Jackson out until round six

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

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

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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Sixers savage Tigers

Updated October 07, 2012 18:26:35

The new-look Adelaide 36ers kicked off their NBL season with a confidence-boosting 84-61 victory over the Melbourne Tigers in a fiery contest at Adelaide Arena on Sunday.

Tempers reached boiling point late in the third quarter when a solid challenge on Mitch Creek left him on his backside and sparked a 10-man tussle.

The referees struggled to separate the angry mass and legs and then infuriated the crowd by ejecting Anthony Petrie, along with Melbourne's Chris Goulding, for their part in the scrap.

Adelaide's new-found depth was on display with the side's bench players offering scoring options which have been sorely lacking in previous seasons.

Daniel Johnson was the 36ers' best with 21 points and nine rebounds while Stephen Weigh added 21 points at an impressive 67 per cent field goal shooting.

Petrie was in good touch with 13 points before his game ended prematurely.

For the Tigers, Seth Scott collected 17 points, while Kevin Braswell and Lucas Walker chimed in with 11 each.

Melbourne got off to a bright start with Scott nailing his shots, and the visitors' defence was making life difficult in the Sixers' key.

Adelaide rallied late to steal the lead but a Walker dunk with seconds left on the clock saw Melbourne leading by a point.

Both teams showcased their outside game earlier in the second with the 36ers edging in front thanks a hat-trick of three-pointers.

Walker proved the go-to man for the Tigers again, his late shot from outside the arc pegging the margin back to 44-41 at half-time.

Adam Gibson increased his influence on the game in the third quarter and the home side took control thanks to a shared scoring load and a spectacular dunk by Creek.

Despite the disruption of Petrie's ejection, the Sixers went into the final change leading by nine points and charged home with a 19-5 fourth quarter.

It was a disappointing conclusion for Melbourne, which fought hard for three quarters but dropped away from its game plan when a response was needed.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted October 07, 2012 17:24:31

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Spirit pip Boomers

Updated October 12, 2012 22:56:12

Bendigo Spirit edged out Bulleen Boomers 70-69 in their round two clash at The Veneto Club.

The Boomers were just ahead 35-33 at half-time but a tight third quarter saw the Spirit level scores at 54-54 as the two sides headed into the final term.

The Spirit did just enough in the fourth quarter to ice the win, with Kelly Wilson compiling a 15-point haul for the game.

Rachel Jarry led the charge for the Boomers with a game-high 19 points.

Meanwhile, Townsville Fire won 78-66 at home to Canberra Capitals.

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, bulleen-3105, bendigo-3550

First posted October 12, 2012 22:56:12

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Breakers thrash 36ers

Updated October 12, 2012 22:45:28

A storming final quarter from New Zealand Breakers saw the defending champions swamp Adelaide 36ers 73-59 in Auckland.

Almost anonymous in last week's lacklustre 93-72 opening loss to Perth Wildcats, young centre Alex Pledger lifted to feature all across the court.

Only Cedric Jackson outscored him with 17, while almost as valuable as Pledger's 15 points was his superb effort in picking up 10 rebounds and limiting Luke Schenscher to two points for the encounter.

While the Breakers lifted noticeably from last week's opener, they struggled until the last quarter of a tight defensive game.

They pressured the 36ers through the court early on, bringing more intensity on defence to out-rebound the visitors 28 to 14 in the first half.

Breakers import recruit Will Hudson was particularly effective on the offensive boards, and picked up nine rebounds overall to go with his nine points.

The 36ers' fast-break game, so efficient last week in their 84-61 first-up win over Melbourne Tigers, was not running smoothly and the Breakers went into the half-time break with a useful 36-29 lead.

But the 36ers fought back to take the third quarter 18-10 and lead 47-46 going into the last spell.

The Breakers kept cool and three final-quarter three-pointers from Jackson catapulted them back in front, as the hosts finally found their rhythm to take out the final quarter 27-12.

For the 36ers, Daniel Johnson top-scored with 15 points, backed up with solid efforts from Anthony Petrie's 13 and Adam Gibson's 12.

In other results, the Kings upset Melbourne Tigers 85-82 in Sydney and Wollongong Hawks downed the Taipans 68-58 in Cairns.

AAP

Tags: basketball, nbl, sport, new-zealand

First posted October 12, 2012 20:31:11

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Breakers slump to season-opening loss

Updated October 05, 2012 22:03:01

Perth Wildcats dragged the two-time defending champions New Zealand Breakers down to earth courtesy of a 93-72 win in Friday's NBL season opener.

In front of a sell-out Auckland crowd, the Wildcats gained some measure of revenge for their loss to the Breakers in last year's grand final series, applying pressure that caused the rusty-looking hosts to crumble.

The Wildcats' defensive heat and some clunky Breakers offence were behind a lopsided second quarter, which saw the visitors open up a 54-34 half-time lead.

The hosts made little headway on that margin throughout the second half as the Wildcats turned what had been touted as a tantalising opening match between two teams expected to feature prominently this season into a coasting victory.

The Wildcats dominated nearly every important statistic, most notably shooting accuracy where their 53 per cent ratio eclipsed the Breakers' 44 per cent.

They also won the rebound battle 36-24 and scored 44 points in the paint compared to 26 from the hosts.

Having opened up an early six-point lead, the Breakers slumped to trail by as much as 25 late in the second quarter as the offensive fluency that has carried them to the last two titles deserted them.

Forward Matthew Knight led all scorers with 24 for the Wildcats, getting good support from Shawn Redhage (19), Damian Martin (18) and Kevin Lisch (16).

Breakers star guard Cedric Jackson was kept quiet in the first half but still top-scored for them with 16 and Dillon Boucher was next best with 11.

Meanwhile, the Hawks held off Sydney Kings to win their encounter 79-76 in Wollongong.

AAP

Tags: basketball, nbl, sport, new-zealand, perth-6000

First posted October 05, 2012 20:21:33

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Taipans hold off Crocs in derby opener

Updated October 06, 2012 21:31:07

Former Melbourne Tigers star Cameron Tragardh lit up the Crocodiles for 20 points as he and his new Taipans team-mates evaded Townsville 84-72 in Cairns on Friday night.

The round one derby was a close affair in the opening period and it was a one-possession game going into the first break, but the hosts pushed clear to lead by 14 at the midway point.

The Taipans extended their advantage to 23 going into the final quarter before Townsville staged a late fightback with a 13-0 run to start the fourth.

Crocs big man Russell Hinder lived up to his surname in proving to be a particular pest for Cairns, scoring eight of his 11 points in the last period to help the visitors to within nine points.

But the Taipans' earlier efforts proved to be enough, with Tragardh getting scoreboard help from Jamar Wilson (17), Brad Hill (12) and Cameron Gliddon (9).

Townsville's scorers shared the load with Ben Allen (15) and Jacob Holmes (14) leading five Crocs into double-figures.

Holmes added 10 rebounds and two assists to his line in the box score, while Todd Blanchfield went 2-for-3 from beyond the arc for 10 points.

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, cairns-4870, townsville-4810, qld, australia

First posted October 06, 2012 21:31:07

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