Tigers Beat Crocs To Maiden Victory

Getty Images

The Melbourne Tigers have taken advantage of a Townsville Crocs outfit on the return leg of a double-game week, to win their first game of the season 91 to 66.

Both teams were yet to record a win this season before their encounter on Sunday afternoon at Hisense arena.

With tension in the air both teams began the first quarter tentatively to secure their maiden win of the year. Defensive lapses by Townsville and some brilliance including and-one baskets from Burston, Scott and an amazing fall-away layup from youngster Chris Goulding had Crocodiles coach Paul Woolpert pulling out his hair by the end of the first quarter.

An increase of defensive pressure from the Crocs led to early gains in the second quarter. Led by backup guard Mitch Norton, the Crocs got back within one point by the 6:44 mark.

Taking advantage of their transition game, Melbourne was able to score early in their offense. Townsville were unable to match the increased tempo as Melbourne increased their buffer 12 points at the break.

Under pressure point guard Kevin Braswell had accrued 5 of his 6 assists by the half as he played facilitator for the Tigers outfit.

Frustrations began to boil over as the effects of their second game this round for Townsville began to show.

The hustle and effort was lacking from the Crocs, evident in the 45-23 rebound demolishment by the Tigers. Even after forcing Melbourne into 17 turnovers, they were not able to take advantage of their opportunities.

“The game of basketball that we played was completely unacceptable,” said Townsville coach Paul Woolpert.

“We were defeated in every facet of the game. The Tigers seemed bigger stronger and fitter. They looked like they wanted it more.” (more…)

 

 

The Catch Up: NBL Teams Rush To Finish Rosters

So, the Olympics are over and the extra basketball fix we get once every four years is done. It’s just under two more months till the official NBL season gets back underway again. Some teams however have been busy though in recent times and since you last joined us, there have been some exciting player additions and rumours.

What seems like, and actually was ages ago, import point guard Cedric Jackson re-signed with the New Zealand Breakers. His decision to come back to the Breakers immediately puts them back into title contention, as their rapidly growing following have their eyes on a three-peat. Even losing Wilkinson earlier in free agency, they still are a lock for playoff’s next season.

Cedric Jackson

The Melbourne Tigers added Chris Goulding, imports Seth Scott and Kevin Braswell to their roster. Goulding shone in earlier practice matches, admittedly against a lower grade opposition and also playing the majority of game time, however his addition is promising to the title hopes of Melbourne.

Braswell’s addition, and his hot/cold method of play, will be sure to single handed win games for the Tigers. The risk is if that he comes out to play cold, Tigers fans are in for a long night.  The jury is still out on Seth Scott, who fouled out in 20 minutes in their most recent practice match against the University of Northern Colorado Bears.

Wollongong have been quietly going about their business as always. Importantly, they locked down the last of their core players from last season. The Hawks added veteran Glen Saville, Daniel Jackson and David Gruber to the other players re-signing from last year in Rhys Martin, Larry Davidson, Tim Conraad and Tyson Demos. It appears once you go ‘gong, you don’t go back!

As recently as today though, they added two new players to their 2012/13 squad in import guard Lance Hurdle and non-import (as I was reminded repeatedly on Twitter) Centre Auryn MacMilan.

Lance Hurdle, new Hawks import point guard

If there is one thing that Geordie McLeod loves more than the sandy beaches of Wollongong, it’s his import point guards. Often either very hit or miss, McLeod’s strike rate ignoring the recent Showron Glover, is very high. If Hurdle can be as good as Gary Ervin or Tywain McKee, then they will be in playoff contention. However, if Hurdle’s game doesn’t transfer from the NBA D-League to the NBL, pencil in the Hawks to be cellar dwellers next season.

As we head about 2,000 kilometers north, we catch up with Townsville and Cairns’ recent news.

The Townsville Crocs have signed import Jason Forte as their point guard to replace the void Eddie Gill left after his departure. While Gill’s absence will be big, Forte’s signing is a big one. Literally. Standing at 6’4, he is arguable the biggest playmaker in the NBL this season. Forte is very flexible and playing for coach Woolpert previously, means that the Crocs know they can use him all the way from point guard, to power forward. Flexibility that is a plus when you want to be developing the Cedar brothers.

Jason Forte and Curtis Withers are the Crocs new imports

The Crocs also signed forward/centre Curtis Withers for the next season. The 203cm Withers you would think would have to fit into the Rosell Ellis mould of being undersized but being a beast on the boards. After “Big Red’s” departure to Adelaide, the Crocs have a problem at centre. Unless Ben Allen surprises us this season. Please, hold your laughter…

The Cairns Taipans added two new development players (Bruce & Andronicos) and locked down Kerry Williams for another season after missing all of last season with a knee injury. It’s a stable signing for the franchise, which still allows room for another import and maintaining team chemistry.

Anyone who’s been following SEABL of recent times knows of or at least has heard of CJ Massingale. If you haven’t, go Google him. Or Youtube him and let his 45 point game against Knox the other day speak for itself. Back to my point, the Adelaide 36ers have room for one import in their points cap and are genuinely interested in the Knox guard. Massingale is on Marty Clarke’s shopping list, previously along with Kimmani Barret from the Geelong Supercats before he went down with injury. Clarke’s list also features veteran NBL journeyman centre Pero Vasiljevic.

A quick headcount shows Adelaide are still on the lookout for one import, along with Wollongong and Cairns.

So with the NBL off season rolling on, make sure you are following @hoopdiary and myself @rangaMITCH on Twitter, as well as @HD_Paul and @HD_RyanB for all your NBL news.

And once again I will confirm, Auryn MacMilan is not an import. My bad hoops world!

 

 

NBL Free Agency: It Can’t Just Be Me?

NBL

Well, it’s the NBL offseason and while some people may be switching back to other sporting codes for the winter or taking a hiatus off sports for the sake of your significant other, we are in the beginning of close to my favourite part of the NBL calendar.

“But Mitchell, it’s May?” I hear you say.

It can only mean one thing. NBL free agency!!

As of 9am last Tuesday, free agency officially began and teams were given the opportunity to sign players from the free agent pool. With a few big names such as Luke Schenscher, Cam Tragardh, and Gary Wilkinson, there is always the chance of a major shakeup of the balance of power in the league.

And this is what makes free agency one of my favourite periods of the NBL calendar. It is a time for excitement and positivity among fans. In every team and GM’s eyes, they can win the championship this upcoming season. Last season’s standings no longer matter. It is a time of prosperity and new beginnings.

In the past few weeks we have been hearing of teams shoring up their squads, re-signing current players and evaluating what holes need to be plugged from the pool of talent that is available to them.

Recently, Sydney has lost their starting frontcourt with rookie of the year Anatoly Bose, import Jerai Grant and also NBL First team centre Julian Khazzouh announcing they will not be returning to the Kings this season.

Shane Heal’s men have begun the rebuilding effort acquiring the services of ex Kings and more recently Taipans centre Ian Crosswhite. Crosswhite being one of the premier centres in the NBL is a great addition to Sydney for next season. Also, whispers of a James Harvey signing and Heal’s interest in Gold Coast youngster Jason Cadee make Sydney a team to keep an eye on in the next few weeks.

The Townsville Crocs have locked down six players that they were contracted last season. Beginning with the contract extension of young prospect Todd Blanchfield, re-signing of centre Ben Allen, Russell Hinder who missed all of last season with a broken leg, the Cedar brothers and the coveted signature of Boomer’s guard Peter Crawford.

With Oscar Forman from last season the only player that was contracted for this year, the Wollongong Hawks swooped quickly to keep some of its Australian talent. The Hawks re-signed Larry Davidson and Tim Conraad while Rhys Martin extended his stay in sunny Wollongong. Securing their Australian talent was a priority for the Hawks and although there were whispers of a potential return of power forward Cam Tragardh, he has taken his talents and plethora of post moves to Australia’s north.

Former Melbourne Tiger Cam Tragardh is heading north, to join the Cairns Taipans.

Maybe it was the stories from former Cairns trio Ayinde Ubaka, Ron Dorsey and Daniel Dillon at Melbourne Tigers training? Maybe it was a phone call from Jamar Wilson asking him to consider playing in Cairns? Maybe orange is just his favourite colour? Either way, everybody’s second favourite team Cairns have signed big man Cam Tragardh.

Adding to that, the Taipans have been busy so far in the offseason signing young Australian talent from the US college system, Cameron Gliddon and Clint Steindl. Both are touted as excellent marksman from the perimeter, an attribute always favourably looked upon in the NBL.

Finally 36ers fans can take a sigh of relief with their swingman prodigy Mitch Creek committing for the next two years. Following weeks of uncertainty, speculation and sleepless nights, basketball fans in Adelaide will enjoy going to bed tonight.

So as this glorious period of free agency begins and we all hail our team’s signings as the catalyst for change or key to success, let us not be disappointed for the absence of the NBL until October.

Let us all feel that excitement of a clean slate and sky high championship aspirations. It’s free agency time baby!!

 

 

Crocs In Box Seat, Can Breakers Fight Back?

Jack-Gill

The NBL playoffs have kicked off and after three games, we have been dealt one of the surprises of the year with the Townsville Crocs travelling across the ditch to defeat the minor premiers, New Zealand Breakers.

Led by import point guard Eddie Gill and Boomer Peter Crawford, the Crocs humbled the Breakers in front of a massive crowd at Vector Arena. As if dropping a home playoff game in a best of three series is disappointing enough, New Zealand face the prospect of travelling to Townsville to play for their season without the services of starting point guard Cedric Jackson.

Reported by Fairfax NZ, Jackson was driving hard to the basket during scrimmage when centre Alex Pledger made contact and injured his left ankle. It was the same ankle that has caused him trouble earlier in the year.

Now with arguably the Breakers best player and floor general unlikely to play in game two at The Swamp, New Zealand’s season and playoff hopes may be coming to a premature end.

Cedric Jackson

With the offseason departure of reigning Coach of the Year Trevor Gleeson, few had pictured the Crocs returning back to the finals with former assistant coach Paul Woolpert in charge. With big man Luke Schensher missing games and Russel Hinder out for the season, Townsville weren’t predicted to be threatening in the playoffs. Now they are one game away from the big dance.

However, they still have an incredibly deep New Zealand Breakers team to get past. Without Jackson at point guard, New Zealand has the wily veteran CJ Bruton, who has spent his fair share of time off the ball in the past few seasons. Assisting him will be Daryl Corletto, a combo guard who spent significant minutes last season handling the ball with the Melbourne Tigers.

Veteran Bruton is key to the Breakers hopes

While the Townsville Crocs have overcame a massive hump defeating the minor premier Breakers in New Zealand, Townsville aren’t in the grand final yet.

“It didn’t look good when he went down but Mika didn’t look good last year either when he went down. So we’ll see,” said Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis on the uncanny similarities between this and last season’s playoffs. Last season after also securing the minor premiership, the Breakers lost their first home game after which Mika Vukona went down with injury. Several weeks later they were holding up their first iiNet NBL Championship Trophy.

The Crocs could pull one of the upsets of the season by eliminating the Breakers from the playoffs on Thursday night. However with New Zealand’s depth and the experience of veteran point guard CJ Bruton, the back to the wall Breakers might be able to force a game three back at Vector Arena.

And then the ball will be back in Townsville’s court.