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WAYBACK Wednesday was a weekly feature I wrote last season for Adelaide 36ers website, which now you can revisit, see for the first time or completely ignore!

ADELAIDE 36ERS V TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES

TOWNSVILLE ENTERTAINMENT AND CONVENTION CENTRE, NOVEMBER  6, 1999

THEY called the Crocodiles' home court The Swamp in Townsville and on this balmy Saturday night, it swallowed up the years of mudball being played across the National Basketball League, making a splash to be felt nationwide.

Townsville's 131-127 overtime victory over the reigning Mitsubishi Challenge champion Adelaide 36ers was a game for the ages.

It was basketball at its finest, worthy of the sell-out crowd it attracted, equally worthy of the accolades the game received in the aftermath of its lofty drama.

It was being hailed as the best game of basketball seen in Queensland's far north . . . but it was better than that.

This Adelaide-Townsville game was one for the time-capsule.

Whether it was Brett Maher's 15-point first quarter on 5-of-5 three-pointers, en route to a career-high 40, or some simply breath-taking and sensational play from individuals of both sides, this was the game as it should be played.

Since Phil Smyth assumed the helm at Adelaide, it had become the most fun team to watch, that fun translating into unqualified, unprecedented success.

Now the Crocs - despite most of their personnel emanating from the Magic/Giants/Titans programs - were playing attractive basketball.

None of this sitting back and hoping your talent can topple their talent. The Crocs under Ian Stacker pressed and trapped, and the 36ers responded in kind.

It was one of the epics, even if it eventually came down to a hotly disputed foul call against David Stiff on Mike Kelly's desperate 3-point heave to save the game in regulation.

The fact it was made by the only referee without clear vision when the other two saw no infringement, left a bitter taste for the Sixers.

Kelly made all three free throws to tie the game 114-114, forcing the extension but Smyth eventually took up the issue with NBL referees commissioner Gary Fox.

He also was keen to know how Brad Davidson, in clear view of two officials, escaped an intentional foul after striking Paul Rees late in overtime.

He planned to even inquire how it was possible for Adelaide, in its third season of averaging 16 fouls a game, to incur a whopping 30 in Townsville, Martin Cattalini and Paul Maley enduring premature exits.

Naturally, none of his inquiries led to much post-match.

So, was it an epic?

“With all the emotion, we found it hard to view it that way after the game,'” Smyth said.

“But other than the loss, it was a real good game to be involved in.”

Crocodiles centre Andrew Goodwin also had a career-best 40 points in one of the most exciting games of the year and Townsville's historic first home win over the Sixers in the club's eight seasons.

Martin Cattalini had 27 points, Darnell Mee 18 and Paul Maley 16 in a high-quality game that saw the Crocs ahead 58-55 at halftime.

Townsville's two recruits for the 1999-2000 season - Kelly and Pat Reidy - had 24 and 23 points respectively, vindicating the plan of Crocs coach Ian Stacker to revamp his team specifically to deal with the dual and reigning Mitsubishi Challenge champion.

While both Sixers coach Phil Smyth and Stacker agreed pre-game not much should be read into the result, it was clear Townsville was on course to end its playoff drought.

Goodwin, who was one of the league's big improvers after joining Townsville the previous season, had a stand-out game.

How he was omitted from what eventually would be the club's 20th Anniversary Team remains a mystery to this day.

Rees, Stiff and Mark Davis all spent time trying to quieten the 211cm centre.

Maher was at his most devastating, tough off the dribble, hitting from the perimeter and taking it to the hoop with confidence.

His 40 came at 65 per cent and he swished 8-of-13 threes.

After years of dwindling crowd support and the insidious growth of the “grind 'em down, beat 'em up” style, this NBL showdown was a breath of fresh air.

In a Swamp!

Who'd have thought?

TOMORROW - Special: The Female Universe