Nunawading Spectres

{{Short description|Melbourne-based basketball club}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox basketball club | name = Nunawading Spectres | logo = Nunawading Spectres.png | leagues = [[NBL1 South]] | founded = 1979 | history = '''[[National Basketball League (Australia)|NBL]]/[[Women's National Basketball League|WNBL]]:''' '''Men:''' '''Nunawading Spectres''' 1979–1986 '''Eastside Spectres''' 1987–1991 '''Women:''' '''Nunawading Spectres''' 1982–1991 '''[[South East Australian Basketball League|SEABL]]/[[NBL1]]''' '''Men:''' '''Nunawading Spectres''' 1990–present '''Women:''' '''Nunawading Spectres''' 1992–present | arena = Nunawading Basketball Centre | capacity = | location = [[Burwood East, Victoria]] | colors = Royal blue, red, white | sponsor = Quest Burwood East | president = | vice-presidents = | manager = | coach = '''M:''' Andrew Cutler '''W:''' Paul Flynn | ownership = | league_champs = '''Men:''' '''SEABL''' (1){{hlist|[[List of SEABL champions#Men|2011]]}}'''NBL1''' (1){{hlist|[[2019 NBL1 season|2019]]}}'''Women:''' '''WNBL''' (6){{hlist|[[1983 WNBL season|1983]]|[[1984 WNBL season|1984]]|[[1986 WNBL season|1986]]|[[1987 WNBL season|1987]]|[[1988 WNBL season|1988]]|[[1989 WNBL season|1989]]}} | conf_champs = '''Men:''' '''SEABL''' (3) {{hlist|[[List of SEABL champions#Men|1995]]|[[List of SEABL champions#Men|2011]]|[[List of SEABL champions#Men|2014]]}} | website = [https://www.nbl1.com.au/club/nunawading-spectres NBL1.com.au] | h_body = | h_pattern_b = | h_shorts = | h_pattern_s = | a_body = | a_pattern_b = | a_shorts = | a_pattern_s = }}

'''Nunawading Spectres''' is a [[NBL1 South]] club based in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]]. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Melbourne East Basketball Association (MEBA), the major administrative basketball organisation in the [[City of Whitehorse]]. The Spectres play their home games at Nunawading Basketball Centre.

==Club history== ===NBL/WNBL=== [[File:Eastside Spectres.png|left|thumb|150px|Eastside Spectres logo (1987–1991)]] In 1979, a Nunawading Spectres men's team entered the [[National Basketball League (Australia)|National Basketball League]] (NBL), joining nine other teams for the league's [[1979 NBL season|inaugural season]]. In 1987, the team changed their name to Eastside Spectres and spent five years under that moniker before merging with the [[Southern Melbourne Saints]] in 1992 to become the [[South East Melbourne Magic]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Howell |first=Stephen |date=1992-01-19 |title=The making of Melbourne Magic |pages=68 |work=The Age |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94421715/the-making-of-melbourne-magic/ |access-date=2022-02-07}}</ref> During their time in the NBL, the Spectres were two-time grand finalists, losing to [[Launceston Casino City Tigers|Launceston]] in 1981 and [[Perth Wildcats|Perth]] in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hickey|first=Matt|url=https://pickandroll.com.au/p/the-nunawading-spectres-an-aussie|title=The Nunawading Spectres: An Aussie basketball factory|work=pickandroll.com.au|date=16 December 2021|access-date=11 March 2024}}</ref>

Between 1982 and 1991, a Nunawading Spectres women's team played in the [[Women's National Basketball League]] (WNBL). The team won six championships in ten seasons under coach [[Tom Maher]] and guard [[Robyn Maher]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wnbl.basketball/blog/news/robyn-maher-on-her-incredible-career/|title=ROBYN MAHER ON HER INCREDIBLE CAREER|work=wnbl.basketball|date=22 September 2023|access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref> including four in a row between 1986 and 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.australia.basketball/news/3339285/tom-maher-inducted-to-the-fiba-hall-of-fame|title=Tom Maher inducted to the FIBA Hall of Fame|work=[[Basketball Australia]]|date=21 June 2021|access-date=11 March 2024}}</ref> Following the 1991 season, the team's WNBL license was obtained by the [[Dandenong Rangers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wnbl.basketball/southside/history/|title=History|work=wnbl.basketball/southside|access-date=11 March 2024}}</ref>

===SEABL/NBL1=== In 1990, with the Eastside Spectres still a championship contender in the NBL, a Nunawading Spectres men's team re-emerged in the form of a [[South East Australian Basketball League]] (SEABL) franchise. In 1992, a Spectres women's team debuted in the SEABL.<ref name=media-guide>{{cite web|url=http://seabl.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SEABL2017_MediaGuide_COMPLETE2.pdf|title=SEABL 2017 Media Guide|work=SEABL.com.au|access-date=8 June 2017|page=71}}</ref>

In 1995, the men's team collected their first title as they won the SEABL East Conference championship. The women's team were SEABL runners-up in both 2000 and 2008, while the men were conference runners-up in 1999 and 2004.<ref name="media-guide" />

In 2011, the men's team won their second conference title and their first [[List of SEABL champions|SEABL championship]] after defeating the [[Bendigo Braves]] 88–61 in the grand final. Spectres guard [[Shane McDonald]] had a game-high 28 points to earn the MVP award.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dole|first=Nathan|url=http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/718524/braves-outmuscled-in-national-championship-final/|title=Braves outmuscled in national championship final|work=BendigoAdvertiser.com.au|date=18 September 2011|access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Dole|first=Nathan|url=http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/718652/braves-fall-at-last-hurdle/|title=Braves fall at last hurdle|work=BendigoAdvertiser.com.au|date=18 September 2011|access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref>

After finishing as conference runners-up in 2013,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-09/pioneers-net-win-in-nail-biting-south-conference/4945598|title=Pioneers net win in nailbiting south conference final|work=abc.net.au|date=9 September 2013|access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref> the men's team won their third conference title in 2014 behind the likes of [[Mitch Creek]], [[Tommy Greer]], Shane McDonald, Simon Conn and Matt O'Hea.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hustwaite|first=Megan|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/sport/young-star-lifts-nunawading-spectres-over-the-line-in-southeast-australian-basketball-league-final-against-geelong-supercats/news-story/e6f9ace4637052e99f0523c8194ee191|title=Young star lifts Nunawading Spectres over the line in South-East Australian Basketball League final against Geelong Supercats|work=HeraldSun.com.au|date=8 September 2014|access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref> They went on to lose 85–71 in the SEABL grand final to the [[Mount Gambier Pioneers]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hill|first1=Kate|last2=Sneath|first2=Gretel|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2014/09/15/4087588.htm|title=Championship win 'redemption' for Pioneers|work=ABC.net.au|date=15 September 2014|access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref>

In 2018, the Spectres men finished as SEABL runners-up after losing in the grand final to the [[Hobart Chargers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://seabl.com.au/hobart-chargers-defence-sees-them-win-2018-grand-final/|title=HOBART CHARGERS' DEFENCE SEES THEM WIN 2018 GRAND FINAL|work=SEABL.com.au|date=18 August 2018|access-date=18 August 2018}}</ref>

In [[2019 NBL1 season|2019]], following the demise of the SEABL, the Spectres joined the [[NBL1]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbl.com.au/news/article/nbl1-to-showcase-next-level-of-australias-basketball-talent|title=NBL1 to Showcase Next Level of Australia's Basketball Talent|work=NBL.com.au|date=15 February 2019|access-date=15 February 2019}}</ref> The men went on to win the championship with a 99–90 win over the [[Bendigo Braves]] in the grand final.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nbl1.com.au/news/article/grand-final-nunawading-vs-bendigo | title=Grand Final - Nunawading vs Bendigo | work=NBL1.com.au | date=17 August 2019 | access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fibalivestats.com/u/NBL1/1315906/bs.html | title=Spectres vs Braves | work=FIBALiveStats.com | date=17 August 2019 | access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nunawadingbasketball.com.au/spectres-championship-ends-bendigo-fairytale/|title=SPECTRES CHAMPIONSHIP ENDS BENDIGO FAIRYTALE|work=nunawadingbasketball.com.au|date=20 August 2019|access-date=19 May 2023}}</ref> The [[NBL1 South]] season did not go ahead in 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Arsenis|first=Damian|url=https://pickandroll.com.au/2020-nbl1-season-facing-cancellation-as-south-teams-withdraw/|title=2020 NBL1 season facing uncertainty as South teams withdraw|work=pickandroll.com.au|date=20 March 2020|accessdate=20 March 2020}}</ref>

==NBL Season by season== {{Eastside Spectres Season by season}}

==Honour roll== {| class="wikitable" |- align=left | style="background:#efefef;" | NBL Championships: | None |- | style="background:#efefef;" | NBL Finals Appearances: | 8 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1991) |- | style="background:#efefef;" | NBL Grand Final Appearances: | 1 (1991) |- | style="background:#efefef;" | NBL Most Valuable Players: | None |- | style="background:#efefef;" | NBL Grand Final MVPs: | None |- | style="background:#efefef;"| All-NBL First Team: | [[Kent Lockhart]] (1989) |- | style="background:#efefef;"| All-NBL Second Team: | [[Vince Hinchin]] (1987), [[Dean Uthoff]] (1988, 1989), [[Bruce Bolden]] (1990), Kent Lockhart (1990) |- | style="background:#efefef;" | NBL Coach of the Year: | [[Barry Barnes (basketball)|Barry Barnes]] (1980) |- | style="background:#efefef;" | NBL Rookie of the Year: | [[Steve Lunardon]] (1986) |- | style="background:#efefef;" | NBL Most Improved Player: | [[Darren Lucas]] (1988) |- | style="background:#efefef;" | NBL Best Defensive Player: | None |- | style="background:#efefef;" | NBL Best Sixth Man: | None |- |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.nunawadingbasketball.com.au/ Nunawading Basketball's official website] * [https://www.nbl1.com.au/club/nunawading-spectres Official NBL1 club website]

[[Category:South East Australian Basketball League teams]] [[Category:Defunct National Basketball League (Australia) teams]] [[Category:Defunct Women's National Basketball League teams]] [[Category:Basketball teams established in 1979]] [[Category:Basketball teams in Melbourne]] [[Category:Sport in the City of Whitehorse]]