The Southern Huskies preparation for the 2019 Sal’s NBL season started well before most teams. Last year’s announcement that the Tasmanian based franchise was joining the NBL was ground-breaking for both basketball and sport in Aotearoa. They are the Australian sports team to join a New Zealand based competition and hold great expectations going into their inaugural season.
The latest addition to the Sal’s NBL is looking to hit the ground running and carry over the recent successes of Australian basketball. Former ANBL player Anthony Stewart has picked up the coaching reigns in the city that landed him his first professional contract. Stewart coached the Hobart Chargers to the 2018 South East Australia Basketball League title and says he would love to emulate last year’s winning ways.
“I’m really impressed at the calibre of talent that is going to be on-show both here and in New Zealand.
“Obviously this is our first year in the competition and with that everything is going to be new to us, but I’m still expecting the best of myself, my team and our consortium.
“As an organisation we have some pretty lofty goals for the future and in order for us to get there we have to be a winning team.”
A familiar face this season for the Hobart faithful is Tre Nichols. Nichols was an influential figure on the Chargers, averaging a team-high 24 points and chipping in with five assists and four boards. He is sure to be a offensive headache for any opposing backcourt.
Notable additions to the Huskies in 2019 are Jalen Billups, Marcel Jones and Craig Moller. Billups played in the Australian State Basketball League and was the fifth leading points scorer with 24 points per game average. The big man also averaged eight rebounds per contest and led his team, the Joondalup Wolves, to the Grand Final. Moller is a former Australian Rules Football player who most recently played or Melbourne United in 2018-19 ANBL season. Jones is currently playing in Bahrain for Al-Ahli Sports Club and is expected to join the team by the third round.
The Huskies 2019 Sal’s NBL campaign starts on Thursday April 18 when they play the Manawatu Jets, in what will be a three game road-trip for the Tasmanians.
Tickets are now available from the Derwent Entertainment Centre. For more information visit https://southernhuskies.com.au/schedule/.
