Basketball On The Internet.

THE pressure will be on Basketball Australia in the off-season to find a national broadcaster for the WNBL now ABC-TV has bailed on its commitment to the women's game.

With the ABC's extensive cuts over the next five years, its coverage of live sport critically has been compromised and after existing deals with the WNBL and W-League lapse, they will not be renewed.

They can't be, even if the ABC wanted to because it will be selling its outside broadcast vans.

That means BA will have to start selling what is a terrific product to an established network or to FoxSport, and the sooner the better.

Maybe it can even incorporate what WNBL and basketball identities have been calling for and introduce the best-of-three Grand Final.

In just the past 12 months, Townsville Fire coach Chris Lucas, Opals coach Brendan Joyce and most recently Canberra Capitals' multiple-championship winning coach Carrie Graf all have called for its introduction.

As long as BA is wrapping up a sellable package to TV execs, why not go for the best-of format so identifiable with basketball?

Sad to lose the ABC, which was showing Grand Finals from the league's 1981 tip-off well before it went to weekly coverage and which perennially has been supportive of the women's game.

"The Australian Sports Commission review into the WNBL will be released in early December to the basketball community," new BA CEO Anthony Moore said in a federation-statement today.

"This report deals with broadcast opportunities and BA will now turn our attention to the options available to continue to showcase the Wattle Valley WNBL to Australian basketball fans."

We will all be looking forward to BA actively promoting the one league it runs.

 

DAVID Barlow had a special moment for Melbourne United in its win over Perth yesterday.

Barlow accidentally tipped a basket in for the Wildcats, not something you see every day.

Bet he was relieved too when Melbourne pulled away to make it a clean win.

 

Basketball On The Internet, Player of the Week

JOSH Childress has done it again for Sydney, claiming his second B.O.T.I. Player of the Week award after sinking the Taipans with 27 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four blocks.

Hot on his heels was Todd Blanchfield who delivered a 22-point (at 67 per cent), eight-rebound effort for Townsville which was quality, but not quite at Josh's level.

New Zealand's Corey Webster also got a look in for his 25 points, 11 of which were in the first quarter against Melbourne.

PotW Winners

Rd1 Scottie Wilbekin
Rd2 Brian Conklin
Rd3 Scottie Wilbekin
Rd4 Adam Gibson
Rd5 Josh Childress
Rd6 Jordan McRae
Rd7 Josh Childress

IN case you're wondering, West Coast import Lindsey Moore would be the B.O.T.I. favourite for the WNBL PotW.

Yes, you can make a strong case for Tess Madgen, Kelsey Griffin and Cappie Pondexter but Moore, who last week shot the game-winner against Canberra and this round produced 24 points at 58 per cent, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals in a gripping win over Sydney, is the player for this round's Gong.

 

YEAH, NO KIDDING

THIS week's television coverage was off to a flyer with ONE's Lachy Reid apparently calling an AFL match in Adelaide on Friday - maybe he knows more about the Wildcats' tactics than he lets on - and Andrew Gaze yesterday talking about Melbourne Tigers during the opener for the United-Perth game.

But there was a positive too and it took the shape of Ten sideline reporter Michelle Trewartha. Showing the benefit of a journalistic background, her pre-game questions to Darryl McDonald and Trevor Gleeson were on point and she gave the coverage a professional edge whenever it came to her.

Sorry Mel Marsh, Brad Rosen ... but Michelle has reset the bar.

 

REVIEWS

Kings v Taipans (M)

JOSH Childress produced another wicked NBA-level all-court performance, for 27 points at 62 per cent, nine rebounds, seven assists and four blocks as Sydney turned the tables on Cairns 93-76. Childress, who missed the Kings' road loss in Cairns, was ably supported by Jason Cadee who came off the bench for his best return of the season, 18 points at 50 per cent.

 

Lightning v Fire (W)

THIS was interesting until halftime, after which point Suzy Batkovic exerted her influence and Adelaide's inability to find anyone who could consistently score made it an exercise in futility, Townsville comfortably winning 71-53. Alex Bunton did a more-than-passable impersonation of previous foul-prone Lightning import Azania Stewart, fouling out in 9:56 of action.

 

Breakers V United (M)

A LETDOWN after their exceptional performance against Adelaide should have been on the cards for Melbourne against the Breakers in New Zealand, the home side producing a 33-16 second quarter which all but decided this. The Breakers' brilliant backcourt of Corey Webster and Cedric Jackson saw New Zealand off to the start it needed to prevail 80-72. Melbourne held the Breakers to nine points in the third as it made its belated run, Jordan McRae with 24 points.

 

36ers V Wildcats (M)

HOW Adelaide hung around in this with so many of its guns misfiring is a mystery, Jamar Wilson producing 20 points, 10 boards and six assists but Perth winning handily 84-74. Jermaine Beal (pictured) killed it, leading a 10-0 run after it was tied at 48-48 and when the Sixers made their late push, it was reluctant shooter Damian Martin and Deandre Daniels who delivered the daggers.

Boomers v Lightning (W)

ADELAIDE again managed to keep this interesting for a half although after Jess Foley got it off to a jubilant start, Olivia Thompson's 15 second-period points on 6-of-6 shooting gave Melbourne the impetus it needed to pull off as a 78-61 winner. Tess Madgen was flawless after the interval to finish with 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Boomers bounded away.

 

Taipans v Hawks (M)

THIS was the "line in the sand" game for Wollongong and it delivered one of its best games of the season before falling short, Cairns back amid the winners again after a three-match hiatus, 69-65. Jahii Carson stepped up with 17 points for the Hawks but only he and reliable Tim Coenraad were consistent offensively, those Damn Cams, Gliddon and Tragardh sinking Wollongong with 17 and 16 points respectively and Scottie Wilbekin coming through in the clutch.

 

Rangers v Capitals (W)

AS predicted, Dandenong ambushed Canberra in much the same way it surprised Townsville a few weeks ago, setting up its 92-72 home win with a 27-17 opening period. Cappie Pondexter's 25 points came at 50 per cent and included a perfect 3-of-3 threes, Penny Taylor with 20 and eight and the Rangers keeping Abby Bishop to a season-low six rebounds.

 

Waves v Flames (W)

WNBA playmakers Lindsey Moore (West Coast) and Leilani Mitchell (Sydney) put on a show for basketball fans in the Red Centre as the Waves won a thriller 79-77 in Alice Springs. Moore finished with 24 points at 58 per cent, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals, while Mitchell had 23 points at 60 per cent, three assists, four rebounds and two steals. Big baskets by Moore to close the third and early in the fourth proved key in the finish.

 

United v Wildcats (M)

STEPHEN Dennis started this like a house on fire, scoring eight of Melbourne's first 10 points as it raced to a 17-5 lead and never was headed by Perth before winning 91-76. Five Uniteds scored in double digits, led by Jordan McRae's 21 points and Dennis' 17. Wildcat imports Beal (0-of-10) and Daniels (3-of-19) had their most forgettable day in the NBL, Perth also experiencing difficulties with the officiating as Melbourne's 20-7 final period iced this.

McRAE MARVEL: Jordan McRae throws down a dunk against Perth.

Spirit v Fire (W)

THIS was always going to be a beauty and two quick fouls on Townsville starter and Opal Cayla Francis had to have an influence when Bendigo eventually won 78-75 in overtime after Kelly Wilson tied it 68-68 in regulation. Kelsey Griffin led the Spirit with 24 points at 69 per cent and nine boards, Sara Blicavs tough again for 13 points and Wilson big when it mattered. Suzy Batkovic led the Fire with a 17-point, 20-rebound double as this burgeoning rivalry took another twist.

 

Crocodiles v Hawks (M)

SEVEN Crocs - count 'em, seven (Todd Blanchfield 22, Brian Conklin 15, Leon Henry 14, Clint Steindl 13, Steve Markovic 12, Mickell Gladness 12, Mitch Norton 10) - scored in double figures as Townsville routed Wollongong 107-75. The 32-point margin was the Crocs' biggest win since January, 2008 when they belted South Dragons by 35.

 

BIGGEST WINNERS/LOSERS

SYDNEY just gets the nod as this week's NBL biggest winner after finally facing Cairns with a full team and winning. The depleted Kings narrowly lost at the Blitz to the Taipans, and again on the road without Josh Childress, so ending that mini run of outs edges New Zealand and Townsville for this week's no-prize.

SADLY, Wollongong remains in the doldrums and again is the biggest loser, lifting to give Cairns a fright before faltering, then folding along the dotted lines against Townsville to now be on a run of 11 straight losses.

WEST Coast is the WNBL's big winner this week after taking a home game to Alice Springs and winning a thriller against a surging Sydney, maintaining its place in the finals race.

LOSING again at home, then on the road and with second-half fade-outs in both leave Adelaide firmly wedged as the biggest loser and digging itself a hole it will have difficulty finding a way out of.

 

BEEF of the WEEK

RIB-eye, medium rare.

 

Online

http://bit.ly/1xTaCDz

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http://bit.ly/1rhF5E1

 

PS

WHAT he said. What he really meant.

Hawks coach Gordie McLeod after falling into a 32-point hole against Townsville.

SAID - “We weren’t patient enough to really get into it. The more possessions that were in this game, we were on a hiding to nothing, especially backing up. They were eventually going to get into our legs and we fell for the two-card trick and we fought the pressure instead of dealing with the pressure and then going, because we got the same shots at the end of the shot clock (as early in the clock). I was really disappointed in the way we played between the ears.”

MEANT - “Aaaaaaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!”