (2016)

On 31 December 2015, Cedar was contacted by Townsville Crocodiles' assistant coach Greg Vanderjagt,[13] who asked Cedar if he was interested in joining the Crocodiles as an injury replacement for Corey Maynard.[14] Cedar happily accepted the offer and joined the Crocodiles in the New Year,[15] signing a two-game contract with his former club.[16] On 8 January 2016, he made his first appearance in an NBL game since 24 March 2013, coming off the bench to back-up import Jordair Jett. In 13 minutes of action, he recorded 3 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist in a 75–61 loss to the Cairns Taipans.[17] Eight days later, he made his second appearance for the Crocodiles, recording three personal fouls in just under nine minutes of action in the team's 108–103 loss to the Adelaide 36ers.[18] Upon the expiration of his two-game contract, and the return of Maynard from injury, Cedar parted ways with the Crocodiles.

Return to Mackay (2016–2019)

On 5 February 2016, Cedar re-signed with the Mackay Meteors for the 2016 QBL season[19] and continued on as team captain. On 1 July 2016, he scored a season-high 34 points in a 100–83 win over the South West Metro Pirates.[20][21] He helped the Meteors finish the regular season in sixth place on the ladder with an 11–6 record. They went on to lose to the Cairns Marlins in quarter-finals. Cedar appeared in all 18 games for the Meteors in 2016, averaging 17.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game.[22]

In January 2017, Cedar re-signed with the Meteors for the 2017 season[23] and continued on as team captain for a third straight year.[24] On 15 July 2017, he scored a season-high 29 points in a 96–81 loss to the Townsville Heat.[25][26] He helped the Meteors finish the regular season in second place on the ladder with a 14–3 record. The Meteors went on to reach the 2017 QBL Grand Final series, where despite a 50-point effort from Cedar in Game 3,[27] Mackay were defeat 2–1 by the Townsville Heat.[28] In 19 games for the Meteors in 2017, he averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game.[29]

On 22 November 2017, Cedar re-signed with the Meteors for the 2018 season.[30][31] In 20 games, he averaged 16.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game.[32]

On 8 January 2019, Cedar re-signed with the Meteors for the 2019 season.[33] In 19 games, he averaged 19.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game.[34]

USC Rip City (2020–present)

On 22 January 2020, Cedar signed with the USC Rip City for the 2020 NBL1 North season.[35] After the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was hoped Cedar would join the Rip in 2021.[36]

Personal

Cedar's older brother, Michael, is also a professional basketball player who played eight seasons in the NBL for the Townsville Crocodiles between 2005 and 2013.[37] Michael has also played in the QBL.[38] In addition, Cedar's wife, Naomi, has played many years in the QBL women's competition.[39]

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References
  1. "2012 Basketball Season Starts Soon". FoxSportsPulse.com. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  2. "QUEENSLAND CEDAR THE KEY". Basketball.net.au. 5 February 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  3. "Player statistics for Christopher Cedar – NBL". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  4. "Player statistics for Chris Cedar – QBL". FoxSportsPulse.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  5. "CROCS HISTORY 1998 – NOW". Crocodiles.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  6. "Crocodiles sign another Cedar". NBL.com.au. 13 August 2010. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  7. "McDonalds Rockhampton Rockets sign guard Chris Cedar". FoxSportsPulse.com. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  8. "Cedar brothers cut ties for QBL finals as teams to clash". TheMorningBulletin.com.au. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  9. Kippin, Lauren (5 September 2014). "2014 QBL SEASON DRAWS TO A CLOSE". BasketballQLD.com.au. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  10. Plane, Melanie (1 September 2014). "VIDEO: Rockets are the toast of QBL again". TheMorningBulletin.com.au. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  11. "Chris Aiming To Bring Championship Success To Meteors". FoxSportsPulse.com. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  12. Lees, Chris (31 August 2015). "Meteors beat Brisbane to be this year's QBL champions". TheMorningBulletin.com.au. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  13. O'Neil, Rohan (5 January 2016). "Chris Cedar reignites NBL career with Townsville Crocs". TownsvilleBulletin.com.au. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  14. Lees, Chris (6 January 2016). "Cedar to replace injured Townsville Crocodiles player". TheMorningBulletin.com.au. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  15. O'Neil, Rohan (4 January 2016). "Maynard injury provides Chris Cedar with second shot at NBL". TownsvilleBulletin.com.au. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  16. Lees, Chris (7 January 2016). "Meteors captain returning to NBL". TheMorningBulletin.com.au. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  17. "Taipans vs Crocodiles". NBL.com.au. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  18. "Crocodiles vs 36ers". NBL.com.au. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
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  20. Lees, Chris (1 July 2016). "Both Mackay's basketball team win well against South West". DailyMercury.com.au. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  21. Lees, Chris (2 July 2016). "Cedar makes huge impact as Meteors win". DailyMercury.com.au. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  22. "Player statistics for Christopher Cedar – 2016". SportsTG.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017.
  23. Peters, Madolyn (11 January 2017). "Meteors captain's back with renewed love for the game". DailyMercury.com.au. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  24. Cassidy, Tara (21 April 2017). "Meteors have 'all the right pieces' to win title". NorthernStar.com.au. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  25. "Heat vs Meteors". FIBALiveStats.com. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  26. Peters, Madolyn (15 July 2017). "UPDATE: Mixed results for Mackay teams on the road". DailyMercury.com.au. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  27. "Meteors vs Heat". FIBALiveStats.com. 27 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  28. Slatter, Trent (27 August 2017). "Townsville Heat beat Mackay to break 17-year QBL title drought". TownsvilleBulletin.com.au. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  29. "Player statistics for Christopher Cedar – 2017". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  30. Kippen, Troy (22 November 2017). "The fire returns for Meteor's inspirational captain". DailyMercury.com.au. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  31. "CAPTAIN CEDAR SIGNS TO LEAD THE MCDONALD'S METEORS IN 2018". SportsTG.com. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  32. "Player statistics for Christopher Cedar – 2018". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  33. "CAPTAIN CEDAR COMMITS TO 2019 SEASON". SportsTG.com. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  34. "Player statistics for Christopher Cedar – 2019". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  35. "Men's Player Announcement". facebook.com/USCRipCityBall. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  36. "USC Rip City Planning to Keep Cedar". NBL1.com.au. 26 May 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  37. "Player statistics for Michael Cedar – NBL". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  38. "Player statistics for Michael Cedar – QBL". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  39. "Naomi Cedar signs with the Meteorettes". DailyMercury.com.au. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
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