ABC Basketball

Jackson to miss rest of WNBL season

2013-01-12T16:50:00.000+06:00

Updated January 10, 2013 11:51:43

Basketball star Lauren Jackson is expected to make a full recovery from her hamstring injury after undergoing surgery in Melbourne, but will play no part in the 2012/13 WNBL season.

Since returning to Australia last month, Lauren has had to repeatedly postpone her return to the WNBL after undergoing a number of medical assessments over her injury, which she picked up while playing for Australia during the London 2012 Olympics.

The Canberra Capitals centre was released this morning after a successful surgery and will be rested for the next three weeks, before starting a light rehabilitation program.

"I'm very happy that I've now had this operation, and I'm delighted with the medical opinion that I should be able to make a full recovery," Jackson said in a statement.

Basketball ACTchief executive Tony Jackson said his first concern was ensuring the star was fit for future WNBL seasons.

"While we're obviously disappointed that we won't see Lauren back on the court this season, we're pleased this surgery has gone well and that we've got some clarity and positivity surrounding her injury," he said.

"Lauren adds tremendous value to the profile of the Canberra Capitals, and we're heartened to hear she'll make a full recovery so she can play for the team in future seasons."

Acting Basketball Australia chief executive Graeme Allen said Lauren Jackson's long-term career and welfare was top priority.

"We've said from the start that Lauren's long-term career sustainability and welfare are top priority here," he said.

"Basketball Australia will support Lauren in any way we can through her rehabilitation and we wish her a speedy recovery back to 100 per cent fitness."

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, canberra-2600, act, australia

First posted January 10, 2013 11:28:43

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Taipans' Baynes set to sign for San Antonio

2013-01-12T16:14:00.000+06:00

By Sam Davis

Updated January 10, 2013 13:40:59

Cairns Taipans academy graduate Aron Baynes is reportedly set to sign with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs this week.

The 208cm centre will join fellow Australian Patty Mills in Spurs' squad, after starring in the Euroleague with Slovenia's KK Union Olimpija following an impressive Olympics with the Boomers.

Former mentor and Cairns Taipans coach Aaron Fearne says the call up is fitting reward for the hard working Baynes.

He says several NBA scouts were looking at Baynes recently.

"All the credit goes to him. He's incredibly driven and passionate," Fearne says.

"He's temperamental but I like those guys. I think you can mould those guys into solid, aggressive players."

Baynes is the second far north Queensland player groomed by Fearne to be picked up by an NBA team.

Bamaga's Nathan Jawai was drafted in 2008 playing with the Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Fearne says such success is rare for a regional community.

"I was just saying to my wife last night, to have two guys from here and from the environments they've come from, to be in the NBA is pretty special," Fearne said.

"We're all pretty proud of that. I still remember the first day he walked through the door as a bottom-aged under-18s [player]. He was not real skilled.

"He was just this big kid, very gangly and not very coordinated, but he just worked."

Former Australian Boomers head coach Brett Brown is also an assistant with San Antonio.

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, cairns-4870, qld, australia, united-states

First posted January 10, 2013 13:40:59

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Capitals kick-off centenary celebrations

2013-01-12T15:41:00.000+06:00

Updated January 03, 2013 15:17:18

The Canberra Capitals will kick-off a series of top level sporting contests on Friday to mark Canberra's centenary celebrations.

The Capitals will take on the Dandenong Rangers in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) wearing a one-off centenary uniform.

The centenary sporting calendar includes a one day international cricket match later in January and a rugby league test match in April.

Capitals coach Carrie Graf says her team is proud to be part of the celebrations.

"I'd hope anything would spark us into a winning streak," she said.

"For us to be a part of the centenary celebrations... we've been an integral part of the city for a long time in terms of being part of the sporting landscape.

"We hope to continue to be that always and continue to represent Canberra with pride."

Sports Minister Andrew Barr says the new uniforms are an exciting way to start the centenary year.

"It's fantastic that our most successful sporting team in the history of national league teams in Canberra, the Capitals, will be the first team out on court tomorrow night," he said.

"We've certainly been working with the teams in the design of their particular outfits, the theme of course being yellow."

Fans are also asked to share in the centenary spirit by wearing yellow to the games.

Tags: states-and-territories, wnbl, act, canberra-2600

First posted January 03, 2013 15:16:04

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South takes out NBL All-Star game

2012-12-26T10:24:00.000+06:00

Updated December 22, 2012 17:34:33

South started with a bang and finished with a flourish to record a 134-114 victory over the North in an entertaining NBL All-Star game at Adelaide Arena on Saturday.

After Melbourne star Jonny Flynn provided the foundation, fellow Tiger Chris Goulding applied the finishing touches to be crowned MVP.

The athletic Goulding had 14 fourth-quarter points to finish with a game-high 24, along with five boards and four assists to cap a memorable day for Melbourne with Bennie Lewis winning the slam dunk contest.

Adelaide hometown favourite Daniel Johnson (21 points) and Tigers import Seth Scott (19) routinely got on the end of the superb work of Flynn (seven points, 10 assists) and New Zealand Breaker Cedric Jackson (12 points, 10 assists).

North's brave charge was led by Sydney import Darnell Lazare (18 points, 11 rebounds) and Wollongong pair Adris Deleon (18 points, nine assists) and Lance Hurdle (18 points).

South made a barnstorming start, leading 38-13 at the end of lop-side opening term.

Melbourne's ex-NBA guard Flynn wowed the crowd with some dazzling ball-handling skills, at one stage bringing the ball all the way down the floor with nothing but between-the-legs crossovers.

He had five assists for the term, including sensational alley-oop lobs to Jackson and Johnson to lead South's sizzling transition game.

Jackson had a crack at turning crowd-pleaser in the second period but narrowly missed two audacious windmill alley-oops from his own lob passes.

North fought back through the exploits of Deleon, who had 10 points at 100 per cent shooting and four assists for the term, but Flynn had the final say of the half.

Isolated one-on-one against Townsville's Gary Ervin, Flynn faked a pass before drilling a second-chance buzzer-beating trey to make it 69-51 at the main interval.

Ervin caught fire in the third stanza with eight points at 100 per cent to slice the gap back to 82-79, and then Deleon continued the charge with five quickfire points of his own.

Three-point shoot-out winner Stephen Weigh duly responded with back-to-back triples to keep the South clear 96-84 three quarter-time advantage.

Ervin again in the fourth but the Southerners continued to draw further clear with Scott, Jackson and Johnson prolific and Goulding filling up with a couple of stirring double-handed jams.

The thrill-a-minute contest ended with Deleon alley-oop passes to Hurdle and Lazare, but the day would belong to the South.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted December 22, 2012 17:34:33

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Lightning strike twice in Queensland

2012-12-09T18:48:00.000+06:00

Updated October 21, 2012 19:08:29

Adelaide Lightning completed their Queensland road double in the WNBL despite losing star centre Suzy Batkovic to injury.

Batkovic sat out Sunday's 80-65 win over Townsville after she slipped and hurt her ankle while dominating on Friday night against Logan.

The two wins gave the Lightning a 4-1 start over the opening three rounds, just behind Bendigo's perfect 5-0 run.

Jennifer Screen scored 23 points and coach Peter Buckle praised the second half from Angela Marino, who finished with 18 points.

Nadeen Payne had 11 rebounds, while Shanavia Dowdell top-scored for the Fire with 16.

The loss left Townsville with a 2-2 record and Logan are on 1-3.

"Everybody knows the Queensland road trip is very tough," Buckle said.

"Friday night's game was as physical and as tough as it could be.

"Then we backed it up on Sunday - that was an outstanding team performance."

Adelaide was also without London Olympian Laura Hodges (ankle) for the Queensland trip, but Buckle is hopeful she and Batkovic will return for Saturday night's away clash with West Coast.

Lightning forward Molly Lewis was another casualty from the weekend with a calf muscle injury.

Also on Sunday, reigning champion Dandenong was too strong for West Coast at home, winning 103-71.

Jenna O'Hea led the Rangers' scoring with 22, while Kathleen MacLeod (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Carley Mijovic (17 and 12) were also prominent.

Deanna Smith was the standout for the Waves, shooting 20 points as they lost their two road games over the weekend.

The Rangers have two wins from three games and West Coast is 1-3.

AAP

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, townsville-4810, qld, adelaide-5000, sa, perth-6000, wa, dandenong-3175, vic, australia

First posted October 21, 2012 19:08:29

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Brown walks away from Boomers

2012-12-09T18:16:00.000+06:00

Updated October 29, 2012 16:12:36

Brett Brown has stepped down as coach of the Australian men's basketball team after a four-year stint which culminated in a seventh-placed finish at the London Olympics.

Brown will now focus on his position as assistant coach of the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA.

The decision to step away from the international game will also allow him to spend more time with his family in the United States.

"I inherited a strong Boomer culture moulded by many committed, outstanding coaches and players that have come before me," Brown said in a statement.

"My staff and I are confident that the current program is well placed to again be brought forward."

The coaches of Australia's national basketball teams are contracted for four-year terms ahead of every Olympic Games.

Basketball Australia (BA) will begin the search for a new men's coach once it completes a review of the program leading up the recent London Games.

Brown said it had been a privilege and a pleasure coaching the Boomers.

"I am especially proud of the commitment that Australia's best players made to the Boomer program during this term," he said.

"I leave with fond memories of a group of players who played with a spirit and toughness that earned the respect of the global basketball fraternity.

"I am proud to have been their coach.

"The basketball community should be excited to have our current group of core players and new talent emerging throughout the country."

BA chief executive Kristina Keneally said Brown would leave a lasting legacy.

"Brett's contribution to the men's national team program has been profound - it will last long after his departure," Keneally said.

"Under Brett's charge we've seen the Boomers surge forward in leaps and bounds - highlighted by the emergence of the likes of Joe Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova and Aron Baynes as star players in our run at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games."

Before joining San Antonio, Brown coached for nine years in the NBL, winning the title with the North Melbourne Giants in 1994.

He spent eight years as an Australian assistant from 1995-2003 and replaced Brian Goorjian as head coach after the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

AAP

Tags: basketball, sport, australia, united-states

First posted October 29, 2012 16:12:36

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Kings sweep Queensland road trip

2012-12-09T17:44:00.000+06:00

Updated October 28, 2012 21:33:25

Sydney Kings overcame the loss of one co-captain and were sparked by another to notch a notable Queensland NBL road double.

A 92-87 win over Townsville (0-5) on Saturday was followed by a 71-69 victory at Cairns (2-3) on Sunday to lift Sydney (3-2) into the top four.

It is the first time the Kings have had a win-loss record above 50 per cent since winning their opening match on readmittance to the NBL for the 2010-11 season.

Co-captain Ben Madgen scored 23 points against Townsville, just behind the 25-point haul of Aaron Bruce.

He followed up with a team-leading 22 points against Cairns where Sydney came from eight points down in the last quarter.

Import Corin Henry produced a game-tilting steal and basket inside the last 20 seconds.

The Kings are currently without their other co-captain James Harvey, who is expected to be sidelined for eight to 10 weeks with a broken arm.

"Pressure was mounted and you can either get it done or suck your thumb and now the challenge is to maintain the level we've set," Kings coach Shane Heal said.

Wollongong (4-0) maintained its perfect start to the season with a 77-63 away win over Adelaide (2-2).

Guard Adris Deleon scored 16 of his 23 points in the last quarter, as the Hawks rallied from a 12-point, first-quarter deficit.

"We thought we probably should have been 15 or even more down at half-time, but we found a way to hang around," Wollongong coach Gordie McLeod said.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, cairns-4870, qld, australia

First posted October 28, 2012 20:38:21

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Spirit pip Rangers to stay unbeaten

2012-12-09T17:09:00.000+06:00

Updated October 28, 2012 06:37:54

Bendigo battled out a tough contest with defending WNBL champion Dandenong before prevailing 82-80 on Saturday night to remain undefeated this season.

The Spirit trailed by just a point at half-time before the Rangers took advantage in the third period, extending their lead to seven points going into the final quarter.

But a strong performance saw the home side outscore the visitors by nine in the fourth to seal victory.

Chantella Perera, Kristi Harrower and Gabrielle Richards all posted 18 points for Bendigo, the latter adding 10 rebounds as well. Kelly Wilson had 14 points and eight boards for the Spirit.

Dandenong star Kathleen MacLeod was the stand-out for her team, leading all scorers with 21 points and adding seven assists and two rebounds, but her efforts were not quite enough.

The Capitals also pulled off a narrow win, escaping a late surge to beat Logan 71-68 in Canberra.

The Thunder stormed home with an 18-12 final period but the Caps had done just enough early on to stay in front.

Nicole Hunt had a team-high 20 points for Canberra, while Brigette Ardossi cleaned the glass to the tune of 11 rebounds to go with her 14-point haul.

The star of the show was Logan star Emma Langford, who went 8-for-18 for 24 points and pulled down 10 boards as she carried her team towards a fast finish.

Elsewhere, the Boomers blew out Townsville Fire 87-59 in a lopsided affair in Bulleen.

Elyse Panaluna made 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting to lead the hosts with 18 points, as Alice Kunek and Rachel Jarry chipped in with 15 apiece.

Townsville's Mia Newley and Kayla Standish were the lone bright sparks, posting 18 and 14 respectively in the yawning loss.

In Perth, Adelaide Link established a 12-point buffer over the West Coast Wave and never looked back, running out 75-65 winners.

For Adelaide, Jo Hill top-scored with 14 points, while Suzy Batkovic and Jennifer Screen had 12 points apiece.

The Wave relied heavily on Natalie Burton, who was 8-for-14 from the field for 16 points and pulled down 10 rebounds - Melissa Marsh scored 15 points and had five assists.

Tags: wnbl, sport, basketball, bendigo-3550, vic, australia

First posted October 27, 2012 22:42:24

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Bendigo rides Waves to stay top

2012-12-09T16:35:00.000+06:00

Updated October 20, 2012 23:21:56

The Bendigo Spirit powered to a 74-51 win over West Coast Waves to stay on top of the WNBL ladder in a game where both sides struggled with shooting accuracy.

Gabrielle Richards top scored for the Spirit with 23 points with support from Kristi Harrower (17 points, 6 assists).

Natalie Burton enjoyed a double-double (11 points, 12 rebounds) for the Waves, who struggled with 28 per cent field goal accuracy.

The Waves sit third from bottom on the league ladder after their second loss from three games.

It was a tighter affair in Saturday night's other match-up as the Canberra Capitals edged the Bulleen Boomers 75-74.

Jessica Bibby sunk 21 points for the Capitals while Rachel Jarry netted 25 for Bulleen.

Canberra sits in fourth place, ahead of Bulleen in eighth.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, bendigo-3550, vic, australia, bulleen-3105, canberra-2600, act, perth-6000, wa

First posted October 20, 2012 23:21:56

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Bogut in doubt for NBA opener

2012-12-09T16:03:00.000+06:00

Updated October 22, 2012 17:38:33

Andrew Bogut's chances of playing next week's NBA season-opener for his new club Golden State are rapidly diminishing.

The Australian centre had been hopeful of suiting up for the Warriors in their opening clash with Phoenix on October 31 but time is running out to prove his fitness.

Having been ruled out of the Warriors' entire preseason as he rehabs the ankle he fractured in January, Bogut has yet to take part in a team practice since being traded to the franchise from Milwaukee in March.

The Boomers bigman met with his surgeon in Los Angeles over the weekend, but could not get a date for his return to the court - even though he is yet to be officially ruled out of the Suns fixture.

"While the results of (the) examination were positive and Bogut remains on his rehab schedule, the exact date of his return to full basketball activity has not been determined," the Warriors said in a statement.

"Bogut and the team are not setting any deadlines or time tables and the plan remains as it has been from the outset: Bogut will return to action when his ankle is 100 per cent."

The 27-year-old suffered the ankle fracture when he landed awkwardly on an opponent's foot during a match against Houston while playing with Milwaukee.

That ruled him out for the rest of the 2011-12 season and ended his chances of playing for the Boomers at the London Games - where Australia was knocked out in the quarter-finals by gold medallist the USA.

Bogut has been plagued by injuries which have stunted his career as one of the game's best big men - most notably a nasty arm injury which ended his 2009-10 season.

Bogut dislocated his right elbow, sprained his right wrist and broke his right hand in a hard fall - injuries which have continued to bother him even last season.

In better news for Australians in the NBA, Boomers point guard Patty Mills made his return to the court in San Antonio's 104-100 preseason loss to Orlando.

In his first game back from a sprained ankle, suffered earlier this month, Mills played 17 minutes, scoring six points and grabbing a steal.

AAP

Tags: basketball, sport, united-states

First posted October 22, 2012 17:38:33

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NBA commissioner Stern to retire in 2014

2012-12-09T15:31:00.000+06:00

Updated October 26, 2012 12:47:10

National Basketball Association (NBA) commissioner David Stern will stand down from his role in February 2014, after 30 years at the helm, the league said on Friday (AEST).

Glen Taylor, chairman of the NBA's board of governors, told a news conference the board had authorized negotiations with deputy commissioner Adam Silver to succeed Stern, who is the league's longest-serving commissioner.

Stern, 70, has presided over a period of expansion and growth for the NBA, both domestically and internationally, and last year concluded a new collective bargaining agreement with players after a five-month lockout.

"I feel great, I am enjoying my job but I am looking forward to doing other things," Stern said during a news conference in New York.

"I'm standing down not retiring. I told them that it's been a great run, it will continue for another 15 months, that the league is in terrific condition."

Stern's departure date will mark the 30th anniversary of his takeover as commissioner from Larry O'Brien.

Reuters

Tags: sport, basketball, united-states

First posted October 26, 2012 12:20:58

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Flynn wants court time with Tigers

2012-12-09T15:01:00.000+06:00

Updated November 07, 2012 17:27:02

After getting less court time in the NBA than the cheerleaders, former top 10 draft pick Jonny Flynn's move to the Melbourne Tigers is all about getting back to playing.

The 23-year-old point guard has joined the Tigers in the NBL to jump-start a career that once promised basketball super-stardom.

Flynn was the number six pick in the 2009 NBA draft after setting records in college basketball with Syracuse University.

As a point of reference, Melbourne Tigers and Boomers favourite Patty Mills was picked 55th in the same draft.

But a hip injury that required surgery after Flynn's rookie year with Minnesota left him sidelined and he was then bounced through three other NBA clubs.

Flynn, who will suit up against Adelaide at Melbourne Park on Friday night, is desperate for some consistent court time in the NBL.

"The cheerleaders got on the court more than me," Flynn said when asked about his recent NBA experience.

"I was on the sideline for a long time."

He did not want to expand on why his career stalled, only to say that the NBA was a "big business" and things happened that were out of his control.

Turning his back on bigger offers in China and Europe, Flynn said money never entered the equation.

"I came to a point where I just wanted to play," he said.

"You can't get better if you're not playing basketball.

"I just want to get back to playing basketball and (Tigers' coach) Chris (Anstey) has given me a great opportunity to go out and get back to doing the things I'm used to doing."

Anstey admitted he was initially cautious when contacted by Flynn's manager Leon Rose but had been impressed by his humility since arriving in Melbourne at the weekend.

"We learnt a lot from the A-League that it can be a really important thing for the sport to have someone of such high calibre join one of the teams," Anstey said.

"It doesn't guarantee success because, at the end of the day, we're a 1-4 basketball team really wanting to climb that ladder as quickly as possible.

"Jonny represents part of an opportunity to do that."

The inclusion of Flynn meant the Tigers had to cut another import, Kevin Braswell, whose impact had been hampered by knee trouble.

Flynn said he wanted to put on a show for NBL fans and "mess with everybody".

He was happy to have a target on his back.

"You're a competitor - you're prepared for anything," he said.

"Definitely guys are going to look at me like that but I'm going to still go out there and compete like anybody else so they've got to be ready themselves."

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, united-states

First posted November 07, 2012 17:27:02

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Breakers leave it late to sink Crocs

2012-12-09T14:30:00.000+06:00

Updated October 19, 2012 23:06:13

The New Zealand Breakers clinched a narrow 73-71 victory over the winless Townsville Crocodiles in Auckland on Friday night.

A driving lay-up by Cedric Jackson in the dying seconds secured the victory for the Breakers, who improve to 2-1 while reducing the Crocs to a 0-3 start to the season.

The hosts led by 11 points with around two minutes left but were made to work to the final buzzer after Townsville were sparked into action by Gary Ervin (21 points).

Mika Vukona starred for New Zealand with 15 points and 15 rebounds, while team-mate Tom Abercrombie also contributed 15.

In Sydney, the Taipans smashed the Kings 88-68 thanks to some fantastic long-range shooting.

Jamar Wilson and Alex Loughton both pitched in 22 and 13 points respectively for Cairns (2-1), while a game-high 26 points from Ben Madgen was not nearly enough to keep the Kings competitive (1-2).

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, new-zealand, townsville-4810, qld, australia, sydney-2000, nsw, cairns-4870

First posted October 19, 2012 22:46:12

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Jackson's WNBL return still on hold

2012-12-09T13:55:00.000+06:00

Updated November 08, 2012 17:33:33

Australian star Lauren Jackson will postpone her return to the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) indefinitely pending further medical assessment.

Since returning to Australia last month, Jackson has undergone treatment for a chronic hamstring injury she suffered in June while playing for the Opals.

She had returned to Canberra Capitals training while undergoing intensive rehabilitation including an injection to relieve nerve pain.

But Jackson is still experiencing nerve and muscle pain, particularly while running.

The AIS medical team and Capitals doctor David Hughes advised her to proceed with caution and postpone her return to the WNBL pending ongoing assessment.

"I have full confidence in the medical and support team here," Jackson said in a statement on Thursday.

"I'm glad the team has been playing well and I'm so disappointed I'm not out there with them.

"I'm doing all I can to get past this and on court."

Basketball Australia chief executive Kristina Keneally said Jackson's health was BA's top priority.

"We want to ensure her recovery is thorough and her return to the WNBL is sustainable," she said.

"So we'll absolutely be guided by the advice of her medical team as to when she should come back to the court."

AAP

Tags: wnbl, sport, basketball, canberra-2600, act, australia

First posted November 08, 2012 17:33:33

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36ers break Taipans duck

2012-12-09T13:25:00.000+06:00

Updated October 20, 2012 23:20:38

Adelaide snapped a six-game losing streak against Cairns with a nailbiting 85-81 victory on Saturday night.

Adam Gibson led the way for the 36ers with 21 points along with 16 from the fast-finishing Daniel Johnson and 15 points and 10 rebounds by Luke Schenscher.

The Taipans did well to recover from an early 10-points deficit with Clint Steindl putting up 19 points, 14 of which came in the first half Jamar Wilson engineering the late comeback with 16.

The 36ers are now 2-1 and the Taipans 2-2 for the season.

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, cairns-4870, qld, australia

First posted October 20, 2012 23:20:38

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Capitals hold back Jackson return

2012-12-09T12:55:00.000+06:00

Updated October 30, 2012 14:04:44

Canberra Capitals will be without star player Lauren Jackson for Friday night's clash against Sydney University at the AIS Arena.

Jackson was expected to return to the side after intensive rehabilitation for hamstring and back injuries, but was ruled out this morning by the team's medical staff.

Jackson says she is keen to get back on the court, but the decision is for the best.

"It's coming along really well ... I'm jogging and doing things like that now," she said.

"There's still another step in the process to make sure I don't go back to where I was and at this point I think that's the best.

"They don't want me to go backwards and ... for me to be able to stay and play through the season, I can't go backwards."

The Capitals-Flames game will be streamed live on the Grandstand website at 7pm AEDT on Friday, November 2.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, canberra-2600, act, australia

First posted October 30, 2012 12:48:26

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Grandstand Live: November 17

2012-12-09T12:25:00.000+06:00

Adrian Crawford

Updated November 18, 2012 13:17:14

Look back on all the action in a busy Saturday in sport with the inaugural edition of Grandstand Online's weekend live blog.

We've got 11 hours of highlights, lowlights, interviews and results from around the country and across the globe.

Today's highlights:

(All times in AEDT)

11:00pm: And that's where we'll leave it for the debut of Grandstand Online's new-look weekend coverage. If you made it this far, thanks for reading along. We'll be back tomorrow for more of the same from around midday (AEDT).

Adrian Crawford, signing off.

RUGBY

10:47pm: The Wallabies have suffered another injury blow, with scans indicating Pat McCabe will be out at least three months with a fractured neck. Terrible news for the inside centre.

Read more here - Scans reveal McCabe has fractured neck

CRICKET

Whiteman 74 (96)

Birt 32 (48)

Coulter-Nile 3/40 (11)

Johnson 3/47 (13)

Christian 3/62 (13)

Richardson 2/39 (11)

Read more here - Marsh injured as Warriors collapse

10:10pm: Warriors skipper Adam Voges told Grandstand's Corbin Middlemas that he was always confident his side would win, before the wheels fell off in stunning fashion.

Meanwhile Redbacks top-scorer Alex Ross said he loved his first hit-out on the WACA - hardly a surprise, given he racked up a tidy 62.

10:04pm: This is nuts. Jason Behrendorff also fell to Gary Putland to give the Redbacks a third wicket in the 48th over, including Nathan Coulter-Nile (run out for 14), and the Warriors' only chance was to have Mitch Marsh come back out injured.

Not a chance, was the message from the sheds, so the Redbacks take the points. What a wild finish. South Australia wins by 14 runs after Western Australia slumps to 9 for 205.

10:01pm: Meanwhile, at the WACA...it's getting very tense.

The Warriors have just lost the wicket of Cartwright, clean bowled by Putland with a corker of a delivery, to be 8 for 204. What happened?! With Travis Birt succumbing to Kane Richardson for 32 and Mitch Marsh hobbling off hurt for 21, this sure isn't how Justin Langer's troops wanted to do it.

With 15 balls left, the Warriors need 16 runs and have two wickets in hand. Tune in...NOW.

A-LEAGUE

9:44pm: That's all there is. After four first-half goals, defence was on the agenda in the second stanza at Docklands as the Victory hold Central Coast Mariners 2-2.

Victory skipper Adrian Leijer told Grandstand it was frustrating to be unable to penetrate the 10-man Central Coast defence.

Meanwhile team-mate Marco Rojas said he thought his own game was okay, but he'd rather have had the three points.

rojas

9:42pm: YOU ARE KIDDING. The Victory have just banged one off the crossbar that could have pinched three hard-fought points from Central Coast. Time's running out.

9:39pm: It's down to 10 men aside at Docklands with mere seconds of regulation time left - Marco Flores has been given his marching orders for his second yellow, a late tackle on Trent Sainsbury. The score is still locked at 2-2 with four minutes of injury time on the clock.

CRICKET:

9:36pm: Mitch Marsh has grabbed his left hammy after an awkward dive for the crease on a run-out attempt. He's back on his feet so it might be a cramp, but boy did he look dirty about it. Warriors need 37 to win from 40 balls. Get the guy a runner!

Well that came too soon - the trainers have helped him off the WACA. Here's Clint Wheeldon's take:

@ClintWheeldon Perhaps some good news for Mitch Marsh... Physio working on him, rather than helping off ground immediately. He is coming off though.

9:32pm: With eight overs left, Western Australia (5 for 172) needs 48 from as many balls to chase down the Redbacks. Can they do it? Tune in and find out.

9.05pm: Crucial wicket for the Redbacks as Sam Whiteman holes out to Tom Cooper at fine leg off the bowling of Dan Christian. Fine knock from Whiteman of 74. Mitchell Marsh joins Travis Birt at the crease with the Warriors needing 73 to win at a run-a-ball.

A-LEAGUE

8:59pm: Red card at Docklands for Mariners vice-captain Patrick Zwaanswijk - that's gonna hurt Central Coast with the scores the way they are and the Victory looking this aggressive. Zwaanswijk copped his second yellow for an elbow on Marco Flores.

8:56pm: Just in case the four first-half scores in the Victory-Mariners game weren't enough for you, FIFA has revealed the nominations for goal of the year. Check 'em out - you can vote for your favourite on the FIFA website.

A-LEAGUE

8:32pm: It's on for young and old at Docklands, with Mark Milligan squaring the ledger in the 40th minute to make it 2-2, and that's the way it stays at half-time. Hold on to your hats, football fans.

CRICKET

8:30pm: The Warriors have lost a couple of wickets in quick succession, with Voges disappearing for 15 lbw off Christian. Mitchell Johnson was promoted to fifth but that experiment didn't last long, with the big leftie was sent packing for 3.

Western Australia is now 4 for 109, needing 111 for victory. Tune in.

8:26pm: Grandstand's Alister Nicholson caught up with fringe Test batsman and Bulls opener Usman Khawaja this week for the latest edition of Queensland Sports Extra.

Khawaja recapped a busy week for the Bulls, including a dominant Sheffield Shield win over Tasmania in just five sessions and a controversial one-day cup win over the Tigers.

8:18pm: One ball into the 27th over, the Warriors are 2 for 103 chasing 220. San Whiteman, who was dropped on 16 by Dan Christian, just notched his half-century while skipper Adam Voges is 14 not out.

The man he succeeded, Marcus North, made 18 before he was caught behind off Christian.

W-LEAGUE

8:14pm: Going around the grounds in today's W-League results, Western Sydney downed Brisbane 2-1 while Melbourne Victory put a 3-0 hurting on Canberra United. And in the bottom-of-the-table clash, Newcastle Jets buried Adelaide United's Lady Reds 4-0.

In the match of the round on ABC1 earlier today, Perth Glory put away Sydney FC 3-1 in the Western Australian capital.

A-LEAGUE

8:13pm: Whatever Daniel McBreen's been having for breakfast, I want in. He's just hit his second goal for the night to put the Mariners back in front at 2-1, just 22 minutes into the first half.

CRICKET

8:09pm: A quick update from the Test in Ahmedabad - India has enforced the follow-on, so England is back in the middle. Currently 16 without loss.

A-LEAGUE

8:01pm: But the Victory aren't resting on their laurels. Melbourne young gun Andrew Nabbout guiding a Marco Rojas pass in with his head to level the scores.

Word from the sidelines is the 19-year-old Nabbout is doing an engineering degree at university - he certainly showed he knows his angles. Great little finish there.

7:58pm: The visiting Mariners are on the board first at Docklands, with a fourth-minute goal to Daniel McBreen. Tune in to the broadcast here.

Reds defender Nigel Boogaard told Grandstand that his club has put a lot of effort into making Hindmarsh Stadium a fortress, and it shows.

CRICKET

7:27pm: Meanwhile at the WACA, Tom Triffitt became South Australia's first victim as Daniel Worrell struck early, sending the Warriors 'keeper for a shower after making just 15. WA was 1 for 34; they reached 1 for 50 after 13 overs.

7:17pm: England's tail put up some solid resistance but India has taken care of business after lunch on day three in Ahmedabad, dismissing the tourists for 191.

For those less mathematically inclined, the English are still 330 short of their gracious hosts' total of 8 (dec) for 521.

The middle session proved somewhat fruitful for England's tail-end after returning from lunch at 7 for 110. Matt Prior scored a defiant 48 alongside cameos from Stuart Broad (25) and Tim Bresnan (19).

Pragyan Ojha took two of the last three scalps to finish with team-best figures of 5 for 45.

BOXING

7:10pm: If boxing gets your blood pumping, be sure to check out Between the Ropes, our pugilistic podcast presented by Ciaran Baynes.

A-LEAGUE

6:51pm: Just as I was about to remind you that the second half was under-way at Hindmarsh Stadium, and re-post the link to our live stream, Jeronimo Neumann went and scored the opener for Adelaide United, so the hosts are up 1-0 at the hour mark.

But if your A-League allegiance is more about Victory than having a Heart, fear not. Coming up after the early game we'll go live to Docklands as the other Melbourne team hosts Central Coast Mariners from 7:30pm AEDT.

GOLF

6:34pm: Defending champion Ian Poulter and Aussie world number five Adam Scott are set for a thrilling Sunday shoot-out with just one stroke separating the pair going into the final round of the Australian Masters.

Poulter shot an 8-under-par 64 on Saturday to surge to the top of the leaderboard at 13-under, with Scott's third-round 67 keeping him sitting pretty at 12-under.

Halfway leader Matthew Guyatt faded back to third with a 3-over 75 to sit 10-under ahead of Sunday's final round.

Grandstand's Drew Morphett and Steve Pearce were kind enough to wrap up the third round for us.

Read more here - Poulter, Scott set for Masters shoot-out

CRICKET

6:26pm: Meanwhile Clint Wheeldon, Corbin Middlemas and the gang are ready to go for Western Australia's run chase at the WACA. South Australia set the hosts a target of 220.

Can the Redbacks take some early wickets? Tune in to our live stream here.

A-LEAGUE

6:24pm: HALF-TIME: No work for the scorers in the first 45 minutes as Adelaide United and the Heart play a 0-0 first half.

Tune in to the call.

6:17pm: We're inside the final five minutes of regulation time in the first half and the Reds and Heart remain locked scoreless.

Joe Mullen, calling the action for Grandstand, reckons this is the danger period for both sides' defences as the break approaches.

GOLF

6:09pm: A brief tweet from Drew Morphett at the Australian Masters coal-face (if you could call the beautiful Kingston Heath a coal-face).

@DrewMorphett Phenomenal 64 by Ian Poulter @ Aust Masters - one off course record @ Kingston Heath

CRICKET

6:01pm: Despite how unlikely it may have looked earlier in the afternoon, the Redbacks have survived their allotted 50 overs at the WACA, making 9 for 219.

Alex Ross was the best of the bats with a well-crafted 62 while skipper Johan Botha (46) and wicket-keeper Tim Ludeman (25) had cameos.

This week's Shield man of the match Nathan Coulter-Nile took 3 for 40 while Test reject Mitchell Johnson returned figures of 3 for 46, a solid haul for the left-armer.

Jason Behrendorff (2 for 40) took the first two Redbacks scalps and Mitch Marsh (1 for 30) claimed one victim himself.

A-LEAGUE

5:45pm: Early drama at Hindmarsh Stadium, with a head clash forcing Melbourne Heart defender Simon Colosimo off the field in the opening exchanges. He's returned to the action with a bandaged head though.

Remember, you can listen to the game live here.

V8 SUPERCARS

5:20pm: News from Winton, championship leader Jamie Whincup has taken out race one of the penultimate V8 Supercars round after falling back as far as third place after starting second.

Craig Lowndes stormed from 15th place on the grid to take second place on the podium ahead of Lee Holdsworth in third. Mark Winterbottom started on pole but finished just out of the winners' list in fourth.

If Winterbottom wants a crack at the title, he's going to have to keep the gap between he and Whincup to less than 300 points this weekend. He's now trailing by 326, meaning he has his work cut out for him on Sunday.

Read the story - Whincup closes in on fourth title

CRICKET

5:15pm: It's lunchtime in Ahmedabad but it's fair to say England won't be enjoying the salad sandwiches after crashing to 7 for 110 after the first session on day three. Ouch.

They're chasing India's 8 (declared) for 521, built on Cheteshwar Pujara's unbeaten 206 and a Virender Sehwag run-a-ball 117.

The chief destroyers for the hosts have been Pragyan Ojha (3 for 30) Ravichandran Ashwin (3 for 44), while Umesh Yadav took the seventh scalp.

A-LEAGUE

4:10pm: In 20 minutes' time, you can tune in to our live coverage of Adelaide United taking on Melbourne Heart at Hindmarsh Stadium via this link with Matt Clinch and Joe Mullen calling the action.

GOLF

4:09pm: At Kingston Heath, Ian Poulter has finished three rounds at 13-under and goes to the clubhouse in front. Adam Scott trails by one stroke after a 5-under Saturday puts him at 12-under for the tournament.

CRICKET

4:57pm: That's the end of Alex Ross I'm afraid. He's just hit Nathan Coulter-Nile down Mitchell Johnson's throat on the third-man boundary rope for 62 from 74 balls, just short of a 100-run stand with skipper Johan Botha.

South Australia is 6 for 157.

GOLF

4:47pm: Out at Kingston Heath, Ian Poulter and Adam Scott are neck and neck at 12-under-par in the third round of the Australian Masters. The pair followed a birdie each with a bogey each on 15 and 16.

Overnight leader Matthew Guyett also had some success on the 15th, potting his second birdie of the day and just his first since his opening hole this morning. He's two strokes back.

CRICKET

4:41pm: At the WACA, Alex Ross has reached his maiden one-day cup half-century - with three sixes along the way to boot - as South Australia recovered to 5 for 139 after 34 overs. Skipper Johan Botha is unbeaten on 21.

Meanwhile Clint Wheeldon just had an interesting discussion with veteran batsman Brad Hogg, who's involved in promoting Twenty20 cricket in an untraditional but undeniably huge market - the USA.

W-LEAGUE

4:25pm: Meanwhile, the Glory have defeated ladder leader Sydney FC 3-1 at Perth Oval.

BASKETBALL

4:24pm: Going across the globe for a minute, the NBA season has been underway for just over two weeks and the last undefeated team has just been toppled.

The New York Knicks went into their road game against the Memphis Grizzlies with a perfect 6-0 record. The Grizzlies are no slouches either, boasting a 6-1 record ahead of the Friday night match-up.

But everything must come to an end at some stage, and the Knicks fell 105-95 despite 20 points from star forward Carmelo Anthony and 18 from point guard Raymond Felton.

Four of Memphis' five starters scored in double-figures, with Zach Randolph's 20-point, 15-rebound performance the box score stand-out. Way to go, Z-Bo.

BASEBALL

4:06pm: Grandstand's Chris Coleman, who hosts our baseball podcast Strike Zone, has kindly reminded me there's plenty of ABL action this weekend. Canberra Cavalry took care of the Bandits 3-2 last night in the first contest of a three-game home series for Brisbane.

Perth Heat had more luck at home, shutting out Melbourne Aces 3-0 on Friday night. They'll continue to slug it out tonight and tomorrow in the west.

CRICKET

One of my sharper colleagues says it would be remiss of me to not insert an iconic piece of ABC Grandstand cricket commentary into this, the inaugural edition of the blog. A very particular piece of commentary.

So for your listening pleasure - Kerry "Skull" O'Keeffe's famous Frog Joke.

SWIMMING

3:44pm: Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...

James "the Missile" Magnussen will join Olympic gold medallists Alicia Coutts, Melanie Schlanger and Cate Campbell as part of Australia's 30-strong team for the inaugural Aquatic Super Series in Perth in January.

Swimmers from Australia, China and South Africa will compete for $500,000 in prize money during the January 18-20 event, with individual and team prizes on offer.

The series will also encompass an elite international water polo competition featuring Australia, Croatia and China, and a mass participation open water swim in Perth's Swan River. Read more.

MASCOTS

We asked you earlier about your favourite sporting mascot moments. Here are some of the best responses.

@kiwi_kali One of my 1st memories is seeing the giant roo on TV at the Brisbane Comm Games opening ceremony in '82

@JackParle Stanley the Steel Avenger getting sent off for fighting

@ag_birmingham how can you go past Fatso the fat arsed wombat from the Sydney Olympics with Roy and HG

@LeeLee1710 Favourite mascot moment when Cairns Taipans @JoeBlakeSnake proposed. She said yes! Also a legendary mascot.

@TheCairnsAgent the Cairns Taipans mascot dressed in a mankini... The NBL mascot of the year !!

@JPurden can't go past Quatchi from Vancouver winter Olympics 2010!

CRICKET

3:37pm: The WACA crowd could be in for a short day of cricket, because South Australia is absolutely struggling. Nathan Coulter-Nile was the next man to strike, sending Dan Christian packing for a big fat goose-egg. That makes it 5 for 61 after 18 overs.

3:34pm: Mitchell Johnson has just made a breathrough at the WACA, forcing Michael Klinger into edging behind to a diving Tom Triffitt, who took a dead-set screamer behind the stumps. Great piece of cricket. Klinger goes for 21, and the Redbacks are in dire straits at 4 for 61 after 17 overs.

3:10pm: After 12 overs at the WACA, Western Australia had found its happy place after Jason Behrendorff took two scalps to have South Australia at 2 for 45.

Phil Hughes was caught behind for 4 while Callum Ferguson was sent back to the changerooms for 2 after being clean bowled.

It's apparently an absolute stinker in Perth today too, with the mercury reaching 32 degrees Celcius by midday. Ouch. That's a big contrast to the conditions here in Brisbane, where we were lucky that the building wasn't blown away earlier this morning.

OLYMPICS

3:04pm: Last night in our nation's capital at superstar breeding ground the Australian Institute of Sport, swimmer Alicia Coutts and sailor Tom Slingsby were honoured as joint winners of the AIS Athlete of the Year award. Nicely done, guys.

Olympic debutant Coutts, who as you may remember helped clinch Australia's first (and only...) gold in the London pool in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay, caught up with Grandstand's Tim Gavel afterwards.

GOLF

2:56pm: Queensland journeyman Matthew Guyatt has fallen back to 10-under-par in the third round, while a birdie blitz has seen Ian Poulter and Adam Scott catch up at the top of the leaderboard in the Australian Masters at Kingston Heath. The leaderboard can be found here.

CRICKET

2:25pm: News from the WACA is that Phil Hughes has fallen victim to Clint Wheeldon's commentator's curse - the Redbacks opener fell for 4 in the second over to Jason Behrendorff. Keep an eye on the scorecard here.

2:20pm: Meanwhile, David Beckham isn't the only Englishman's name doing the rounds in Australian domestic competitions. But this time I'm talking about cricket, and Kevin Pietersen.

KP's name has been floated as a possible recruit for Sydney Sixers, who lost the services of Saeed Ajmal due to the Pakistan Cricket Board's request that the spinner focus on international duties. Fair enough.

Sixers chief executive and former Aussie Test quick Stuart Clark told Deb Spillane earlier this afternoon that if Pietersen's available, the Sixers will have a look, but nothing is concrete.

2:15pm: If you were wondering, the first delivery of the One-Day Cup match between the Warriors and Redbacks was a Mitchell Johnson wide. We'll keep you across the scores, and National Grandstand will cross to Clint Wheeldon at the WACA at regular intervals throughout the day.

2:05pm: Is there a more high-pressure job in Australian sport than batting at the pointy end of the order at Test level? I can't think of many.

But even though he only made 9 in his debut against South Africa at the Gabba last week, the newly baggy-greened Rob Quiney seems like he has a head for the pressure.

So much so, in fact, that he reckons he loves not knowing how secure his spot is, with Shane Watson's return from injury looming.

"It's a good limbo," Quiney told reporters.
"I'd rather be in this limbo than not being in the mix at all.
"If Shane gets fit, it's going to be beneficial to the team ... but if he doesn't get up or is still unfit, I feel like the last Test was a bit of a dream and I have got a job to do now." Read more here.

W-LEAGUE

2:00pm: For the football fans out there, ABC Sport's coverage of the W-League is kicking off right now. You can watch Perth Glory hosting Sydney FC at Perth Oval online at this link.

V8s

1:50pm: Ford driver Mark Winterbottom will start on pole for race one of the penultimate V8 Supercars round at Winton. Jamie Whincup qualified second.

1:46pm: Grandstand's Clint Wheeldon reckons H'Angus the Monkey, of Hartlepool United FC, is his favourite of all sporting mascots. H'Angus has a controversial record including ground ejections, some questionable business with female stewards...and the man under the costume, Ken Hodcroft, actually ran for mayor. His platform? Free bananas for school children. You can't make this stuff up. Deb Spillane's take?

"They were obviously paying peanuts for that mayor's job, that's why they got a monkey."

Indeed. Tweet us your favourite mascot moments and we'll throw the best in the blog.

CRICKET

1:39pm: Meanwhile the Redbacks have won the toss and skipper Johan Botha has elected to bat. South Australia is second on the table with two wins from its three starts, while the Warriors have one win under their belts after their first three contests.

1:26pm: Back out west, Corbin Middlemas caught up with new Warriors coach Justin Langer ahead of Western Australia's one-day cup clash with South Australia at the WACA today.

He said WA cricket means a lot to him and his passion for the game - which he said can't be faked - will be the trademark of his coaching career.

A-LEAGUE

1:15pm: The last 18 hours or so have seen the rumour mill crank into overdrive and David Beckham has been the fuel. Talk yesterday was that the English superstar was considering a stint in the A-League this season, and FFA confirmed last night that Beckham's management had made an approach regarding the same.

But his management soon hosed down that gossip, saying Becks was keeping his eyes on the MLS prize as his LA Galaxy contest the play-offs.

Earlier on the program, Debbie Spillane chatted to A-League boss Damien de Bohun, who said the idea of bringing Beckham (and presumably wife Posh Spice Victoria) Down Under isn't "dead in the water" but admitted it's a complex situation.

"The reality is there's so much complexity to the nature of international transfers.
"From our perspective, it's definitely something that we've had some discussions about and it's very much in the early stages.
"I certainly wouldn't say it's dead in the water by any stretch of the imagination."
Read James Maasdorp's story here - A-league still hopeful in luring Beckham

OVERNIGHT

12:30pm: In this morning's results, Spain and the Czech Republic are tied at 1-1 after the first two singles rubbers in the Davis Cup final in Prague.

Overnight, David Ferrer put Spain ahead thanks to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Radek Stepanek, before Tomas Berdych levelled it up for the hosts with a gruelling five-setter against Nicolas Almagro.

There was also some rugby union action in Europe overnight, with Samoa causing an almighty shock.

Read more here - Samoa inflicts Wales' fifth straight defeat

The islanders beat Wales 26-19 in Cardiff and are starting to make a name for themselves as regular giant killers. Anyone remember this particular Wallabies horrorshow?

NBL

12:25pm: In the wild, wild west last night, the Adelaide 36ers spoiled the Wildcats' housewarming party as they clinched a thrilling 69-65 win at the all-new Perth Arena.

Perth-born Daniel Johnson was judge, jury and executioner for the Sixers, scoring 21 points and reeling in 15 boards for the visitors in front of a sold-out home crowd that was as vocal as always.

Grandstand's Corbin Middlemas and Mike Ellis kindly ran the rule over proceedings for us, which you can listen to below.

Corbin also caught up with Cats coach Rob Beveridge, who said he was "absolutely gutted" that his side could not win in front of 12,000 fans on the night.

A-LEAGUE

12:15pm: In case you missed it last night, Brisbane Roar extended a tough old week for Sydney FC with a 4-2 home win at Lang Park.

The Sky Blues saw coach Ian Crook resign after just six games in charge on Sunday, and were led into battle by former player and assistant manager Steve Corica.

The Roar climbed off the bottom of the competition ladder with the emphatic win, snapping a three-match losing streak and giving the hosts their first win since thrashing Melbourne Victory 5-0 in round two.

Read more here - Roar rediscover mojo against Sky Blues

Roar veteran Massimo Murdocca told Grandstand's Alister Nicholson that it was training, not "Balkan tea", that got team-mate Besart Berisha back on the park after an injury lay-off. Less amusing remedy, but probably more effective.

12:10pm: Greetings sports fans. Adrian Crawford here and I'll be leading you down the tunnel and onto the paddock for the run-on debut of Grandstand's live weekend blog. We've got plenty on Australia-wide on this fine Saturday, and I'll give you the results as they break.

The National Grandstand team on your wireless - and streaming online of course - have a host of special guests over the next six hours and we'll post those interviews along the way for your listening pleasure.

If that's not enough, there's sure to be plenty of colour as we scour Twitter, YouTube and the wider web for the best and the worst of sport today. If you're a tweeter, stay tuned - we'll have questions and polls along the way where the best responses will get a run in the blog.

Tags: a-league, soccer, australian-touring-cars, motor-sports, nbl, basketball, sport, australia

First posted November 17, 2012 12:59:07

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Fines galore for NBL fighters

2012-12-09T11:54:00.001+06:00

Updated November 22, 2012 13:24:26

The NBL dished out six $500 fines on Thursday resulting from an ugly weekend of on-court action, but Melbourne import Seth Scott escaped suspension despite admitting to striking Sydney Kings' star Ben Madgen in the head.

Scott and Madgen both copped fines, for their roles in the on-court scuffle which marred the Kings' 72-67 win at Melbourne Park on Sunday.

Sydney's Ian Crosswhite and Melbourne's Lucas Walker were both hit with $500 fines for unnecessarily joining the same fight, while Perth's Brad Robbins was also fined for joining a fight as the Wildcats went down 69-65 to Adelaide.

The fines did not stop there, with Melbourne's Wayne Peterson receiving a suspended $500 fine for breaching the NBL's rules during the incident regarding acceptable behaviour from a court announcer.

Kings' coach Shane Heal, famous for his aggressive nature as a player, was formally warned by the league for clearing the bench during the fight, while star guard Aaron Bruce was warned for 'flopping'.

The actions of all involved were condemned by Basketball Australia's general manager of professional leagues Chuck Harmison.

"The NBL has a strong reputation as a family-friendly sport, and the type of incidents that occurred on the weekend has the potential to damage that reputation," he said.

"We simply cannot allow the hot-headed actions of a few individuals to do that.

"We won't tolerate players flopping in games, nor will we accept players being the 'second-man in' once an altercation has started.

"We will also hold our coaches and officials accountable under the rules of the game."

Scott escaped with a suspended $500 fine and a one-game penalty that will only come into effect if he is found guilty of any additional charges before March 24.

NBL tribunal chair Elizabeth Woods said she took into account Scott's ejection from the game over the striking incident when deciding on his penalty.

"The tribunal views the incident very seriously and it's not the type of behaviour which the NBL will tolerate," Woods said in her finding.

"The NBL has distributed points of emphasis to clubs and, like all sports, seeks to protect players in the league."

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted November 22, 2012 13:24:26

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Bogut ruled out for up to 10 days

2012-12-09T11:20:00.000+06:00

Updated November 09, 2012 11:47:36

Golden State Warriors' Australian centre Andrew Bogut will be sidelined for the next seven to 10 days in a bid to further strengthen his surgically repaired left ankle, the NBA team said on Friday.

Bogut, who broke his ankle in January before being traded to Golden State from Milwaukee in March, has had limited playing time in four of his team's five games this season.

The Warriors had hoped to ease the seven-footer back into action following his March surgery but are now banking on extended rest.

Bogut, the top pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2005 draft, is averaging 6.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists this season after being limited to 18.3 minutes per game.

Golden State are joint top of the Western Conference Pacific division with the Los Angeles Clippers after making a 3-2 start.

Reuters

Tags: basketball, sport, united-states

First posted November 09, 2012 11:47:36

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Aussie Phillips helps Fever to WNBA title

2012-12-09T10:50:00.000+06:00

Updated October 22, 2012 19:31:40

It may have cost her an Olympic medal around her neck but Australian basketball star Erin Phillips' commitment to her club yielded a WNBA championship ring for her finger.

Phillips' Indiana Fever secured their first WNBA title with an 87-78 win over defending champion Minnesota (Monday morning AEDT), the victory handing the Fever a 3-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

The 27-year-old from Melbourne produced one of the best performances of her career in the game four win with 18 points and eight rebounds as she joined the likes of fellow Australians Lauren Jackson, Tully Bevilaqua, Belinda Snell and Penny Taylor in winning a WNBA championship.

"They made some huge runs at us and gave it everything at us, and I'm just relieved more than anything because we deserve this," Phillips told reporters.

"We've been through so much as a team, we've lost in crucial times and we've stuck together. I'm just so proud right now."

But there was a price to pay for Phillips' success after she was overlooked by Australian coach Carrie Graf for the Opals squad which collected Olympic bronze in London.

Unlike Jackson - who opted to stay in Australia to prepare for the Olympics before rejoining Seattle after the Games - Phillips played the entire season for the Fever.

It is a decision the speedy guard believes played a role in her omission from the national side.

Having been a member of the Australian squad which claimed silver at the 2008 Games, Phillips was devastated at the snub.

But two months on, her decision was somewhat vindicated with her stand-out performances during the finals series.

Phillips, who won a WNBL title with Adelaide Lightning in 2007/08, took her game to a new level to help cover for the absence of injured star Katie Douglas.

Elevated to the starting side after the Fever's opening play-off game, Phillips went from strength to strength as the postseason went on.

Having averaged 6.1 points during the regular season, she stepped it up to average 6.7 points in the semi-finals and nine points per game in the conference finals.

Then in the finals series she more than doubled her regular season output as she averaged 13.5 points a game - which included her break-out performance in the title-clinching win.

She proved to be the perfect foil for final MVP Tamika Catchings, who top-scored with 25 points in the nine-point win over the Lynx.

An Olympic gold medallist and regular season MVP, the NBA title was the final entry into a glittering resume for the American superstar.

"When you come into this league, your goal and dream is to win a WNBA championship," Catchings said.

"Twelve years later ... it's so sweet right now."

AAP

Tags: basketball, sport, united-states

First posted October 22, 2012 19:31:40

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Boomers edge Flames in a thriller

2012-12-09T10:18:00.000+06:00

Updated October 19, 2012 23:46:51

Bulleen picked up its first win of the WNBL season with an exciting 81-79 triumph over Sydney Uni on Friday night.

A crucial steal by Rachel Jarry in the dying stages secured the victory for the visiting Boomers, as the Flames missed out on their first win of the new campaign.

Tess Madgen dominated with 28 points, seven assists and six rebounds for Bulleen, while Lauren King finished with 23 points for the hosts.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, bulleen-3105, vic

First posted October 19, 2012 23:06:13

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Tigers can't stop Wildcats' perfect start

2012-12-09T09:47:00.000+06:00

Updated October 21, 2012 20:11:53

Perth continued its unbeaten start to the NBL season with a 74-65 road victory over winless Melbourne in the Victorian capital on Sunday.

The Tigers (0-3) had hoped to turn things around in their home opener, but the Wildcats had the answers behind guard Kevin Lisch (16 points) and centre Matt Knight (14 points, eight rebounds).

Import pair Seth Scott (16 points, nine rebounds) and Kevin Braswell (18 points) led the Tigers after Chris Goulding (16) cooled from a hot start.

The Tigers had their chances but they were undone by 25 turnovers and their poor performance on the boards, allowing Perth 15 offensive rebounds.

Wildcats coach Rob Beveridge was thrilled with his team's 3-0 start, admitting in his heart of hearts he had not considered it likely.

"Not at all," Beveridge said.

"Personally, I would have been pleased if we started with three wins from five games."

Later, Wollongong dominated Townsville 84-66 on Sunday to continue their unlikely perfect start to the NBL season.

The Hawks, who were second-bottom last season, led by 15 at half-time and never let the Crocs into the game.

Dave Gruber starred for the Hawks with 14 points, four rebounds and two blocks and Adris Deleon had a team-high 15 points.

Peter Crawford led Townsville with 18 points.

"The pleasing thing was the disruption, I thought the guys did a real good job defensively," Hawks coach Gordie McLeod said.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted October 21, 2012 17:42:24

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Jackson out until round six

2012-10-16T15:58:00.000+06:00

Updated October 16, 2012 12:57:29

Opals captain and Canberra Capitals forward Lauren Jackson will miss the first five rounds of the WNBL season with hip and hamstring injuries.

Jackson has been assessed by the AIS medical staff and Opals doctor David Hughes after limping through the WNBA finals series with Seattle.

She has already missed the first three games of the WNBL and will miss another two as she undergoes rehabilitation.

"It's been a problem for a long time. When I'd finished the WNBA season I couldn't even walk without limping," Jackson said.

"I'm coming along very well, but I have faith in the AIS people that they are going to make me close to pain free."

Tags: sport, basketball, canberra-2600, act, australia

First posted October 16, 2012 12:57:29

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Wildcats hammer Crocs at home

2012-10-14T21:15:00.000+06:00

Updated October 14, 2012 17:36:40

Perth Wildcats embarrassed the Crocodiles on their own floor in an 82-58 shellacking at The Swamp in Townsville on Sunday afternoon.

The home side made a dismal 29 per cent (17-of-59) of its field goal attempts and surrendered 32 points in the paint as the Wildcats showed no mercy.

Perth scored more points in the first, third and fourth periods than Townsville did in the entire second half, such was the extent of the Crocodiles' struggles.

The hosts looked good in the second period, rebounding from a six-point quarter-time deficit to lead 38-34 at half-time.

But a third-period fade-out saw Townsville surrender its advantage and trail by seven going into the last quarter before capitulating in a 25-8 thumping.

Swingman Michael Cedar was the lone Crocodile to reach double figures on the scoreboard but he needed 10 shots for his 11 points, going 1-of-5 from beyond the three-point line.

The usual suspects were on fire for Perth, with Kevin Lisch's 20-point haul leading the way, although the star guard committed six turnovers.

Shawn Redhage was strong down low, posting 18 points, while Jesse Wagstaff (11) and Matthew Knight (10) also chipped in.

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, townsville-4810, qld, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted October 14, 2012 17:36:40

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Spirit make it back-to-back wins

2012-10-14T20:44:00.000+06:00

Updated October 14, 2012 09:16:39

Bendigo won its second road game in as many nights with a comfortable 70-58 win over the Rangers in Dandenong on Saturday night.

The Spirit were backing up from their narrow 70-69 win over the Boomers in Bulleen on Friday.

Kristi Harrower scored a game-high 24 points, Gabrielle Richards had 19 and 11 boards and Chelsea Aubry posted 17 in the win.

Rangers star Kathleen MacLeod led her team with 18 points.

Meanwhile, the Lightning cruised to an 86-60 win over Sydney University in Adelaide.

Opals stalwart Suzy Batkovic had a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double while Laura Hodges added 16 points and seven rebounds.

The Lightning exploded out to a 24-13 lead by the first break and led by 17 at half-time before coasting home.

The Flames on the other hand had a tough shooting night, making just 24-of-64 from the floor and making 19 turnovers.

And the Thunder held off a fast-finishing Canberra Capitals outfit in their 68-60 victory in Logan.

The home side built a nine-point lead in the opening quarter and they managed to hold on despite being outgunned 16-10 in the final period to ensure a nervous finish.

Emma Langford (19) and Natalie Taylor (18) led the way for Logan, counteracting the efforts of leading Capitals scorer Jessica Bibby (17) and her team-mates Michelle Cosier and Brigette Ardossi (14 apiece).

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, bendigo-3550

First posted October 14, 2012 09:16:39

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