Captain Jamie Medved (188-G-82) s 250th game will be the highlight for the Geelong Supercats double-header weekend in round nine of the SEABL.
Medved will reach the milestone when the Supercats face third-ranked East Conference rival Frankston on Saturday night before returning to the Arena to battle the Albury-Wodonga Bandits on Sunday afternoon [read more]
Captain Jamie Medved (188-G-82) s 250th game will be the highlight for the Geelong Supercats double-header weekend in round nine of the SEABL.
Medved will reach the milestone when the Supercats face third-ranked East Conference rival Frankston on Saturday night before returning to the Arena to battle the Albury-Wodonga Bandits on Sunday afternoon.
Medved has made an enormous contribution to the club, both on and off the court, and is richly deserving of the accolades that will flow this weekend.
Hes scored 2229 points @ 8.95ppg, completed 441 assists, 30 blocks, 182 steals and hauled in 368 rebounds.
The Supercats hammered Frankston in a pre-season practice match, although a far tighter contest is forecast on Saturday night.
Geelong will also face a significantly different Bandits line-up than the side that took the points in round two.
It's been a roller-coaster ride for the SEABL champion in the past few days.
The Bandits replaced injured import and MVP Mohamed Ntumba on Monday, with Flenard Whitfield.
Point guard Eric Vann (182-PG-88, college: Bowie St.), the man who torched the Supercats for 39 points in the March meeting, was dumped a day later and the club introduced its new import to the SEABL on Wednesday.
Eric obviously was very passionate, sold himself really well, but at the end of the day, he didn't walk the walk, Bandits coach Brad Chalmers said.
I think we're going to play a much more, fundamentally sound basketball on both ends of the court.
Jermel Jenkins graduated through Iona College, just 36 kilometres north of mid-town Manhattan.
He isnt short on self-belief.
In college I learned to play the one and the two, so I can also score and pass, at the high school level and college level I've always been a winner, Jenkins said this week.
I'm definitely a professional player, where I can make the easy play and the smart play, and then sometimes if need be, I can do a flashy play.
The 22 year-old is 180 centimetres tall, and blitzed the Bandits for a US College All-Star team in the club's only pre-season match.
He had 41 points on us, I think he had eight assists, so that's a pretty good stat line, said Chalmers.
It's where we've been deficient in, he's going to really provide an improvement.
The seven-three Lady Supercats look likely to be too powerful for the Lady Bandits, given the northern rival has just one win in 2013. However Paul OBriens line-up is expected to have its hands full with the six and four Frankston Blues on Saturday night.
By Wes Cusworth for Step Up to the Microphone Media Courtesy of: http://www.sportingpulse.com
SBL: Harrelson sparks Slammers in SBL (Saturday Night Wrap) - May 19, 2013
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Ty Harrelson put his South West Slammers team on his back in SBL action on Saturday night to keep them in touch for finals action while Samantha Whitcomb ensured the Rockingham Flames remained on top of the women's competition.
The Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers also moved to just percentage outside of the top-eight improving to a 7-6 record after a 117-109 win over the Stirling Senators at Warwick Leisure Centre [read more]
Ty Harrelson put his South West Slammers team on his back in SBL action on Saturday night to keep them in touch for finals action while Samantha Whitcomb ensured the Rockingham Flames remained on top of the women's competition.
The Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers also moved to just percentage outside of the top-eight improving to a 7-6 record after a 117-109 win over the Stirling Senators at Warwick Leisure Centre.
Harrelson had a massive night for the Slammers finishing with 39 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists while shooting 12-of-24 from the field, 6-of-14 from beyond the arc and 9-of-12 from the charity stripe.
Jamahr Warren continued his terrific form with 27 points and seven assists with Clive Weeden (205-C-87, college: Dartmouth) adding 20 points and nine rebounds, Wade Hitchcock 13 points and Trent Worthington 11 points to go with 11 boards.
Jordan Wild did all he could for the Senators with 34 points and 15 rebounds with Cory Cooperwood (201-F-88, agency: Warren Sports International, college: Wright St.) adding 28 points, 11 boards and four assists. Thomas Witts contributed 14 points, Sean Gilmore 12 and Josh Throns 11.
The Rockingham Flames won its third game of the season against the one-win Kalamunda Eastern Suns.
The 116-106 victory was set up with 27 points from Cooper Land, 26 from Steven Bennett and 25 from Trent Gerovich. Jake Amos also had 13 points and Marko Deric 12.
Luke Nevill (218-C-86, college: Utah) had another terrific night for the Suns with 38 points and 15 rebounds. Ben Smith added 26 points and Joel Questel 22 to go with seven rebounds and six assists.
The Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers beat the Southlands Boulevarde Willetton Tigers at Active West Stadium with Rob Kampman hitting 24 points, Carter Cook 19, Daniel Thomas 17 and Shamus Ballantyne 14.
Quinn McDowell had 27 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Tigers with Brandon Adams adding 21 points and 13 boards, and Kyle Armour 12 points, three assists, two steals and four rebounds.
The Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants stayed in touch with the top-eight with an 89-85 win over the third-placed People's Choice Eagles at Neils Hansen Basketball Stadium on the back of a 29-16 opening quarter.
Jaycen Herring had a huge night for the Giants with 30 points with Markhuri Sanders-Frison adding 22, 15 rebounds, five assists and three steals in an impressive performance. Kyle Keirnan had 13 points and five assists, and Matthew Leske 13 points, six boards and three assists.
Joe-Allan Tupaea scored 24 points to go with seven assists and five rebounds for the Eagles with Tom Jervis adding 20 points, 12 boards, four blocks and three assists. Jarrod Balcombe finished with 15 points and Nathan Friend 11.
The Australian Belt Scrapers Wanneroo Wolves held onto fourth position ahead of the Mandurah Magic with a 115-104 win at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre on Saturday night.
Seb Salinas had a huge game for the Wolfpack with 36 points and eight rebounds while hitting six three-pointers along the way. Damian Matacz added 20 points, 11 rebounds and four assists with Rhys Smith scoring 17 points, Reece Langford 15 and Rob Huntington 11.
The Magic were best served by Taylor Mullenax with 41 points and 14 rebounds with Taylor Land adding 14 points, Andrew Bowman 14 points and Ben Caporn 12.
The defending champion Cockburn Cougars also won its fourth game of the season with 104-99 victory over the BOQ Perth Redbacks at Wally Hagan Stadium.
In women's action, the Wanneroo Wolves beat the Mandurah Magic 64-42 after holding the Magic to just six first quarter points. Nikita Lee-Martin and Casey Lockwood both had 12 points for the Wolves with Alex Kerr adding 10 points.
Gemma Thomas scored 14 points for the Magic with Briana Klasztorny scored 10 points to go with 16 rebounds.
The Stirling Senators won its fourth game of the WSBL season downing the South West Slammers 81-67. Taylor Lilley top-scored with 24 points for the Senators to go with 19 points from Tegan Walker, 15 from Lyndal Gardner and 10 from Amber Land to go with 13 rebounds.
Shelby Davison scored 21 points to go with nine rebounds and assists for the Slammers with Zoe Harper scoring 11 points to go with 11 rebounds. Bianca Donovan also had 15 points and four assists.
The Rockingham Flames kept its hold on top spot in the WBSL with a 75-64 win over the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.
Whitcomb starred for the Flames with 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists with Talisia Bourne adding 11 points and Kaye Tucker 10 to go with 11 rebounds and eight assists.
Jennie Rintala scored 16 points and pulled in 11 rebounds for the Suns with Adrienne Jones adding 11 points and 10 rebounds. Racehl Muenggenborg also scored 13 points and Melissa Moyle 10.
The Cockburn Cougars beat the Perth Redbacks 75-68 after 24 points from Stephanie Jones. Emma Pass also added 20 points and 10 rebounds with Kate Fielding celebrating her 250th game with 16 points, four assists and three rebounds.
Marita Payne had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Redbacks with Rachel Lisch scoring 15 points to go with nine boards and four assists. Stephanie Sauter also had 11 points and Jessica Jakens 11.
Article by Chris Pike Courtesy of: http://www.sbl.asn.au
SEABL: King keeps starring in latest homecoming to Bendigo court - May 18, 2013
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BASKETBALLER Lauren King (182-G-84) has always had a bit of wanderlust. In her own words, shes not someone who stays in the one spot very long.
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But of late, the 183cm Lady Braves star has come to a rather unexpected realisation.
After years of travelling the country for her sport, playing in South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland the ACT and Victoria, she may have finally found a place to call home [read more]
BASKETBALLER Lauren King (182-G-84) has always had a bit of wanderlust. In her own words, shes not someone who stays in the one spot very long.
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But of late, the 183cm Lady Braves star has come to a rather unexpected realisation.
After years of travelling the country for her sport, playing in South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland the ACT and Victoria, she may have finally found a place to call home.
I never really considered Bendigo to be my home until recently, says the 28-year-old who arrived in central Victoria in 2008 to line up for the Bendigo Spirit after winning a WNBL premiership with Adelaide Lightning.
The ensuing years have seen King feature on the Dandenong Rangers roster, spend two consecutive stints at the Sydney Uni Flames, and captain the Lady Braves in SEABL competition, winning the clubs MVP award in 2011.
Although I have moved around for the past three years, six months on and six months off, I have kept all my stuff in Bendigo and just taken a car load to wherever I have been playing.
I took a car load to Dandenong for six months, then a load to Sydney, back and forth twice.
But I got sick of the travelling, to be honest. I got engaged at the end of last year (to long-time partner Kris Davis) and since then I have just wanted to be settled.
I realised that with basketball, sometimes I am a bit selfish and I need to think about not just myself. Im really comfortable in Bendigo with Kris... its been five years, so I guess it has to be home.
King also seems right back at home on court for the Lady Braves, averaging 12 points and eight rebounds a game in 2013 after taking time-out from the SEABL last year.
I broke my foot at the start of the previous WNBL season and missed the first six weeks. I played the season out, but took the foot injury as a sign I needed a break, she says.
King stayed in Bendigo during the self-imposed hiatus, relief teaching at Kennington Primary School, hanging out with Kris, and following her own training schedule.
The break not only did wonders for her physical condition; it also reminded her how much she loved basketball (though she admits having weekends to herself for once was nice).
It was a massive re- charge, she says. My body was feeling great you dont realise how many years you play and how much of a toll it takes on your body.
Just to be pain-free, not to have to run on those floorboards, and not taking the knocks in games you normally do was really good.
King came back to the WNBL court with Sydney in great shape, but laughs that she should probably have worked on her ball skills a bit earlier than she did.
I hadnt touched the ball and Im definitely not one of those people who can pick one up after six months and be a superstar... it took a few months to get back into the swing of things.
Returning to the Lady Braves, her experience is a valuable asset to the side that has made the play-offs for three consecutive years.
She happily points out she is the second-oldest player on the list behind captain and 200-game veteran Jane Chalmers and sees her job as leading by example, and helping out the younger girls.
I have learnt so much over the years playing with different clubs and if there is anything I can pass on to the girls to help them become better basketballers or to improve the team, I will.
King knows all about the trials and tribulations of being an aspiring basketballer from a regional area.
She grew up in Ballina, in northern NSW, and spent her early teenage years treading the boards up and down the coast as part of various representative squads.
By under-16s, she was a member of the NSW Country squad and thats when the hard work really began.
I would jump on a bus and travel nine hours from Ballina to Newcastle for state training, she recalls.
Mum was busy looking after (younger siblings) Hannah, Grace and Jake, so I would get on the bus at midnight, arrive in the morning, train, then back on a bus on Sunday to go home.
I hate buses now because of it I just cant sit on one and enjoy it.
King describes those junior training weekends as hell.
We would sleep on a mattress on the stadium floor and it was always freezing heading into winter. The mattress would go flat during the night so wed end up on the ground, then wed get up at six oclock to train.
I guess we were young, but I really dont know how we did it!
King left Ballina after year 11 when she was invited to join the Australian Institute of Sports basketball program in Canberra.
Among the players there at the same time were Opals Hollie Grima, Emma Randall and Hannah Zavecz, as well as former Spirit forward Eleanor Haring, with whom she now lives.
Though she was a bit blase at the time, King now realises just what a privilege it was to be offered a scholarship to live and learn at the nations premiere sporting facility.
She made her WNBL debut for the institute team during the 2001-02 season, spending two years at the AIS before heading north to the Townsville Fire.
Her 2008 championship at Adelaide remains the highlight of her playing career, though she represented Australia at the World University Games in Turkey in 2005 (winning a bronze medal) and Bangkok in 2007 (winning gold) while studying for her teaching degree.
The plan, according to King, was to have a portable profession that she could call on to supplement her basketball income, whatever location she landed in.
I am a kid at heart and love to laugh and joke around, she says. I also really love kids, so teaching fitted around my basketball well.
But its a lot harder than what it seems.
You think with relief teaching you can just jump into a school, but when youre going state to state, it can be super-hard to get your qualifications recognised.
The process takes quite a few weeks or even months.
And given the WNBL season runs over the long summer holiday period, then ends half way through term one of a new school year, the work-and-sport stars dont always align.
I do it as much as I can but it gets light on, King says. It works sometimes but it can be challenging.
That is especially true for someone on the move as often as King has been.
I never planned to travel so much it has just happened, but it is has been a really great experience, she says. And I have made many great friends, especially in Bendigo.
I have spread myself thin, but Im not someone who stays in the one spot long.
Ive never had family where I have played before so nothing has really held me down before. Looking back, I have just been excited by new opportunities, so I have taken them.
King says she would not be where she is today without the support of her family.
In early high school, I was getting selected to play for different representative teams.
We didnt have a lot of money back then, but somehow they always found the money so I could go. Even now, if I need anything they are always there to help out, no matter what.
Her only regret in life is that she was not around for her youngest siblings.
I left to go to the AIS when Jake was six and Grace was eight, so I missed out on them growing up, she rues.
Asked what has kept her going for so long, especially when she has a teaching career to fall back on, King laughs in reply.
My bank account should have been telling me for a long time to get out of this, but I dont know, Im not done with it...
I really, really love it. I dont do it for accolades, I do it because I love it.
I get a kick out of playing I wouldnt have lasted this long if I was sitting on the bench and playing no minutes. I just love playing.
Since her engagement to Kris, though, her priorities have started to change.
The couple met through basketball in Townsville and Kris followed her to Adelaide then later Bendigo, where he has tried his hand at Aussie Rules football (he presently plays for Harcourt).
They are planning their wedding, possibly next April, and look forward to a slightly more settled life together.
For nearly eight years we have been on this crazy ride and Kris has never complained, King says.
He has supported me through hundreds of games. I dont give him enough credit.
Basketball is not in the middle of my focus now. It has shifted a little bit, but in a good way. I still really love it, but it is not my everything.
I will keep playing it, but I dont know for how long.
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I have been in the WNBL for 12 seasons so when I finish I will miss it, but life goes on. Ill still have my friends, my family and Kris.
And though she is sick of constantly moving, at least one more shift is on the cards sometime down the track.
I would eventually love to live closer to my family, near the beach and warmer weather, she says.
But for now, Bendigo is definitely my home. Courtesy of: http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au
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