Territory basketballers took the court in force through 2020 with young guns and veterans alike proving themselves in a season full of suprises
THE NT News takes a look back at 2020 and the Year That Was in Territory basketball, a year that threw up plenty of spectacles and surprises
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IN a year impacted by COVID-19, Top End basketball threw up plenty of spectacle and surprises for its audiences.
The clubs were as competitive as ever with rising stars, experienced stalwarts and devoted imports putting their bodies on the line to see their sides take home a trophy or two.
Many a side exceeded expectations fronting the highs and lows of competitive sport with both the men’s and women’s competitions putting on a show.
Tracy Village unearthed plenty of juniors with both their squads making finals, Ansett showed their improving depth but it was the men of Eagles and women of Lightning that took home the coveted Championship trophies at the end of the year.
MARCH 4: Territory star Abby Cubillo becomes a two-time national champion with the Canberra Capitals winning back-to-back titles in the WNBL.
MARCH 12: Reigning champions Razzle withdraw their men’s team from the 2020 DBA Championship with a focus on rebuilding after a loss in playing numbers.
MARCH 13: Despite a final round 92-78 loss to second placed Eagles, Ellas Titans top the Challenge league table heading into finals. Deola D’Brown, Willie Shackleford and Deba George all big in the side’s surge to the top.
On the women’s side of the competition Tracy Village stay one point ahead of reigning champions Lightning heading into finals to top the table. However all competition is called off due to COVID-19.
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MAY 7: Clarence McCarthy-Grogan returns to Darwin amid COVID-19 and aids in the running of the Darwin Wheelchair Basketball competition. He is joined by fellow wheelchair basketball superstar Tom O’Neill-Thorne.
MAY 17: Steven and Jordan Sing move from Essington Cannons to Palmerston Power, with the Palmerston side also gaining ex-Razzle duo Jesse Bell and Shaquille Hohipa-Wilson.
Import Raymond Jarrett moves from Palmerston to Essington.
MAY 28: Former Razzle star import and 2019 Championship MVP Fred Williams links up with the Steve Toohey coached Ansett.
MAY 29: James Toohey announced as the most recent in a line of Top End talent to sign with Central Maine Community College in the United States. The 18-year-old had previously impressed coach Dave Gonyea.
JUNE 11: Senior competitions return to play for a revamped Championship competition that would run until early December with each team playing each other three times through the regular season.
Tracy Village make an early mark beating Challenge season table toppers Ellas Titans 115-81 with Joel Stevens and Keenan Abbott standing out. Ansett also knock off Essington on the opening night 95-77 showing their depth will be tough for any side to contend with.
JUNE 25: The women of Tracy Village send a warning to reigning premiers Lightning with a close-fought 53-51 win in Round 3. New recruit Michelle Ellis stands out for Jets while Dom Carbone top scores for Lightning.
JULY 20: Forestville Eagles and Territorian Ambah Kowcun returns to Darwin and links up with respected mentor Timmy Duggan at his Hoops 4 Health Clinic in Malak. Kowcun would head to the US several weeks later to take up her dream scholarship at North Dakota State College.
JULY 24: The young Tracy Village side lay an early title claim in a tight Round 4 89-85 win over Eagles. Star import Jerron Jamerson makes his debut for the side and makes an instant impression with a 44 point game.
JULY 31: Ambah Kowcun and Danielle Ponter inspire Uni Rebels to a 67-55 win over Lightning in a match where Kowcun scores 34 points for her former club.
AUGUST 24: Rockets win the Alice Springs league beating Magic 81-67. Schaylen Parai and Copelan Ford stood out for Rockets while James Melky stood out for Magic.
AUGUST 28: Chantelle Lee returns to play for Uni Rebels a week after giving birth.
AUGUST 18: Ansett’s long-term import Rob Skinner heads back to the United States after three years with the club.
SEPTEMBER 12: Wheelchair basketball superstars Clarence McCarthy-Grogan and Tom O’Neill-Thorne host a wheelchair basketball exhibition match to showcase their sport. The duo are also once again named in an extended squad ahead of the Paralympics.
NOVEMBER 12: The DBA celebrates its inaugural Indigenous round with each team designing a special jersey for the round.
A massive game from Tracy Village’s Will Burton sees his side secure second on the table after beating an Ansett side full of talent 98-94. Ansett fought hard with their young contingent of Joel De Barros, James Toohey and Freddy Webb alongside the experience of Fred Williams and Matty Hunt. Eagles would finish top of the table.
Tracy Village women make it 20 wins from 20 regular season games beating Razzle 96-18 with a 25 point showing from young gun Erin Geer.
NOVEMBER 14: The DBA Gala Awards Dinner celebrated the best of the DBA season. Jerron Jamerson and Kylie Duggan, both from Tracy Village, were named the MVPs of their respective leagues. Sophie Palmer and Freddy Webb (both Ansett) were awarded under 23 youth league players of the year while Lachlan Shipway and Tahnee De Santis (both Essington) were given the sportsmanship awards.
Jason Ivinson was named Women’s Coach of the Year for his work with Lightning while Ansett’s Steve Toohey was awarded the Men’s Coach of the Year.
NOVEMBER 19: Massive games from Elijah Barbour (42 points), Raymond Jarrett (35 points) and Lachlan Shipway (14 points) sees Essington upset Ansett in the minor semi-final knocking the men in blue out of the competition. Freddy Webb and Fred Williams stood out for the losing side both scoring 27 points.
Lightning upset Tracy Village on the same night forcing the previously undefeated minor premiers into the preliminary final.
NOVEMBER 20: Eagles continue their unbeaten run with a 76-67 win over Tracy Village in the major semi. David Oates and Pat Golong score 12 each, while usual performers Chris Elder, Joseph Jackson and Ambros Eugster also stood out.
Ansett knock out Essington Cannons out of the women’s competition with their quartet of Frances Fatnowna, Sophie Palmer, Jessica Goodluck and T’Leyah Turner all putting in big shifts. Ieasha Friel, Josephine Guthridge and Jada Crawshaw led the scoring for the Cannons.
NOVEMBER 27: A massive night for Tracy Village as both the women and men enjoy victories and gain passage into the grand final.
The Jets women were dominant in their 94-74 win over Ansett. Erin Geer, Tania Dhu, Sam Rioli, Michelle Ellis and Kylie Duggan all laid on the points executing their game plan to earn entrance into the final.
Meanwhile, the men enjoyed a similar result pulling away in the final to beat Essington 125-84 with all 12 of their players getting minutes and points on the board.
DECEMBER 5: Dom Carbone, April Rummery Lamb and Claire Maree O’Bryan star for Lightning in the Women’s Championship grand final beating longtime rivals Tracy Village 94-66 and securing their third title in as many seasons.
Eagles cap off their unbeaten run of 19 games with a thrilling 94-82 grand final win over Tracy Village.
Captain Chris Elder stood out with 35 points.
The side kicked off early but Jets would rally late in the game with Thomas Malseed, Ned Stevens, Joel Stevens and Will Burton all rallying to bring the game home.
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