How Coast basketball history was made

DOUBLE Dribble this week looks at how basketball history was made on the Gold Coast.

60 YEARS OF GOLD COAST BASKETBALL

Next year brings up the anniversary of the first time a ball was dribbled in anger on the Gold Coast. 1959 a group containing Keith Ferguson, Adrian and Kurt Barendreight, John Allen, Ian and Graeme Radcliffe, Graham Taylor, Bob Dux and John Birmingham used the existing netball posts at the old Rotary centre on Lawson Street, Southport. Within two weeks, correct backboards and rings were in place and basketball on the Gold Coast has never looked back.

There will be some events to mark the occasion, more than likely an event at the old site at Southport with life members and other dignitaries.

WHAT NBA RULE CHANGES MEAN FOR THE COAST

RAINING THREES

At the end of the NBA’s 2012 season, teams averaged 96.3 pointer per game, with 18.4 3-point shots attempted from deep. This year has the league rocking 113.4 points per game on 31.6 3-point shots attempted. Traditional big men that roamed the ring and dominated by strength are getting run out of the game. If they can’t stretch the floor with their shooting range or be able to defend on the perimeter, there are less and less opportunities for them to be on the floor.

The European professional leagues have long been more encouraging of players pulling from deep and even the WNBA was ahead of the curve to the NBA for shooting 3’s. However, the NBA has caught up now and it makes for a fan friendly experience. Burger joints might have to start offering free slides for scores of 120 in the near future at NBL games.

JUNIOR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Gold Coast basketball junior Wilson Partridge.

Name: Wilson Partridge

Age: 14

Club team: Somerset Spartans

Rep team: 16 Boys Rollers

School: Somerset College

Ambition: To go to College in the US & one day play in the NBA!

Coach Comment: Wilson has shown consistent improvement in the last 3 years of representative basketball. Foremost is his coachability and his strength as a team mate. If he works hard he can get to play college ball.