Basketball On The Internet.

KRISTI Harrower's career was one of the great ones.

Australians are abundantly aware of the significant contributions made by Andrew Gaze, Lauren Jackson, Luc Longley and Penny Taylor to our mainstream world's awareness of basketball.

Patty Mills and Andrew Bogut continue the tradition but those with longer memories will recall the late great Ian Davies and Larry Sengstock and Phil Smyth and Andy Blicavs and Danny Morseu and Brian Kerle. They will remember Karin Maar and Jenny Cheesman and Robyn Maher and Sandy Brondello and Rachael Sporn and Michele Timms too.

And in any such list of the players who put our game on the map, Kristi Harrower's name deserves to be there right in the middle - the 162cm embodiment of the exception-to-the-rule that basketball is a big man's game.

She has defied the odds to not only become one of our greatest Opals, but arguably our greatest point guard - and that's an unbelievably super field.

There were three in that quick list off the top of my head three paragraphs back and that was without names such as Smithwick, Stirling, Bain, Bevilaqua, Kingi, Phillips, Cook ... and a half dozen more.

Had the pleasure of seeing a very young Kristi play for Adelaide Lightning - and win a WNBL title - back in 1994, when she also ran around in our top SA league with South Adelaide Panthers.

Got to see more of her there, obviously, and she already showed clear on-court leadership skills as an 18-year-old.

Few would have been clever enough to predict a 21-year career either at or very near the summit of our sport in the WNBL, WNBA, France, Germany, four Olympics, four World Championships.

And before all that, she was instrumental in 1993 with co-captain Michelle Brogan in leading Australia to its historic first Gold Medal in meaningful international competition at the FIBA World Championship for Junior Women (U19) in Seoul.

It was a sign of things to come for Harrower.

On Sunday, the fans in Bendigo get a chance to bid her farewell as a player one final time, a player who retired from international basketball after the 2012 London Olympics, then focused on winning WNBL titles in 2012-13 and 2013-14.

She did it at an age, too, when most players are looking back fondly on their careers while fudging the memory of their abilities in front of the television set.

Kristi has always been a Bendigo girl. Hopefully Bendigo will remember that and show her all due respect on Sunday.

Here's the original News Corp story: http://bit.ly/14tHQgV 

NOT too surprised with the NBL's selections for December awards with Jordan McRae (Player) and Dean Vickerman (Coach) the men of the month.

Both were stand-outs, McRae leading Melbourne to a virtual shut-out of the top four and Vickerman backing up his November accolade with a prolonged stay at the summit for New Zealand.

How much must Vickers be enjoying season 2014-15 as compared to his 2013-14 debut?

Here's how we reported this today: http://bit.ly/1tLWoOW 

 

HALLELUJAH! The WNBL has finally handed down its finding in the report against Lightning guard Angela Marino this afternoon.

Marino, who took a guilty plea to "bad language" toward referee Benn McDonald after Adelaide's 70-73 home loss to Canberra on December 19, was given a reprimand.

December 19 charged. January 8 finding.

Nice.

Even Joey Wright thought that took a little long.

Adam Tatalovich thought that took a little long.

Fraser Neill thought that took a little long.

FIBA thought the findings were very quickly delivered.

 

WNBL PotW

WELL done to the WNBL in selecting Penny Taylor - our B.O.T.I. Player of the Week - as its PotW this round.

Had a feeling the league might lean toward Kelsey Griffin's terrific display for Bendigo against West Coast but Taylor's twin performances in key road wins for Dandenong made her the obvious choice.

In agreement with the NBL this week too, the league finally recognising Brian Conklin for the first time as its PotW.

He's way ahead here at B.O.T.I. as a three-time winner.

PENNY FOR HER THOUGHTS: Opals captain PT is PotW

 

NBL Rankings

This Wk-Prev (Record)

8 (8) HAWKS 3-15 – A double now against league-leader New Zealand is almost a war crime.

7 (7) CROCODILES 6-12 - Townsville could win both games and as easily drop both. It isn't comforting.

6 (6) 36ERS 7-11 - Took a jolt from NZ and now the season is on the line.

5 (4) KINGS 7-10 - JChillin is back but AnBran out. It doesn't get easier for Sydney.

4 (5) UNITED 10-8 - Can kill off Adelaide and have the weaponry to do it.

3 (3) WILDCATS 12-5 - Time to put Taipans in the basket or revisit strategies.

2 (1) TAIPANS 13-6 - Dropping to 36ers hurt but must stand up now to make statement.

1 (2) BREAKERS 14-5 - A double against Wollongong makes NZ vulnerable in second leg.

 

WNBL Rankings

This Wk-Prev (Record)

8 (7) WAVES 4-10 - Can bounce back this round after falling off the pace recently.

7 (8) LIGHTNING 3-11 - Looked the goods last round but road double is trouble.

6 (6) CAPITALS 6-9 – Heading for playoff-spectator status and must stop Waves.

5 (5) FLAMES 7-7 – On the skid and a loss this round would make the run home arduous.

4 (3) BOOMERS 8-7 - Will the extra week's rest pay off or hurt? Time to find out.

3 (4) RANGERS 8-7 - Better than advertised (at last) but Fire on road is a nightmare.

2 (2) SPIRIT 10-4 – Will farewell Kristi in style.

1 (1) FIRE 11-2 – Should take a further step toward consolidating playoff homecourt.

 

This Week's Tips

MUST confess, it was hard to be impressed with how New Zealand saw off Adelaide last round. Yes, it was a good win in an opponent's gym but it took a lot of Tai Wesley magic after Cedric shot out like a comet ... and steadily disappeared. That said, Wollongong bringing off an upset in Auckland is difficult to conceive.

TOWNSVILLE hits Sydney with the Kings this time suiting Josh Childress (thanks for the tip Brad Rosen and Bill Woods) but with Angus Brandt in street clothes. Expect this to be a quality game but Sydney to sneak home and keep breath in its playoff life, Garlepp versus Conklin a big match-up.

RARE to tip against Perth but this time in Cairns, with jockeying at the top of the four on in earnest, expecting the Taipans to deliver the answers. Wilbekin-Martin has marquee match-up all over it, Burston and Loughton also ready to deliver a dagger to their former club. Should be a ripper but leaning to Cairns.

THIS is huge for Adelaide because if it loses to Melbourne, the 36ers are unlikely to replace injured Tall Blacks forward BJ Anthony. That means it will fall to the existing crew to make the dash at the playoffs, though a loss here makes that virtually redundant. Look for Blaze buddies Wortho-Petrie to enjoy a terrific contest.

AND now for another Breakers-Hawks match-up for the round, this time at the Sandpit. (Yes, those monkeys making the draws have been busy, for sure.) The players can all compare notes from the first game on the plane. Why should the result be any different? Can't see any genuine reason.

THE round's most intriguing matchup is the final in the Reptile Rumbles, Cairns holding a 3-0 edge over Townsville. Here's the questions. If the Taipans beat Perth, will they have a letdown? Seen that occur before. Then again, if they win, would they not be on a high to rout the Crocs? Should they lose, they would desperately need this win. And how would the Crocs feel about being swept? Just a hunch but think the Crocs might rock.

WEST Coast and Canberra should be sick of each other by now and Louella Tomlinson's presence - or otherwsie - is important for the Waves to have a foil for Abby Bishop. With their playoff hopes dented last round, this is a must-win for the Caps and they will get it.

DID the extended break recharge Melbourne or leave it a little rusty? We will soon know when Adelaide hits the Boomers, the Lightning feeling good about life after dumping the Waves last week. Madgen and Thompson have been the headaches for Adelaide previously but Lightning will have an answer this time and score an upset.

WITH Sydney's playoff dreams recently taking a beating, the Flames simply can ill afford any slip ups against West Coast. The Waves, again, will be backing up allowing Sydney to start favourites. But with morale a little less buoyant, the Flames are ripe to be upset.

IF Dandenong is legit, it must put the hoses to the Fire in Townsville. The home side is rolling as never before and while Penny, Cappie, Kath, Alice and Teegs are on the same page, the game-plan quickly goes out the window when The Batgirl and Cayla are rolling. Townsville can expect a tougher game than last week but the same result.

ADELAIDE coach Jeremi Moule, who helped build the Bendigo juggernaut, must be wondering wny Kristi chose to announce her retirement and final game this round when he brings his Lightning into town after already playing Melbourne. We all know what's going to happen here, only the margin in any doubt.

 

Online 

http://bit.ly/13ZNyGa  

 

WHY did the chicken cross the road?

To congratulate Kristi Harrower on a fine career.