Posted on 30 July, 2012

Kilsyth Sports Centre welcomes NBL team Melbourne Tigers and the Washington State University Cougars (USA) to its esteemed venue on Tuesday 7 August 2012 to tip off at 7:30pm in an international game on Hugh McMenamin Court. 

Australia’s oldest and most respected men’s professional Basketball team, the Melbourne Tigers finished the 2011/2012 season in 6th place on the ladder with an 11-17 record and will officially open up their 2012/2013 iiNet NBL Championship Season on Sunday 7 October 2012.

This international fixture, brought to you by Coca-Cola, will provide an exclusive first early look at the team and allow fans the chance to see newly acquired major signings of prized young guard Nate Tomlinson (University of Colorado, USA) and veteran Adam Ballinger from Adelaide, plus the 2011-12 returning members Tommy Greer, Matt Burston, Lucas Walker, Bennie Lewis and Liam Rush in action.

The Washington State University Cougars make the long trip to Kilsyth as part of an international pre-season tour.  The Cougars play in the competitive Pacific-12 Conference in NCAA Division 1 athletics in the USA and had a 19-18 record in their last season.  In addition to playing the Melbourne Tigers at Kilsyth Sports Centre, the Cougars will also travel to play the Wollongong Hawks, Cairns Taipans, ABA Queensland franchise North Invitational Team and SEABL franchise Brisbane Spartans. 

The trip down under is particularly of interest to the three Australian players on the Cougars’ line-up who will have a chance to play in front of a home crowd.  Melbourne native Dexter Kernich-Drew of Caulfield Grammar will suit up at guard for the team along with newest addition James Hunter who hails from Sydney.  The team’s third Australian member, Brock Motum, is also their leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 18 points and 6.4 rebounds in their last season.  Motum hails from Brisbane and attended the Australian Institute of Sport.  He was named to last year’s All Pac-12 First Team and also given the Pac-12 Most Improved Player honour. 

The Cougars’ Australian and Kilsyth Basketball connection extends even further as Assistant Coach Ben Johnson played three years of professional Basketball in Cairns for the Taipans in 1993-95 under then Head Coach Rod Popp, who now serves as Director of Basketball Operations at Kilsyth Basketball

Tickets are now on sale at the Kilsyth Basketball office for this highly anticipated matchup at Kilsyth Sports Centre on Tuesday 7 August 2012 at 7:30pm – Adults $5 and Children $2 – Doors open at 6:30pm.

Don’t miss your chance to see the Tigers in pre-season action against an in form Washington State University Cougars outfit making their Australian debut with some home-grown Aussie talent. 

Call Kilsyth Basketball on (03) 9728 1033 or visit the Kilsyth Sports Centre at 115 Liverpool Rd, Kilsyth for tickets.