9-Mov (9.15pm) v Marion Magnetics, 16-Mov (7pm) v Somerton Storm, 23-Mov (9.35pm) semi-final, 28-Mov (8pm) exhibition game v Port Pirie Panthers at the Donaldson Basketball Stadium, 30-Mov (8.30pm) prelim final, 7-Dec (9pm) grand final.
Welcome to the home of the Somerton Thunder, Movember and Jultopia
Established in 1992 as the ACH Gungadins, the Somerton Thunder represent Holdfast Baptist and play in the Salvation Army Basketball Assoc (SA) at the Distinctive Homes Dome and the SA Church Basketball Assoc at Mars Stadium, and are affiliated with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. See the headlines for more history. Photos used with permission. If you object to any material on this website, email us at thunder2009@optusnet.com.au (new address). Many characters and events on this website - even those based on real people - are fictional. Many player quotes are impersonated ..... poorly. The following website may contain offensive material and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone.
Ladder predictor updated as Coach Smith pleads "vote for me!" November 8, 2009
Story coming soon.
A Grade Men Finals
1. Somerton Thunder 14-0, 48pts
2. Arndale Allstars 10-4, 40 pts
3. ACH Flamingos 9-5, 38pts
4. Seaton Spartans 10-1-3, 35pts
B Grade Men Finals
5. Marion Magnetics 6-8, 32pts
6. Happy Valley Wolves 8-6, 29pts
7. Hallett Cove Flames 7-1-6, 29pts
8. Somerton Storm, 5-9, 24 pts
Missing the Finals
9. ACH White Flamingos 4-1-9, 23pts
10. ACH Guns 4-10, 22pts
11. ACH Grey Favourites 4-10, 21pts
12. ACH Bullets 1-1-12, 17pts
Julius Hodge signs with the Melbourne Tigers November 7, 2009
Julius Hodge is back, having signed with the Melbourne Tigers. Released by the Adelaide 36ers last year after (you choose):
a) rocking up late to practice more times than not;
b) not rocking up to practice at all;
c) several ordinary performances on the road and no, we're not talking during the game either;
d) making a mockumentary video about (not) drinking the poison and doing weights after every game;
e) being named the best player in the league by perennial Coach of the Year Brian Goorjian;
f) not being paid on time and arguing with the team owner about payment;
g) not showing up for a game against Wollongong to make a stand against the owner for not paying him;
h) 36ers' Coach Scott Ninnis declared Hodge's famed work ethic as a "crock of you know what" after the 36ers' released him;
i) SA Police issuing a summons for Hodge to appear before a court of law on charges of somethingorother;
j) most of the above;
k) all of the above;
..... he's back and mark our words when we say this is not going to end well. Perhaps it won't end well for Adelaide as Julius (also referred to as Judas) Hodge goes on a tear, reaffirms his status as the best player in the league and leads Melbourne to a title ..... or he returns to his alleged worst and Melbourne fracture further and fall away from the finals. Either way, it's going to be interesting and as usual, the truth is most often somewhere in between the two extremes. It's certainly going to be entertaining and mark 5 December in your calendars folks, not only because it's exactly one week after the Thunder and Port Pirie Panthers clash, but because that's the night Julius comes back to Adelaide. Not since Mark Bradtke returned for the first time with Melbourne has a game had such anticipation for all the wrong - or right - reasons. Get in early though if you're looking for a ticket 'cause our prediction is that like the Panthers-Thunder game, it'll be a sellout. Back soon.
The truth behind the NBA trophy as SABASA finals program is released November 6, 2009
Enjoy the above video as the Los Angeles Lakers' Lamar Odom discovers the truth behind the NBA trophy from former Lakers' championship players Earvin Johnson and James Worthy. "That's a heated tray." One day we'll reveal the secret behind the SABASA trophy but we digress. Speaking of SABASA land, the SABASA have released the program for the upcoming finals series with the A Grade Men games as follows:
23 Nov - 8.45pm: 3v4 semi-final on Court 3
23 Nov - 9.35pm: 1v2 semi-final on Cal McKinnon Court
30 Nov - 8.30pm: prelim final on Cal McKinnon Court
7 Dec - 9.00pm: grand final on Cal McKinnon Court, followed by presentations
The full program has been uploaded to our ladders, programs, statistics page with finals game details for all grades. Enjoy.
36ers' Nathan Herbert joins the Movember cause November 5, 2009
A long-time supporter of Movember, Adelaide 36ers' guard Nathan Herbert has joined the Movember cause. His coach Scott Ninnis however, hasn't joined the cause and we're using this post to publicly call him out and demand that he joins in. Motivation and leadership come from the top and if it's good enough for the Thunder's coach to look like a Class-A dill in support of mens' health, then it's good enough for Scott too. C'mon Scott, join in this year or at least, announce that you'll be part of the team next year and we'll even link to your Movember site. Talking Movember, we apologise for the lack of photos this week. A minor technical hitch meant no photos were taken on Monday night but we hope to have this fixed by next week. Meanwhile, enjoy this edition of 36ers TV and to Scott, again we say - get some nuts and grow a mo!
Overseas basketball wrap November 4, 2009
There's a whole lot happening overseas in basketball so we thought it was an opportune time to have a look at what our young Aussies are up to overseas. The above video features Australia's Aron Baynes, who has been playing very well for Lietuvos Rytas in Europe. He throws down a pretty vicious dunk, so much so he was ranked number one play in the Top Ten Plays of Euroleague Week 2. Watch the video. Super stuff!
Meanwhile in the NBA, Australia's David Andersen and Nathan Jawai have enjoyed career weeks, posting highs for points, rebounds and everything else considering neither of them have really done much (or anything!) in the NBA prior to this season. Our Aussie performances to date are as follows, keeping in mind Patrick Mills is injured. Click on the above photo for a full-size version of Andersen getting blocked. Wow!
Finally, he's not an Aussie, but this video is worth a look too. A bat flys across the court and eventually meets his maker, courtesy of Argentinian San Antonio Spur Manu Ginobli. Watch how he smacks the living stuffing out of it, then hands it courtside. Now that's cool.
Thunder slay Spartans 51-31 November 3, 2009
The Thunder last night slayed the Seaton Spartans 51-31 in an entertaining affair, both teams showing flashes of brilliance amidst moments of mediocrity. With veteran Gavin Clark leading the way, the Spartans showed they're legit and will compete for the SABASA A Grade crown, whilst the Thunder did enough to say they're not far off peak form. Stepping away from their familiar 3-2 zone for the night, the Thunder looked hungry and were led by centre James Smith's near triple-double (12 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists) and some sweet shooting from guard Cal McKinnon. Sporting some of the most ordinary moustaches seen in a long time, the players look good for the upcoming Port Pirie exhibition clash in just four weeks' time. The win wraps up top spot in the minor round ahead of the big grand final rematch against Marion next week.
Thunder to meet the Spartans at the Dome at 9.15pm November 2, 2009
With the SABASA finals only three weeks away, things are heating up at the Distinctive Homes Dome though that tends to happen naturally as we move into summer but we digress. The Thunder (1st) tonight meet the Seaton Spartans (3rd) in what should be an entertaining affair on the Cal McKinnon Court. Look for bad facial hair to dominate proceedings, with rumours abounding that several players are well into their Movember quest already. Our bothan spies tell us the Thunder should be at near-to full strength, whilst the Spartans wear silly shorts, no shirts, carry shields and swords around, and yell a lot. Sounds like fun. Get there early for what should be a crackerjackmajetski of a contest.
