West Adelaide Bearcats
| West Adelaide Bearcats | |
|---|---|
| League | NBL (1979–1984) Central ABL / Premier League (1984–present) |
| Established | 1946 |
| History |
West Adelaide Bearcats 1946–present |
| Arena |
Pt. Adelaide Rec Centre (current) Apollo Stadium (former) |
| Location | Adelaide |
| Team colours | Black and Red |
| Championships | NBL: 1 (1982) |
| Website | bearcats.net.au |
The West Adelaide Bearcats are a semi-professional basketball team competing in the Premier League.
In 1979 the West Adelaide Bearcats were a foundation club in the National Basketball League (NBL) before merging with the Adelaide 36ers in 1985. West's American import player/coach Ken Richardson had the honor of being the first ever winner of the NBL's Most Valuable Player award in the league's inaugural season.
Founded in 1946, the Bearcats (known at the time as the West Adelaide Arcacia Bearcats) won the 1982 NBL Grand Final 80–74 against the Geelong Cats at the Broadmeadow Basketball Stadium in Newcastle. During the 1982 regular season West Adelaide finished first with a 21–5 win/loss record. The Bearcats, captain/coached by Richardson, were led by 1982 NBL MVP Al Green with 26.5 points per game and Leroy Loggins with 25 ppg. Green led the team with 2.4 assists per game while Loggins was the leading rebounder with 8.5 per game. Other star players on the 1982 NBL championship team were 1980 Olympian Peter Ali, as well as Brad Dalton and Ray Wood.
One of the Bearcats best ever players, US-born guard Al Green was the Bearcats second and last NBL MVP winner in the 1982 championship season. Although he won the MVP award he was controversially not named to the All NBL First Team. Leroy Loggins, a future three time NBL MVP with the Brisbane Bullets, was the only West player to be selected to the 1982 All NBL First Team
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