Basketball On The Internet.

STEPH Talbot has joined Dante Exum as another potential Australian international superstar, named today in the All Star Five at the FIBA World U19 Women’s Championship in Lithuania.

Exum was similarly selected in the All Star Five at the FIBA U19 Men’s Championship in Prague where the Emus lost a classic Bronze Medal playoff to Lithuania 100-106 in overtime.

He finished with 28 points, five assists and five rebounds in the Bronze Medal playoff.

Talbot went one better, leading the Gems to Bronze 73-68 over Spain, with 22 points at 78 per cent, nine rebounds and three assists.

This how we reported it today: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/lightning-guard-leads-gems-to-bronze-medal/story-fnii09ki-1226687471190

And in case you missed it at the time, this was how we reported Dante's exploits: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/basketball/dante-exum-may-skip-college-and-is-a-chance-to-become-a-top-10-pick-in-the-nba-draft/story-fni2u9cl-1226676569788

MOUNT Gambier’s 95-82 win over arch SEABL rival Ballarat on Friday ensured the club’s celebrations at The Icehouse went off without a hitch, the Pioneers commemorating the 10-year anniversary of their championship.

A decade ago, the Pioneers claimed the Australian Basketball Association championship as it then was known, by beating Ballarat 127-113 in a memorable Grand Final in Bendigo.

A week earlier, Mount Gambier caved in the Miners in the South Conference Grand Final but both teams won their cross-draw semis against East Conference finalists to create yet a further re-match for the SEABL (ABA) crown.

The 2003 championship Pioneers were Jason Sedlock (co-captain), Damien Anderson (co-captain), Damien Smith, Jamie Holmes, Kurt Russell, Allen Cram, Ben Jones, Brad Wilson, Sam Fotu, Jason Joynes and Kingsley Clarke. Coach was Sonya Knight, assisted by Kym Hammond, with Brian Green managing and Linda McRobert the head trainer.

It was a watershed year for Mount Gambier, Jamie Holmes winning the Most Valuable Player award and Kurt Russell named Under 23 South Conference Player of the Year.

Holmes and Anderson both were named in the SEABL All-Star Five.

In case you were wondering, the East Conference’s 2003 Player of the Year was a youngster you might now have heard of, named Andrew Bogut.

Bogey also was MVP of the East Conference.

Adding to the Mount Gambier-Ballarat rivalry is the fact the Pioneers also beat the Miners in the South Conference semi final, making it a 3-0 sweep en route to the championship.

In the 2002 season, Mount Gambier had been knocked out in the first semi final 108-101 … by Ballarat.

It was fitting then that the Pioneers prevailed at The Icehouse - not to be confused with Adelaide Arena’s new name, The Outhouse -  the main game following the grand reunion.

The preliminary game featured “Green”, coached by Mark Lampshire, with Damien Smith, Craig Stratford, Jason Sedlock, Ray De Wit, Scott Lampshire, Tony Cook, Shane Mobbs, Peter Wischi, Chris Mason, Jason Dix against Sonya Knight’s “Yellow” team of  Sam Futo, Jason Joynes, Dan Stratford, Dave Bowden, Dallas Jeffree, Jason Baylis, Kingsley Clark, Ben Riddle, Matt Alexander and Ben Anderson.

RECALLING Bogut reminds me he is NOT an advocate of the NBL's existing Player Points System.

Working out with some promising players such as free agents Auryn Macmillan and Rhys Carter before he jetted off to Croatia, in response to a query about a system which can keep players such as them out of the league, he tweeted: "Crazy. Nbl points cap for u.

"Macmillan should be on a roster for sure. Rhys is making just as much in Sweden I believe."

The good news is Auryn may not have too much longer to wait...

THE 36ers are on the preseason track now too, details at: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/ers-open-preseason-nbl-practice/story-fnii09ki-1226687548216

HAVE been hearing the name Ian Stacker associated with the new NBL management structure.

Could Stax be the man in charge of the referees??

Ulp.

Speaking of which, Tim Mills had the Bronze Medal game at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia and would have been appointed to the Gold Medal game had Australia not been involved.

Queensland's Toni Caldwell called the women's Gold Medal match in Kazan.

Our officials have been enjoying a pretty good run since NBL Ref of the Year Michael Aylen called the Men’s Gold Medal Final at the 2012 London Olympics.

Chris Reid had the Gold Medal game at FIBA's U19 Men’s World Championship in Prague.

Clearly, our best are right up there. And you thought they were all pi$$ and wind.

BARON Davis was concerned at the "white noise" coming out of his television until Metta World Peace turned off the Dave Letterman Show.