Bogut benched with fractured ankle

Updated January 27, 2012 12:37:29

Australian basketballer Andrew Bogut will be sidelined indefinitely after fracturing his ankle overnight in America's NBA.

The Bucks centre landed on an opponent's foot when he tried to block a shot in the first quarter of his side's game against the Houston Rockets.

Milwaukee general manager John Hammond released a statement on Twitter saying the MRI scan on Bogut's injured ankle identified a fracture and the Australian centre will be out indefinitely.

Initially Bogut was hopeful it was just a bad sprain. He told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he did not think there was a break.

"It wasn't good," Bogut said. "I knew when I came down I was in some trouble. Keeping optimistic, everything's fine with the X-ray, but that's to be expected. I know I didn't break a bone.''

That scan did reveal a fracture and it is the latest in a long string of injuries that have affected Bogut during his seven-year career.

He missed four games earlier this season due to a family medical situation in Australia and also missed a game at Dallas due to the NBA's concussion policy, after he banged his head on the floor in a game earlier this month.

This latest injury places some doubt over Bogut's availability for the Australian Olympic team ahead of the London games beginning at the end of July.

Tags: basketball, sport, australia, united-states

First posted January 27, 2012 12:08:15

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Flames too hot for Caps

Updated January 26, 2012 23:42:55

Sydney Uni Flames scored a comfortable 97-68 win over Canberra Capitals in their WNBL encounter.

The Flames built their dominance in the opening two quarters to lead 51-40 at half-time, before finishing strongly after the break to account for the Capitals.

Belinda Snell impressed for the Flames with a 23-point haul, while Ellyce Ironmonger was productive with an 18-point haul.

Jess Bibby led the scoring for the visitors with 19 points.

Tags: basketball, sport, wnbl, sydney-2000, canberra-2600

First posted January 26, 2012 23:42:55

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Lightning overhaul Thunder

Updated January 28, 2012 00:07:30

Adelaide Lightning produced a stunning final quarter to beat the Thunder 63-52 in their WNBL game at Logan Metro Indoor Sports Centre.

The Thunder held a narrow 43-42 lead at three-quarter time, but were outscored by the Lightning 21-9 in the fourth term with Abby Bishop prominent for the visitors with a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Jenni Screen also posted a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Renae Camino top scored for the Thunder with a 15-point tally.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, logan-city-dc-4114, qld, australia

First posted January 28, 2012 00:07:30

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Hawks wind back clock to thump Tigers

Updated January 27, 2012 22:47:45

Ayinde Ubaka and the new-look Hawks carved out a commanding 90-68 NBL win over the Melbourne Tigers in Wollongong to end a run of seven losses at home.

The Hawks built a 20-point buffer in the first half and survived a shaky third quarter to record the comfortable victory with the help of their newest recruit and former Tiger Ubaka.

Ubaka gave his new fans plenty to cheer about on his way to 15 points, including eight-from-eight free throws, three steals and three assists.

Mat Campbell produced a vintage outing with 17 points that included four three-pointers, while Glen Saville added 13 points and nine boards.

For the Tigers, forward Liam Rush poured in 18 points and Myron Allen impressed with 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists as Melbourne slumped to its sixth straight loss.

Wollongong got off to a dream start as Campbell streaked to the hoop for a three-point play off the initial jump ball.

The Hawks captain continued to roll, draining a pair of triples as the hosts ran away with a 31-16 first-quarter advantage.

An early 8-0 spurt in the second term extended the Hawks' lead to 20, then after Allen and Rush rallied for the Tigers, Tim Coenraad's jumper produced a 56-36 half-time lead.

Melbourne notched the first six points of the third to momentarily silence the crowd, but the Hawks faithful let out a sigh of relief when Larry Davidson stroked a three from the top of the key.

Both teams then struggled to find baskets until Joevan Catron broke the stalemate to keep the Hawks afloat at 69-52 with 10 minutes to play.

The Tigers threatened early in the fourth, but a string of threes by Oscar Forman, Saville, Campbell and Ubaka secured the Hawks' second home win of the season.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Breakers made it four wins in a row with a 93-64 thrashing of Sydney Kings in Auckland.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, wollongong-2500, melbourne-3000

First posted January 27, 2012 22:47:45

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Basketball moves to block roller derby shot

By Allyson Horn

Updated January 27, 2012 13:51:14

The Alice Springs Basketball Association is taking a stand against its courts being used for roller derby matches.

A group called Malice Springs Roller Derby has applied to use the basketball courts as a venue for professional matches.

An application to the town council to use the venue has been knocked back.

The basketballers say it is the right decision.

The association claims the roller derby group severely damaged the court floors when it practised at the courts in 2010.

It says the potential for damage for the court is too high to warrant the group using the venue.

The association also says sharing the court with another group would adversely affect its jam-packed basketball program.

Members of the roller derby group will front a Council meeting next week to fight the decision.

Tags: basketball, local-government, human-interest, alice-springs-0870

First posted January 27, 2012 13:43:34

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Crocs make it four in a row

Updated January 25, 2012 23:26:03

Townsville Crocodiles registered their fourth straight win by defeating the Adelaide 36ers 79-69 in a dour affair at The Swamp.

The Crocs did only what was needed to hold on after jumping to a double-figure lead midway through the second quarter, where three consecutive triples from Olympic hopeful Peter Crawford (14 points) broke the game open.

The 36ers failed to mount a genuine challenge, having one brief moment of hope early in the second quarter when emerging superstar Daniel Johnson (21 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks, two steals) unleashed a nine-point scoring spree.

Adelaide was woeful early, making just 5-of-21 from the field, while the Crocs struggled for cohesion themselves and relied on giant Luke Schenscher to stay in front 19-14 at the first break.

Johnson then cut lose for the 36ers as they claimed the lead, but Crawford's brilliant run of triples blew the margin into double figures.

Adelaide turned the game into a grind in the third term and import Chris Warren found his range, but Townsville hit back through Michael and Chris Cedar, the brothers' solid sinking from beyond the arc enough to keep them in front 60-53.

Michael Cedar opened the final term with a long-range three to ensure the margin remained comfortable, as the Crocs controlled the remainder of the encounter.

Johnson attempted a last-ditch effort to salvage the match and slashed the margin to seven, but he was a lone-ranger in an otherwise disappointing night for Adelaide, who committed 20 turnovers but handed out just five assists.

AAP

Tags: sport, basketball, townsville-4810, qld, australia

First posted January 25, 2012 23:08:34

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36ers no match for Taipans

Updated January 22, 2012 21:52:35

The Cairns Taipans inflicted more pain on the Adelaide 36ers on Sunday, prevailing 86-75 at Adelaide Arena for the second time in a fortnight.

Darren Ng's basket put the 36ers in front, to the delight of the 5,076-strong crowd, early in the fourth quarter, but one disastrous play destroyed any hope of an upset.

Andrew Warren was fouled on a three-pointer and added an extra point from the line.

Cairns never looked back showing great poise down the stretch to consolidate fourth position on the NBL ladder and earning praise from coach Aaron Fearne.

"We'll take it anyway we can get it," Fearne said.

"We were down 10-12 earlier and it would've been easy to pack it in and go home, but the fight was phenomenal and I'm extremely proud of the guys to get that win."

Jamar Wilson top-scored with 25 points for the Taipans, while Alex Loughton (18 points, 7 rebounds) and Ian Crosswhite (11 points, 8 rebounds) were also strong performers.

Stephen Weigh started strongly and scored 21 points for Adelaide, for whom Daniel Johnson also added 13.

AAP

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

First posted January 22, 2012 21:52:35

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Crocs beat Hawks on the buzzer

Updated January 21, 2012 23:40:07

Eddie Gills drained a buzzer-beater to give the Townsville Crocodiles a thrilling 65-63 NBL home win over the Wollongong Hawks on Saturday night.

Gill finished with 11 points, but youngster Todd Blanchfield was the match-winner with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting and eight rebounds at the Townsville Entertainment Centre.

For the Hawks, Tim Coenraad (16 points), Oscar Forman (16) and Rhys Martin (11) were outstanding in a hostile environment as Wollongong nearly pulled off a memorable victory.

Spurred by their win over the Taipans the Hawks initiated a fast-paced contest but the Crocs led 39-37 at the half.

The Crocs threatened to break away repeatedly in the second half, but the Hawks hung tough after Townsville established a 56-47 lead.

Larry Davidson levelled the scores at 63-63 before Gill broke the Hawks hearts with his heroics.

On the Gold Coast, the Blaze survived a second-half scare to crush the Melbourne Tigers 92-78.

In Gold Coast veteran Stephen Hoare's 450th NBL game the Blaze made sure it was a night to celebrate, defeating the club he called home for eight seasons.

Fittingly it was Hoare who sealed the win after the Blaze had blown a 20-point third quarter-lead, slicing his way through traffic to push the home team's lead back past double-digits with less than four minutes remaining.

The leadership of point guard Adam Gibson (23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) was superb, while Mark Worthington (19) and Anthony Petrie (12) also made strong contributions for the Blaze.

Ron Dorsey, with 24 points, was a constant threat for the Tigers, although he found little help from his team-mates.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, townsville-4810, qld, australia, wollongong-2500, nsw, southport-4215, melbourne-3000, vic

First posted January 21, 2012 23:40:07

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Thunder hold off Flames

Updated January 22, 2012 23:56:10

The Thunder held on for a thrilling 71-69 victory over the Sydney Uni Flames at the Logan Metro Stadium on Sunday.

With the scores locked at 65-65 it took a huge defensive effort from the hosts to keep the Flames at bay and pick up a 10th win for the season.

Import Cory Montgomery finished with 18 points and seven rebounds for Logan while Cayla Francis and Renae Camino added 15 and 13 points respectively.

Belinda Snell led all scorers with 27 and Belinda Snell recorded a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, but it was not enough for the Flames who have won just one of their last six matches.

In Perth, the Waves picked up just their second win of the season with a 64-62 upset over Bendigo.

Spirit veteran Kristi Harrower missed two free-throws at the death that would have sent the match into overtime.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, logan-central-4114, qld, australia, sydney-2000, nsw, perth-6000, wa, bendigo-3550, vic

First posted January 22, 2012 23:56:10

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Rangers knock off leaders

Updated January 22, 2012 00:09:31

Dandenong Rangers pulled off a superb 20-point victory over WNBL leaders Adelaide Lightning despite missing leading scorer Suzy Batkovic.

Skipper Kathleen Macleod top-scored with 16 points, as well as seven assists, while Jenna O'Hea also contributed heavily with 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

The Lightning, perhaps feeling the strain after beating Benigo 24 hours earlier, were led by Abby Bishop who scored 19 points.

Elsewhere on Saturday night, six players hit double figures as the Bulleen Boomers crushed the AIS.

Liz Cambage hit 17 points, Rachel Jarry 15, Alice Kunek 14 and Jo Leedham 13.

The Bombers close the gap on leaers Adelaide as a result of these results.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, dandenong-3175, vic, australia

First posted January 22, 2012 00:09:31

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Breakers back on top after downing Tigers

Updated January 20, 2012 08:06:22

The New Zealand Breakers have moved back to sole leadership of the National Basketball League with a dominant 91-77 victory over the Melbourne Tigers in Auckland.

The defending champions improved their win-loss record to 13-5 on Thursday night to climb above Perth (12-5), although the Wildcats can edge back in front on percentage points when they face Sydney tonight.

Point guard Cedric Jackson again ran the show, and he also weighed in with 12 assists - a category he leads the league in - and 10 points.

He was one of six Breakers to get into double figures for scoring, a list headed by Gary Wilkinson with a game high 21.

The defeat was the fourth in a row for the Tigers, who had gone into the match as a club in turmoil, after owner Seamus McPeake's shock sacking of import Ayinde Ubaka.

But they played with plenty of cohesion in the early stages, and among those who contributed to a sharp start was Liam Rush, who nabbed nine of his team's first 15 points.

Rush ended up as the Tigers' equal top scorer along with Daniel Dillon with 18 points each.

But the Breakers, playing in front a 4,500 full house at the North Shore Events for the third match in row, made their move in a decisive second quarter.

Centre Alex Pledger's dunk from a pinpoint Jackson pass took the Breakers out to a 25-23 lead early in the quarter and from there they were never troubled.

Some slick transition from defence paid dividends for the home side, who opened out a 43-33 cushion by the main break.

A three-point blitz by veteran guard CJ Bruton, who sank three in quick succession, helped the Breakers to a 73-53 lead with a quarter to go and the gap was always going to be too much for the Tigers to claw back.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, new-zealand, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted January 20, 2012 07:59:42

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Thunder storms the Capitals in WNBL finals charge

Updated January 20, 2012 22:40:17

The Logan Thunder eased to a 13-point win over the Canberra Capitals at AIS Arena on Friday night to kick-start their charge into the WNBL finals spots.

The Thunder's 72-59 win moved them into fourth spot and are breathing down the neck of third-placed Townsville which has played four games more.

Cayla Francis turned in a commanding double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Kristen Veal sunk 15 points for the Thunder.

Sarah Graham also chipped in with seven assists and 12 points.

Carly Wilson and Brigette Ardossi top-scored for Canberra with 15 points while Jessica Bibby chipped in with 12.

Canberra's struggles continue with the Capitals stuck in eighth spot.

The Townsville Fire moved up into third place with a 70-57 win over the Sydney University Flames as Shanavia Dowdell dominated affairs with a polished all-round display in Townsville.

Dowdell fired an awesome double-double featuring 18 points and 16 rebounds, and was supported ably by Jessica Foley's 22-point top score.

The Flames' loss means they sit outside the finals spots in sixth.

At the top of the table, the Adelaide Lightning kept setting the pace with a 70-54 blitzing of the Bendigo Spirit at Adelaide Arena.

Suzy Batkovic topped the scoring charts with 24 points and eight rebounds as Adelaide shot 75 per cent from beyond the arc to work its way to a 49-36 half-time lead.

The points dried up in the last two quarters with Bendigo edging the third period 9-6, before the hosts edged the fourth by six points to close out the game.

Deanna Smith (20 points, nine rebounds) and Kristi Harrower (18 points) carried the vast bulk of the scoring responsibilities for Bendigo, but found no other helping hands available to reel the Lightning in.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, canberra-2600, act, logan-city-dc-4114, qld, australia

First posted January 20, 2012 22:02:23

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Wildcats reel in Kings for NBL win

Updated January 20, 2012 23:43:58

Perth survived a nail-biting finale to record a 76-75 NBL win over the Kings in Sydney on Friday night.

In front of a crowd of over 7,500, Sydney's Graeme Dann missed two free-throws with less than a second remaining to hand the Wildcats their one-point victory.

Despite being down by 11 points midway through the final quarter, Perth's Shawn Redhage (15 points), Jesse Wagstaff (15 points) and giant centre Luke Nevill's game-high 19 points formed a three-pronged assault the Kings were unable to contain.

Nevill also proved a handful for Kings' star centre Julian Khazzouh, his work at the defensive end enforcing a quiet night for Sydney's leader.

Redhage's final quarter was crucial, popping up with rebounds and draining long jumpers to break the Kings' resistance when an upset win for the home side looked on the cards.

Rookie Anatoly Bose was the star for Sydney, his 16 points and 10 rebounds almost setting up a memorable victory, but his wayward 8-of-15 free-throw shooting proved decisive.

Bose was supported by crowd favourite Jerai Grant (17 points) and Ben Madgen (16 points) in a game that featured 22 lead changes.

When Khazzouh hit the opening two baskets of the final term, then Bose and Madgen both scored, the Kings had converted a two-point lead into double figures just two minutes into the quarter.

Perth coach Rob Beveridge then went with Redhage and Wagstaff in the front court and their mobility was too much for Khazzouh and Grant.

From their the Wildcats controlled the boards and the tempo, holding the Kings scoreless for almost six minutes.

Three straight baskets from Redhage edged them in front with three minutes to play.

Madgen responded, but a putback from Wagstaff gave Perth their one-point margin before Dann's attempted heroics came up short.

In the night's other game, the Wollongong Hawks beat the Cairns Taipans 80-74 in Cairns, as the visitors spread the points across the board to pick up a rare win.

The bottom-of-the-ladder Hawks had Oscar Forman (13 points), Tim Coenraad (12) and Larry Davidson (11) to thank for sharing the scoring duties, while Mat Campbell, Tyson Demos and Glen Saville also chipped in with 10.

The Hawks remain bottom of the NBL table despite the win, while Taipans hang onto fourth spot in the last of the finals places.

ABC/AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, perth-6000, wa, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted January 20, 2012 23:41:48

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Table-topping Lightning zaps West Coast

Updated January 14, 2012 08:38:56

Adelaide Lightning stayed on top of the WNBL ladder with a 33-point thrashing of the West Coast Waves in Perth on Friday night.

The Lightning led from the get-go in the 84-51 win and outscored their hosts convincingly in each of the first three quarters, including a 25-6 blow-out in the third period.

The Waves rallied to save face and edge the fourth 15-14, but it was not nearly enough to reverse the thrashing.

Suzy Batkovic-Brown led the demolition with 23 points for Adelaide with Abby Bishop (17 points) and Angela Marino (14 points) in support.

The win kept Adelaide two wins clear at the top of the table, while West Coast's sorry season continues, tied for bottom place with AIS.

AIS did not fare any better on Friday, losing 82-60 to the Fire in Townsville.

Nadeen Payne (15 points), Mia Newley (14) and Micaela Cocks (13) all combined to comfortably dispatch the bottom-placed side and keep Townsville in the hunt in fourth spot.

Bulleen had the edge over Sydney University thanks to Elizabeth Cambage's double-double in the Boomers' 80-71 win in Sydney.

Cambage bagged 10 rebounds and 23 points for the Boomers to prove the difference between the two sides, as the Flames' Amy Denson (28 points) and Belinda Snell (21) somehow found themselves on the losing side.

Bendigo Spirit also persevered in a tight 84-77 win over Dandenong thanks to Deanna Smith's 30 points on the court.

Bulleen stayed second ahead of third-placed Sydney, while Bendigo's win leaves it fifth and Dandenong lost ground in the hunt for finals spots in seventh.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, canberra-2600, act, australia, the-university-of-sydney-2006, nsw, dandenong-3175, bulleen-3105, vic, perth-6000, wa, adelaide-5000, sa

First posted January 14, 2012 08:38:56

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Crocodiles beat Kings in overtime epic

Updated January 15, 2012 07:48:01

The Townsville Crocodiles escaped with a nail-biting 118-114 double-overtime win over a never-say-die Sydney Kings at The Swamp on Saturday night, in one of the best NBL games in recent memory.

Croc Jacob Holmes hit a clutch basket 24.3 seconds from the end of regular time to level the scores at 85-apiece.

Luke Martin then nailed a giant three-point buzzer-beater on the run to tie the scores at 102 and force a second overtime.

Martin, Sydney's leading scorer at the time, Julian Khazzouh and Graeme Dann all fouled out in the sixth period, leaving the Kings severely undermanned.

Townsville's Michael Cedar and Eddie Gill helped the Crocs score 10 unanswered points in the final two minutes to edge four points clear.

But Sydney's Ben Madgen shot a pressure three-pointer with seconds on the clock to silence the deafening crowd and force Cedar to seal the game from the free-throw line.

It was a memorable end for the home side which was celebrating its 20th season in the NBL with festivities including a Croc/Suns Legends vs NBL All Stars curtain raiser.

Townsville coach Paul Woolpert said it was one of the most nerve-wracking games of his coaching career.

"I think I have a few more grey hairs after that one, it was a great basketball game. It must have been great for the fans," he said.

"We came close to snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory but we made a hell of a lot of great basketball plays.

"We talked about different ways of winning the game ... we made some huge free throws tonight."

Sydney coach Ian Robilliard said his side gave up too many free throws but still should have won the game.

"We had our chances to win both in regulation, in the first OT and second OT so full credit to my guys who played exceptionally well," he said.

"I feel gutted because I look at these stats lines - we won the possession count, we won the rebounds by 20, we won the points in the paint by 20 but we give up 43 free throws and there is the game.

"It is disappointing to lose like that ... close enough is not good enough as professional athletes.

Townsville put the Kings to the sword early - Elvin Mims sinking 10 in the opening term - racing ahead by 15 points. But it failed to maintain the pressure and allowed the lead to slip to 27-24 at quarter-time.

The Crocodiles charged ahead by double figures on two more occasions with Cedar, who was scoreless in the first term, scoring 10 points to give his team a 53-45 lead at halftime.

The Kings were a different outfit after the main break and slashed the margin to just one point in the third with Anatoly Bose and Madgen taking control.

Sydney edged seven points in front in the final term, but the Crocodiles fought until the end and Holmes hit his clutch basket.

The two overtime sessions included several momentum swings, but it was Townsville which emerged victorious in a game for the ages.

AAP

Tags: basketball, sport, nbl, townsville-4810, qld, australia

First posted January 15, 2012 00:11:53

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Tigers owner sacks import on the spot

Updated January 16, 2012 18:35:26

The door will remain closed on American import Ayinde Ubaka after the NBL import was sensationally sacked by Melbourne Tigers owner Seamus McPeake without the knowledge of coach Trevor Gleeson.

Following their 13-point loss to Gold Coast, the Tigers chief executive officer made a post-game address to the playing group and then sacked Ubaka on the spot, while Gleeson was at a press conference.

"Seamus came in, mad, cussing everybody out, pointing players out ... one of the players was me," Ubaka said on SEN.

"He said it was an embarrassment.

"He told me to leave and go and find another job and I said 'alright, I will'."

The point guard hoped that once tempers cooled he would still have a job with Melbourne but a club spokesman said that would not happen.

"It's all done, I believe," the spokesman said.

"Ubaka has split with the club and has been released from his playing contract effective immediately.

"The Tigers will be looking at replacement options in the coming days."

Ubaka spoke to Gleeson and said the coach told him he did not agree with the sacking but it was out of his control.

He claimed to have the support of the players but said they would not speak out for fear of also losing their jobs.

"He's the boss but I don't agree with having to flex your power like that," Ubaka said of McPeake.

"It was very unprofessional but he's the boss and he wears the big pants."

Ubaka has previously played in the NBL for the Blaze and the Cairns Taipans and said he hoped to stay in Australia.

The fifth-placed Tigers next play the New Zealand Breakers on Thursday.

AAP

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

First posted January 16, 2012 18:35:26

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Breakers too strong for struggling 36ers

Updated January 14, 2012 08:42:42

The New Zealand Breakers out-shot and out-rebounded the Adelaide 36ers on the way to a dominant 80-63 win in their NBL match in Auckland.

In their first home game of a four-match stretch, the Breakers ratcheted up the pressure as Friday's game progressed, winning every quarter but the last for a victory which underlined their position at the top of the table.

Tom Abercrombie led the way with 22 points, backed up by Gary Wilkinson (17) and Cedric Jackson (12), while Chris Warren fronted for Adelaide with 14, and Stephen Weigh chipped in with 10.

The Breakers' win came on the back of a superb defensive team effort.

Led by Mika Vukona, Dillon Boucher and Alex Pledger, the New Zealand team out-rebounded Adelaide 50-24, dominating the boards at both ends.

Coach Andrej Lemanis worked his bench hard to build on a 26-26 first-quarter lead, keeping the Breakers' momentum rolling in the second spell as they took a 43-30 lead into halftime.

The Breakers lost their way early in the third quarter, some disjointed play and messy shooting offering Adelaide a brief glimpse of hope as they narrowed the deficit to nine four minutes into the spell.

However, a couple of key assists and a brace of lay-ups from Jackson coupled with a Wilkinson three-pointer wrested the momentum back to the home team, and they went into the three-quarter break leading 65-46.

The Breakers struggled for fluency in the final spell, but although Adelaide took the quarter 17-15, the end result was never in doubt.

It has been almost a month since the 36ers recorded a win, with losses to the Breakers, Cairns Taipans, Sydney Kings and Gold Coast seeing them plummet down the table as five wins from 16 games leaves them languishing in eighth place.

Perth maintained top spot on the NBL ladder with an emphatic 92-80 win over Gold Coast at Challenge Stadium in Perth on Friday night.

Jesse Wagstaff continued his recent hot run of form with 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting in just under 22 minutes to lead a Wildcats team that took control after a tight first quarter.

The win improves Perth to a 12-5 record, while the Blaze now sit on a 6-8 record and have a short turnaround before facing Melbourne on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Cairns Taipans dealt the Wollongong Hawks another close loss on Friday night, the Queenslanders winning 61-59 in Wollongong.

Andrew Warren drained a go-ahead triple with just over a minute to play and Cairns held on when Rhys Martin's corner three sailed long on the buzzer.

"Things are extremely tough, obviously everyone is working so hard to try and get that win and give our fans something to cheer about," Hawks coach Gordie McLeod said.

AAP

Tags: sport, basketball, new-zealand

First posted January 13, 2012 21:49:19

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Bendigo beat Caps in WNBL thriller

Updated January 15, 2012 20:44:35

A last second basket from Bendigo captain Kristi Harrower lifted the Spirit to a 71-70 WNBL win over Canberra at the AIS Arena on Sunday.

Down by eight points with less than two minutes remaining, the visitors scored nine unanswered points to edge the Capitals.

Gabe Richards top-scored for Bendigo with 16 points, while Tess Madgen and Deanna Smith both added 14.

Harrower contributed nine points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals.

Bendigo's win broke a three-game winning run for the hosts and moved the Spirit into equal third with Sydney on the WNBL ladder.

The victory also capped a great weekend for Bendigo who defeated Dandenong 84-77 on Friday night.

With just five rounds to play Bendigo look set for a finals berth while Canberra (7-10) face a tough task in the run home.

West Coast was beaten again on Sunday, going down 75-56 to Dandenong.

AIS was given a 91-53 lesson from six-placed Logan (8-6) with the heavy loss coming a couple of days after the Canberra-based team were beaten 82-60 by Townsville.

AAP

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, canberra-2600, act, australia, bendigo-3550, vic

First posted January 15, 2012 20:44:35

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Blaze too hot for Tigers

Updated January 15, 2012 22:27:35

The Gold Coast Blaze snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Melbourne Tigers 73-60 on Sunday.

Blaze guard Adris Deleon led all scorers with 21 points and also grabbed 8 rebounds in the final round 15 game.

Gold Coast, which was never behind in the game, has improved to 7-8, while Melbourne after its third consecutive defeat stands at 9-9 trailing the top four by two games.

Despite a sell-out crowd in Melbourne, the Blaze were on fire from the start leading by one point at quarter time and nine at the half.

The advantage was extended to 17 points before the visitors coasted to victory.

NBL leading scorer Cameron Tragardh was held to 14 points.

AAP/ABC

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

First posted January 15, 2012 22:27:35

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Kings hose down Blaze

Updated January 07, 2012 23:30:53

Sydney Kings held off a spirited Gold Coast Blaze to win 102-96 in Sydney.

In a close game where neither side could reach a double-digit lead, Jerai Grant's power at both ends of the court proved the difference.

The Kings import's 23 points, 12 rebounds and four assists were an impressive all-round performance, proving his growing self-belief is turning the 22-year-old into a star of the competition.

Perhaps even more important for the Kings was Grant's handling of Boomers star Mark Worthington.

Despite posting his teams highest points total, Worthington endured a difficult night against the red-hot Grant on a court where he once ruled for three years.

Worthington cut a forlorn figure at the final buzzer, staring at the ground as the Kingdome erupted in victory, perhaps best summing up his night.

Grants now-trademark high-flying dunks many in the face of Worthington helped the Kings maintain control and stem any scoring bursts from the visitors.

His action-packed display brought the Kingdome to its feet on a regular basis.

The Kings started lethargically. The Blaze's suffocating, high-energy defence forcing the home side into difficult shots, which they were unable to hit.

With Adris Deleon and Adam Gibson controlling matters, the Blaze took a 19-10 lead and looked ominous.

A time-out from Kings coach Ian Robilliard seemed to rejuvenate his troops, but his introduction of Luke Cooper was perhaps most pivotal.

Cooper's accurate shooting from the perimeter and assists to wide-open team-mates as he drew in defenders with his penetration off the dribble got the Kings back on parity.

For Cooper (10 points, six assists) it was arguably his stand-out performance of the season.

But once again it was Aaron Bruce (21 points) who really drove the home side. Refusing to be subdued, his determination and crucial points in the last quarter were vital for the Kings.

Although a tough three-pointer from Blaze captain James Harvey made it a four-point game with 8.89 seconds on the clock, the Kings held on for a deserved victory.

Meanwhile, a dominant third-quarter performance by Townsville Crocodiles set up a 72-57 win over the Hawks in Wollongong.

The Crocodiles squeezed the life out of the Hawks during a stunning 24-6 third period, responding strongly after coach Paul Woolpert was ejected moments before half-time.

It was a productive night for the North Queensland basketball community with Cairns Taipans defeated the 36ers 72-67 at Adelaide Arena.

AAP

Tags: sport, basketball, nbl, sydney-2000

First posted January 07, 2012 23:30:53

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Lightning strike win over Fire

Updated January 08, 2012 08:29:58

The Lightning posted an 80-68 victory over Townsville Fire in their WNBL clash at Adelaide Arena.

Suzy Batkovic-Brown led the scoring for the home side with a game-high 34 points, while Abby Bishop chipped in with a valuable 19 points.

Mia Newley was productive for the Fire with 12 points.

In other results, Sydney University Flames defeated AIS 62-53 in Canberra, Logan triumphed 76-71 at home over Dandenong and Bendigo Spirit thrashed West Coast Waves 82-48 at WA Basketball Centre.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, adelaide-5000

First posted January 08, 2012 00:01:04

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Breakers tame Tigers

Updated January 08, 2012 22:48:59

New Zealand Breakers moved to equal first on the NBL ladder after a 90-79 win over the Tigers in Melbourne.

A brilliant 19-3 run in the third quarter saw the Breakers turn a nine-point deficit into a seven-point lead at the last break and they maintained the momentum to win for the 11th time from 16.

The Tigers were in control until midway through the third period when Thomas Abercrombie turned the game in New Zealand's favour.

Abercrombie exploded for 14 points in the period after having just one in the first half.

The Breakers continued to pour it on in the final quarter, leading by as many as 23 points before coasting to the 11-point win.

They closed the game out by out-scoring Melbourne 45-25 after the Tigers had led 54-45.

The Breakers had six players register double figures, with Abercrombie leading the way with 18, while former Tigers star Darryl Corletto added 15.

Cameron Tragardh continued his fine season for the Tigers with 22 points and Ayinde Ubaka chipped in with 17.

Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis praised his clubs intensity in turning the game around in the second half.

"We played with decent intensity in the first half, but had too many turnovers," he said.

"We had everyone contribute and I thought our effort in the second half was outstanding."

The Tigers' loss sees them drop out of the top four, with Townsville and Cairns moving ahead on the ladder.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, melbourne-3000, new-zealand

First posted January 08, 2012 22:48:59

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Cambage's Boomers douse the Fire

Updated January 06, 2012 21:50:39

Elizabeth Cambage starred as the Bulleen Boomers smashed the Townsville Fire 92-75 at the Veneto Club in the WNBL on Friday night.

Cambage's 22 points and six rebounds helped propel the Boomers well past the visitors after a tight first quarter, setting up a 17-point lead at half-time and a 72-58 gap after three periods.

Rachel Jarry played a good support role with 14 points while Tayla Roberts helped herself to 12 points and seven rebounds.

Shanavia Dowdell top-scored for the Fire with 17 points and eight rebounds, while guard Jessica Foley featured with 14 points.

The result sees Bulleen remain in second spot on the WNBL ladder behind Adelaide, while Townsville sits tight in fourth.

In the night's earlier game, the Canberra Capitals clawed their way back from a third-quarter deficit to down the Sydney University Flames 72-66 at AIS Arena.

The six-point win keeps the Capitals in with a shout of a finals appearance, having come from 10 points behind after three periods.

Carly Wilson led the way with 17 points for the hosts while Marianna Tolo chipped in with 15 points and four blocks.

Alicia Poto top-scored for the Flames with 16 points and three steals, while Lauren King grabbed 10 rebounds.

Canberra sits eighth on the ladder but are within a win of fifth-placed Dandenong.

Sydney University remains well within the finals places in fourth spot.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, bulleen-3105, vic, townsville-4810, qld, sydney-2000, the-university-of-sydney-2006, nsw, canberra-2600, act, australia

First posted January 06, 2012 21:50:39

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Tigers overhaul Blaze

Updated December 31, 2011 23:11:13

A cold-blooded Liam Rush buried 10 points in the final term as Melbourne Tigers downed Gold Coast Blaze 79-72 at The Furnace.

The Tigers trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half and looked finished before Rush (20 points, six rebounds, two steals) and Daniel Dillon (13 points, seven rebounds) joined Cameron Tragardh (25 points, six rebounds) in defiance of the home side's dominance.

While Tragardh was a constant throughout, the defensive spark of Dillon and Rush either side of half-time turned the tide on a Blaze outfit.

The Blaze managed just six points in the third term, going into the final term with a 58-55 lead.

But key shooters Chris Goulding (nine points) and Mark Worthington (22 points, eight rebounds) went cold with the game on the line as Rush took control.

Fittingly, former Blaze playmaker Ayinde Ubaka put the final nail in the coffin with an amazing, buzzer-beating long two.

The Tigers hold on to third spot with a 9-6 record, while the Blaze drop to a 6-6 return.

Meanwhile, Sydney Kings managed an 86-83 victory over the Hawks in Wollongong.

The Kings saw a pair of hefty double-digit leads dissolve in the second half and were forced to stave off the desperate Hawks during a furious finish.

Anatoly Bose (23 points) and Ben Madgen (13 points) helped guide the Kings home from the free-throw line.

Tim Coenraad (18 points) and Joevan Catron (13 points) combined for 16 of the Hawks' 35 fourth-quarter points, as they attempted to overcome a mighty 17-point deficit.

Both teams scored with ease in the opening moments, but once the game tightened up the Kings gained the upper hand, claiming the final five points of the first quarter to lead 19-14.

The Kings parlayed the spurt into a quick-fire 11-2 run to start the second with Kevin Ratzsch and Aaron Bruce each connecting from long range and the visitors led 43-32 at the half.

Jerai Grant sparked a bruising 10-0 spurt for the Kings to start the third, his rare three-pointer seemed a sure sign the night belonged to Sydney.

It led by as many as 24 but left the door ajar, as the Hawks rallied to score the last 12 points, leaving the Kings with a 60-48 advantage with 10 minutes to play.

In other results, the Taipans upset competition leaders New Zealand Breakers 74-57 in Cairns and Perth defeated the Crocodiles 97-76 in Townsville.

AAP

Tags: sport, basketball, nbl, carrara-4211, melbourne-3000

First posted December 31, 2011 23:10:05

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