Catch another episode of the SA Shotclock including the latest on SA’s local basketball leagues.
Tristan “TP” Prentice and co-host Harrison “Chappy” Chapman dive into the opening rounds of the NBL1 Central, check in with what happened at the Easter Classic, 3×3 Asia Cup and Albert Schweitzer Tournament for our locals.
Special Guest from the Southern Tigers Mollie McKendrick also stops by to share about her Tiger’s opening round, about her media experiences in commentary along with how the pathway can be expanded and pays a heartfelt tribute to a literal giant of the game in Greg Olbrich.
Plus all your regular Basketball South Australia news and updates including Round 1-3 of the New Balance University Basketball League…
Photo Credit – Picture It Sports Photography/Shaun Lee @Sheawaun
We want to continue our work telling the stories of SA Basketball this winter and beyond with world championships, local legends, NBL and WNBL previews, reviews and NBL1 off season news and predictions – Can you PLEASE HELP US with a shotclock sub of $14 or $24 a year to help us do this?
The SA Shotclock is back for another week bringing you the latest in SA Basketball including the last part of the NBL and WNBL SeasonTP recaps the Adelaide Lightning and WNBL awards for South Australians as they prepare for the semi-finals via all four teams. TP is then joined by Jimmy Buckets to go “Under the Microscope” for the first time this year with the TOP NBL1 Central Games to watch for in 2026 & to consider if any have been missed and why TP chose these the games for different reasons plus in SA Basketball News touch on the latest signings for the league as we move closer to tip-off in mid-March. They relive the incredible final quarter comeback of the Adelaide 36ers against the New Zealand Breakers as the full final term is replayed then dissected by both.Then to finish – the debate that has raged in the basketball community – who is the REAL MVP in NBL26??? TP & Jimmy do it the only way they know how – look at the numbers thanks to Sweeney Accounting…
It takes 4 hours a week to write, research and produce our content but we want to write extra content this next few months so we thought we’d pitch to the public
Four new $24 Shotclock subscribers will have one of two pieces produced on the topics of
“SA Schools shine on Gold Coast” (Australian Schools Championships 2024)
“The Powerhouses of SA School Basketball” (Looking at the last five to ten years of school basketball)
Eight new $24 Shotclock subscribers will have both pieces done for production
Please DM if you’d like to support another way than subscription
See if you can provide the assist we need to tell the South Australian Basketball story
All Episodes of the SA Shotclock will be available on podcasting platforms in the coming months.
The Adelaide Waatu took on the Victorian double header last Tuesday and Wednesday against the Federation University Falcons and the Black Angels of Melbourne University.
A couple of new faces for the Waatu made strong first impressions with fire and flame added to the promising outfits of 2024.
Here’s how the Waatu fared in Round 2 in the heartland…
Meera Coburn (pictured left) caused problems once again for the Adelaide Waatu in their road trip to Victoria last week - Photo supplied by Adelaide Uni Sports and Recreation
Winter storm not enough to overcome Falcons
The Waatu Women’s first win in their history came against the Falcons in 2023 but ran into a solid home unit first up on Tuesday afternoon 83-67.
The home side got the flying start led by Demi Thompson with only Georgia Winter keeping the Waatu in it – raining in three triples in the first term. Tara Elliott however was on fire for the Falcons firing the Ballarat based side to a 30-13 lead at quarter time.
The Norwood Flames duo lit up for the Waatu to start the second as Jemima Whitton and Alice Sabine began a big rise for the Waatu. An unanswered 0-9 run was further capatalised on by Winter with another triple and inside drive to get the Waatu back to a 41-35 scoreline. The 11-22 quarter was their most productive of the season so far.
Sabine started off the third quarter keeping the Waatu in it and had some help from pocket rocket of impact Raima Johnson (another quick spell of scores with five points). Sarah Augustine however for the Falcons was causing all sorts of problems with Winter closing the gap with her fifth triple of the afternoon. After trading layups Elliott broke the deadlock in the quarter with a dagger to give the home side a 66-57 lead heading into the last.
A 7-2 start was not ideal for the Waatu to open the fourth and despite some Whitton and Sabine scoreboard pressure – the Falcons with a couple of last quarter Thompson triples just pushed it out a little too far for the Waatu to reel it back in as they fell 83-67.
Record win uncovers gold from beyond for Waatu Men
The Waatu Men notched their biggest win of their time in the UBL with a thumping 30 point win laden with plenty of hits beyond the arc 89-119.
Emil Kourani kicked things off with a triple to open proceedings and backed it up with another two plus an impressive spin move drive to have 11 for the term. Ayual Garang joined the three fest with two of his own – new inclusion from the Norwood Flames and 2023 ANZAC Day Medallist Darcy McNamara finishing the quarter with a buzzer beater triple beating all kinds of pressure. The Waatu leading 26-33 with seven triples in the opening term.
McNamara showed his recent preseason form for the Flames was no accident as he lit up for another to start the second term with Kourani following up to begin a 0-8 run. The Falcons Austin MacKenzie showed resistance but the Waatu rode Garang in the second with a triple and some transition coast to coast work. Harry Bruce put the finishing touches to the quarter with a pair of triples and a put back shot to turn a 3-17 run into a strong 46-66 lead at the half.
It was Bruce’s turn to show the spruce with back to back triples then McNamara feeding Bailey Nathan as the Falcons burnt timeout 55-74. Kourani made a cutting reverse layup, Garang got busy defensively with a block from behind before feeding Bruce for another two. McNamara drained another triple then fed Sam Davies to make it 75-87 at three quarter time.
The triple treat continued in the fourth with McNamara again but the Falcons pushed it back to 82-92 and a little concern was sweeping coach Scott Freer. A steadying timeout saw Bruce and McNamara emerge with back to back triples before Bruce brought up the 100 with a contested finish in transition. The bench got plenty of burn with Isaac Hampel grabbing a floater and Patrick Moriarty grabbing a triple as Davies and Kourani finished it with soft touch and slams – capping a record win for the Waatu Men. Twenty triples in all led to the 119 scoreline, a record in the past three years of UBL action for the Waatu.
RD 2 Men FED 89 defeated by AU Waatu 119 (Bruce 27, McNamara 23, Kourani 17, Garang 13) – Individual Finalised Scores to Follow
Winter scorches Melbourne early but “Slaylah” Leila leads Black Angels to win
The Waatu Women showed their competitiveness in season 2024 pushing Melbourne University hard at home with an 80-67 loss on day two of their roadtrip. Georgia Winter continued her stellar form from the week lighting it up early for the Waatu.
With a change of Petra Rychtarcikova into the starting five, Winter took advantage of the early space as she nailed her first triple and dropped one off the window. Meera Coburn of the “Black Angels” who had grabbed 7 points and 16 rebounds the previous time they met and one of the only members left from the squad of 2023 was at it again early with buckets, assists and boards – feeding Lara Essex for multiple attempts. Not to be outdone Meaza Otto with some impressive finishing including a driving layup heavily contested. The quarter however belonged to Winter who drained a WNBA range triple then took a left handed hook drive but it was NBL1 South Melbourne Tiger Leila Davis for the home side on the buzzer that left the score in favour of MUBC 27-23 after one.
Winter clearly still didn’t register on the scout as she got open another three then got a shooters roll on her drive before draining another three. Only Otto’s faked handoff and score left it 0-10 to open the second with a timeout to Melbourne. Davis and Essex responded for the home side setting up Melbourne with multiple looks and trips to the charity stripe with Victoria Poulos forcing a timeout the way of the Waatu 36-35. Rychtarcikova got a nice finish underneath but would not be allowed a second time as Coburn began block city for the “Black Angels.” A Jemima Whitton triple and Flames teammate Alice Sabine with a charge absorbed kept them in touch at half time 44-40 and right in the contest. Winter controlled everything for the Waatu with 21 points at the half with Davis just behind her for MUBC with 16 points.
Despite clear instruction at half time not to lose her – Winter blew off her defender for another triple before MUBC strung together a strong run of 2-8 through Aimee Wookey, Davis andKnox Raiders product Colby Rough. A circus trick from Raima Johnson created an and1 opportunity but Davis and Rough were hard to stop for the home side. Whitton and Sabine closed the gap for the Waatu and Winter’s seventh triple kept them in touching distance 63-56 with one to play.
The message got through to the “Black Angels’ with their defence shutting down Winter but opened things up for Sabine to take it coast to coast. Davis and Coburn however had the final say with Davis sealing things off with 12 points and Coburn almost having as many points as blocks despite Ellamay Brooks-Birve’s late bank triple helping bring the Waatu closer in the finish 80-67.
Mc-Matchup worth the price as Melbourne power home
All you had to know as those of the Mc-variety were the serve of the day as MU and AU tried to outgun each other from beyond the arc – with the defending 2023 champions Melbourne at home just out lasting an out of gas Waatu men 101-78.
The “Black Angels” missing Nunawading Spectre Dihan Wiggett began things with Josh McNally draining a triple – the bigs of Melbourne already causing the Waatu trouble in Melbourne Tigers Will Amos and Camberwell Dragons Matt Power. Adding the spice though was McNamara who off the back of Tuesday’s debut performance went toe-to-toe with McNally as he fired for 12 points with three triples of various fadeaway, difficulty and included a four point play he converted. McNally leaving the home side in front at quarter time 30-21.
Amos continued his damage to start the second with Harry Bruce keeping the Waatu in touch with a clock beater then a triple – but again Power and newly entered Waverly Falcon Harvey Moore kept MUBC in front 43-26 with a 13-4 run. Bruce reeled off back to back triples in response but McNally and Power with 14 points continued to be a pain as Melbourne led 54-49 in a tight one at half-time. Bruce owned the second with 15 points in the quarter.
McNally and McNamara went at each other again in the third with triples answering each other but the height of Melbourne Tigers Kai Garnaut, Power and co was starting to wear down the second day road trip Waatu. Even McNamara driving against up to three players found himself locked down as Melbourne took a 77-62 advantage into the last – a 23-13 term.
McNally nailed another triple to open the fourth and after foul trouble in the first three quarters Ayual Garang emerged with an and1 in transition then hit a circus floater shot for another and1 to cut it back to 80-68. Amos ran amuck from that point on as Melbourne pushed themselves out – Lachlan Maddern sealing comfortable victory with a pair of triples. Kourani dropped a couple of triples and a one handed slam in the final term to make the Waatu’s scorecard look more respectable in the finish 105-78.
RD 2 MUBC 105 (McNally 22, Power 20, Amos 26, Garnaut 12) defeated AU Waatu 78 (McNamara 22, Bruce 19, Kourani 13, Garang 11)
Catch the Waatu’s third round and first home games this week against University of WA on Wednesday on Uni Sports TV from 11:00am or catch it live at the State Basketball Centre.
NEW – PITCH TO THE PUBLIC
It takes 4 hours a week to write, research and produce our content but we want to write extra content this next few months so we thought we’d pitch to the public
Four new $24 Shotclock subscribers will have one of two pieces produced on the topics of
“SA Schools shine on Gold Coast” (Australian Schools Championships 2024)
“The Powerhouses of SA School Basketball” (Looking at the last five to ten years of school basketball)
Eight new $24 Shotclock subscribers will have both pieces done for production
Please DM if you’d like to support another way than subscription
See if you can provide the assist we need to tell the South Australian Basketball story
All Episodes of the SA Shotclock will be available on podcasting platforms in the coming months – we apologise for the delay as logistics are sorted – you can download to listen anytime on your personal devices.
It’s happened again – the common occurrence in my life and I feel everyone else’s.
That call, text, chat message, email which is often followed with the statement “we need to talk.”
Then comes the feeling “what is it now”…
Just like this room of blank pages at MONA - for another season in my life I was faced with the daunting situation of "what is it now"
A statement that still can fill us with grief of different magnitudes, uncertainty, frustration and ultimately can result in change. Things won’t be the same as they were before or stay as you hoped.
Let’s be honest change we find difficult but it’s part of living in our everyday life – some are much bigger than others.
There’s been a couple of recent ones I’ve been reflecting on in the past twelve months in my various roles. Some I’ve dealt with and others I have not. A new married life, home, and environment change have had their challenges but have all been for the better – and special at that.
Some have been through work situations, confronted with things that made me internally grieve about my shortcomings and inability to complete certain tasks, make that next step in my professional broadcasting career or not have what I need to be able to accomplish the goal I had in place at that very moment – a case of not no but not now.
We all want things to stay the same after all continuity is king in many different areas of life. The reality of this like keeping the same group of players together on a basketball team or running your groups the same as you’ve always wanted has to at some point in my experience run its course.
This is where the feeling of “what is it now” comes up. Our life has been smooth sailing for a while or things have remained continuous for some time but we know the next conversation we have means it will not be the same again. We also know that we can’t progress in the next chapter of our life without it.
It’s okay to grieve at that moment this occurs as either what you’ve had whether good, bad, or devastating as a result of this moment means it will not be there again.
Let me share a more recent example from a basketball sense.
I had a plan as a coach of one of the many teams I helped support to have my team play a certain style of basketball, certain plays and personnel. I got to the start of 2024 with all of this in place and after coming back from a successful tournament in Tasmania with the Australian Baptist Basketball Carnival – the reality hit me. What I had planned was not going to happen for various reasons and every effort to try and make that plan work failed. It was “what is it now” continuously and it weighed on me as a coach. I was frustrated and confused as to what I could do – then I remembered as a man of faith something I was told in the last 12 months.
I can’t remember who exactly but I can remember why – it was the reason we celebrate and reflect particularly this Good Friday annually.
I was reminded that sometimes we are given what we have and we should utilise what we have instead of asking for more. The way the situation was viewed changed – it wasn’t a “what is it now” it was a “what is he going to do about it.”
Immediately I dived into what I had, I spoke to an NBL1 coach for advice, blew up my first plans and reformed new ones, enthused by this the team changed for the better and now we are a competitive unit again. I’ve had several moments like this over the past few months and I have hit the point of looking at what I have been truly blessed with. I start to now look at what I’m given resource-wise, supported with and when that “change” happens – it reduces the size and impact of the in-between period of transition.
On Good Friday 2024 – I encourage you to take a moment to consider what you do when things change. For me the man who died on the cross for our sins has given me all I need and some things he’s already set in motion for the future. When change happened in “his” times his very people didn’t do very well either with it. If you read Luke 4:16-30 (an account well portrayed in The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3 for those looking for a visual representation) this was meant to be the “it is now” but as pointed out by my pastor at my local church – our own viewpoint or expectations of what it should be can blind our very own ability to see the answer.
The Jesus we got is the Messiah we needed because today we know Jesus truly is the Son of God. Jesus’s offer isn’t around forever and you don’t want to end up like the people of Nazareth blinded to the Messiah when he is right in front of you – just because he wasn’t the Messiah that you were expecting.
Pastor Dion – Lighthouse Community Church
For us, no matter what you believe the great wisdom of being able to see the moment “what is it now” and change the lens and viewpoint we use – can be the difference between dwelling on the past and moving forward into the future more mature, wise and knowing that we are not bound by our expectations.
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 