SA’s wheelchair basketball team Adelaide Thunder join forces West Adelaide Bearcats to secure long-term future

SA’s wheelchair basketball team Adelaide Thunder has secured its long-term future in the national league after joining forces with West Adelaide.

West Adelaide’s Joshua Grieger, 12, with Bearcats import Bryan Jefferson, SA wheelchair basketballer Phil Stephensm Sienna Grieger, 12, Leila Grieger 7, and Aiden Grieger, 10. Adelaide’s national wheelchair basketball team the Thunder has merged with West Adelaide. Picture: AAP/Emma Brasier

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SOUTH Australia’s wheelchair basketball team has joined forces with West Adelaide, helping secure its long-term future in the national league.

Adelaide Thunder will now be known as West Adelaide Thunder and the Bearcats will run the club’s administration.

The Thunder re-entered the national wheelchair basketball league in 2017 after a three-year hiatus owing to an inability to raise the $40,000 needed to feature in the competition.

But with help from a sponsor and anonymous donor it was able to field a team during the past two seasons.

Thunder captain Adam Roocke said joining West Adelaide would alleviate the pressure placed on Disability Recreation Sports SA, which had previously run the club’s administration, and allow it to help other sports.

West Adelaide import Bryan Jefferson, pictured with the Thunder’s Phil Stephens. They are now one club as the Thunder has joined forces with the Bearcats. Picture: AAP/Emma Brasier

Roocke said players were keen to represent the Bearcats and add to the club’s history.

“Wheelchair basketball isn’t as well known in the sporting world as able-bodied basketball is,” Roocke said.

“To be able to affiliate with a club with such a great member base and such great history, it’s taking our club further a lot quicker than what we could do on our own.

“We are hoping with West Adelaide on board, it will help us attract more sponsorship, help us raise more money through their contacts and the increase in awareness of our team.

“We are also hoping this partnership will help our aim at longevity in the league.”

Thunder players Phil Stephens (left) and Adam Roocke (right), pictured two years ago, at West Adelaide’s courts. Picture: Stephen Laffer

West Adelaide president Geoff Dodd said a partnership with the Thunder began in 2017 after the Bearcats allowed them to use their Port Adelaide courts for home games.

Dodd said the merger was an “extension” of the partnership.

“It’s a very exciting development and we are taking another step to welcoming them into our club in a more formal way,” he said.

“West Adelaide Basketball Club has been around since 1946 and we have always been a very proactive club … this is just another step in that.

“Part of our role is to help develop the sport of basketball, whether that be abled-bodied or disability.”

Dodd believed uniting with the Thunder would open up new sponsorship deals for the Bearcats and also help increase its membership numbers from 600.

“They are helping us, as well, in the sense of building our reputation as a basketball club,” he said.