The Eagles Basketball Club originated as two social teams (SBF) at the Daly Street Courts in 1982.The club gradually grew and in 1985 became the Museum Eagles with two men’s and two women’s s teams.The origin of the name was a result of approximately half the players either working at, or had connections with, the Museum & Art Gallery of the NT.The name was changed again in 1988 to reflect the changing times and the increase in the number of registered players who were not at the museum.In 1988 the club incorporated junior girls teams and in 1989 added the junior boys.

 

In the DBA ‘Championship Season’ of 1990 the Eagles Basketball Club were accepted for the first time into the League competition (the highest level of play).Although the women’s team did not perform as well as was intended, the men’s team exceeded expectations and finished in a tie for the fourth playoff position.Unfortunately the team missed a place in the finals on percentage points.

 

In 1992 Eagle recruit Steven Stewart was chosen as the DBA MVP for League and Under 21 competitions.This was a ‘first’ for the fledgling club.Steven was recruited by club secretary Donna Hurst (pictured) - the founder of the Eagles Basketball Club - who noticed him and a couple of his mates at the basketball courts in Broome, Western Australia.Three players rolled into Darwin for the start of the 1992 season and they all came from the remote community of Yandeyarra in Western Australia.They were Steven, Junior Gordon and Ronald Eaton, all playing in the Men’s League competition.

1992 also saw a concerted effort on the part of the Darwin community, including the Eagle Basketball Club, to secure the services of Chinese Center/Forward Youfang Lai (Steven Lai - pictured) for the expressed purpose of coaching juniors as a Development Officer for the club and as a player for the League men.The 1.97m, 90kg English Interpreter from Hubei Province in China, played professional basketball, was a former Chinese United Youth Team Representative, and toured overseas with the Chinese Olympic Team.

Steven helped the Eagles capture the NT Championship title two years in a row, 1995 and 1996, and both times he came away with the MVP award.Steven led the DBA League in total points scored in 1994 wet season with 312pts and finished his career with the Eagles (1993 wet season thru 1997 dry) with 100 games played for a total of 1416 pts.

 

Since being admitted into Men and Women League competition the Eagle men have won two Northern Territory Championship Titles (95 & 96), played in five Dry season Grand Finals and won two (1998 & 2000) and played in five Wet season Grand Finals, winning two, most recently 2009.The women played in the 1994 Dry season Grand Final, 2004, 2005 & won it in 2007. They have also played in the 2006, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 12 Wet season grand finals…winning in 2006, 2008 & 2009.