Wow.  We didn't see that coming.  With four Thunder players sidelined for a bevy of reasons - working interstate, babysitting, past his bedtime and got punched in the face (and you say we make this stuff up) - this was a serious danger game.  Futures have been in great form all season, sitting clear in second place and making this both a figurative and literal top-of-the-table clash.  From the opening tip, the Thunder were on.  Their combination of Penn, Jon.Smith, B.Smith, Jos.Smith and Sleep played the game the right way, moving the ball on offence and backing each other up on defence.  Whilst we weren't there and are totally making all this up, we maintain it was a belter of a contest and worth the price of free admission.  Futures fought hard early but ultimately couldn't hold back the Thunder tsunami (see what we did there?).  Final score Gateway 69 (Jon.Smith 30, Penn 13, Sleep 10, B.Smith 8, Jos.Smith 8) d Futures Hornets 45.  Good times, good times.

Each Wednesday we'll publish the WCB A Grade Men premiership ladder here because well ..... just because.  OK, it's because we're old and can't work out the app but we have managed to work out how websites work.  Next stop is to give away our cassettes and start using CDs but we're not sure the technology will last.  We shall see.  With no further adieu, here's the full A Grade Men premiership ladder.  Enjoy.

1 (1). Gateway Thunder 7-0, 21pts @ 148%
2 (2). Futures Hornets 4-3, 15pts @ 102%
3 (4). Gateway Tsunami 2-1-4, 12pts @ 87%
4 (3). CFC Stars 2-1-3, 11pts @ 83%
5 (5). Futures Pioneers 1-6, 9pts @ 84%

The semi finals are done and dusted and we followed up last week's 4-0 tips with a 3-1 result, Wacko Jacko Elite rolling along and proving us to be in error.  Watch them closely because they're good ... championship good but if things were interesting last week, they get even more interesting this week.  Four teams remaining and the four-time champion Hoxley Tigers are still alive despite only just scraping into the playoffs.  We've tipped them through to the grand final - no surprise there - and we're all hoping it happens and so are you.  That's because you make the Grand Final and anything can happen.  Good times, good times.

Semi Finals
Hoxley Tigers 1440 d Sam Bowie's Left Leg 1405
Mr 66 1742 d Big Girls Don't Kawhi 1269
Pick 18 1649 d Fli on Zion 1292
Wacko Jacko Elite 1828 d Hoxley Cubs 1675

Quarter Final tips
Hoxley Tigers to beat Mr 66
Wacko Jacko Elite to beat Pick 18

Each week we'll bring you the Immer Kitchens or Rise Above Adversity NBL1 Player of the Week award as judged by our editors and anyone else we know who's attending the games or watching on replay.  This week saw one player set career highs across the board and with no further adieu, we present the NBL1 Round 1 Player of the Week award to South Adelaide's Daniel Smith.  Congratulations and all the best for the season ahead.

Round 1: Daniel Smith 10:27min 4pts 4reb 1blk W

Look, it could be worse.  Exciting news as the WCB announced this week that the Monday night competition will be adding a new timeslot from tomorrow night Monday 7 April.  Yes folks, it's back to 10pm games but not really.  You see, the late game is only 9.55pm, with all games moving forward 5 minutes to assist with the change.  We can't say we're fans of later games but when it means more teams and more matches and more opportunity for the competition to continue to grow, it has to be a good thing.  Unfortunately, that's all courts full for the whole night now so where it goes from here is anyone's guess.  Interesting times, interesting times.

Look, it's not ideal.  Any time that daylight savings ends AND you play a game 40 minutes later than any other game played in the previous 6 years isn't ideal.  That means the 9.55pm game tonight is in fact being played at 10.55pm and won't end until 11.40pm, or so it will feel.  Again, it's not ideal but that's sport and it will not be used as an excuse .... much.  Two teams enter, one team leave.  With no further adieu, we present to you Gateway v Futures Pioneers.

LAST FIVE GAMES HEAD-TO-HEAD
3/3/2025:  Gateway 71 (Jon.Smith 21, D.Smith 15, Penn 14) d Futures Pioneers 48
3/2/2025:  Gateway 108 (Jon.Smith 70, Vucetic 10, Jos.Smith 9) d Futures Pioneers 59
9/12/2024 (grand final):  Gateway 50 (Jon.Smith 18, Vucetic 13, Sleep 7) d Futures Pioneers 46 
14/10/2024:  Gateway 67 (Jon.Smith 24, J.Smith 14, Vucetic 14) d Futures Pioneers 45
5/8/2024:  Gateway 87 (Jon.Smith 25, D.Smith 20, Penn 12) d Futures Pioneers 54

LADDER
1 (1). Gateway Thunder 7-0, 21pts @ 148%
5 (5). Futures Pioneers 1-6, 9pts @ 84%

OUR PREDICTION
The good news is despite the midnight finishing time, the Thunder have a full squad so there'll be time for a quick nap on the bench.  Hold just a sec, we have a call coming through.  Oh, look, it's not ideal.  We've just heard the Thunder have only the minimum five players for the second straight week which means 40 minutes each, no mid-game naps and sheer and utter exhaustion before going to bed after midnight and then waking the next day for work.  Again, it's not ideal but that's sport and despite the absence of four Jultopia veterans, the game goes on.  The Thunder continue to do what they need to to get the win whilst the season has been a nightmare for the Futures Pioneeers who we must remember were just six points off being back-to-back champions.  So what does it all mean tonight?  Not a lot.  Frankly, it's a case of whoever can stay awake, wins.  Our tip?  Get to bed early tonight in preparation.  Thunder by 4 points.  Just because.  No other reason.  Let's hope so.  Tiring times, tiring zzzzzzz.

Midnight basketball was back last night - or was it this morning? - and wow, we hope to never see it again.  Sure it was hard on the players but imagine being in the crowd, trying to stay awake long enough to be able to write a game review!  The game began with a Thunder avalanche - 8-0, 14-2, 18-4, 24-6 - before Futures dug deep and began to turn the game around.  Futures found their midrange and attacked the basket with abandon, whilst Gateway settled into a rhythm of backdoor cuts, dunks, jumpers and fast breaks.  Half time arrived and the players returned to their benches for a mid-game nap and whilst all ten players returned to the court, we didn't as we fell asleep at the back of the stands and dreamt of being asleep at home.  OK maybe not, but it's a fitting conclusion to our match report and a game that lived up to all expectations.  Mark our words that the Pioneers are better than their record suggests and history says they'll be around at the end of the season.  Final score Gateway 69 (Jon.Smith 27, Penn 16, J.Smith 13, B.Smith 8, Vucetic 5) d Futures Pioneers 48.  Goodnight folks, we're going to bed.  Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Each Wednesday we'll publish the WCB A Grade Men premiership ladder here because well ..... just because.  OK, it's because we're old and can't work out the app but we have managed to work out how websites work.  Next stop is to give away our cassettes and start using CDs but we're not sure the technology will last.  We shall see.  With no further adieu, here's the full A Grade Men premiership ladder.  Enjoy.

1 (1). Gateway Thunder 8-0, 24pts @ 147%
2 (2). Futures Hornets 4-4, 16pts @ 92%
3 (4). CFC Stars 3-1-3, 14pts @ 95%
4 (3). Gateway Tsunami 2-1-4, 12pts @ 87%
5 (5). Futures Pioneers 1-7, 10pts @ 82%

The preliminary finals are done and dusted and we followed up previous week records of 4-0 and 3-1 with a 2-0 result, meaning we're 9-1 so far for the finals with the only blemish being Wacko Jacko Elite in the semi finals and they remain the only team standing between our Hoxley Tigers and a 5th premiership.  So the young upstart rookie finds himself up against the competition's benchmark.  Anything can happen in a grand final but whilst our Tigers clearly have teh edge in finals experience, this Wacko Jacko team is good.  Very good.  Go you Hoxley Tigers!  Nervous times, nervous times.

Preliminary Finals
Hoxley Tigers 2165 d Mr 66 1796
Wacko Jacko Elite 2177 d Pick 18 1763

Grand Final tip
Hoxley Tigers to beat Wacko Jacko Elite (as if we were ever going to tip anyone else)

Each week we'll bring you the Immer Kitchens or Rise Above Adversity NBL1 Player of the Week award as judged by our editors and anyone else we know who's attending the games or watching on replay.  This week saw one player set even more career highs across the board and make the game-winning basket so with no further adieu, we present the NBL1 Round 2 Player of the Week award to South Adelaide's Daniel Smith.  Congratulations and all the best for the season ahead.

Round 1 (W):  Daniel Smith 10:27min 4pts 4reb 1blk
Round 2 (W):  Daniel Smith 24:54min 12pts 4reb 2ast 1stl

Yet again there is no context, no meaning, no hint, no pointing in a certain direction and consequently we have absolutely no idea who's back or where they've been or for how long or why or when but wow, we're excited.  Apparently he's back and that's a good thing.  We think.  In fact, we don't think and certainly not in this situation.  He's back!  Strange times, strange times.

Three times played, three blockbuster matchups and here we go again as the Gateways go at it again.  Gateway v Gateway never fails to deliver and tonight will be no exception as South Adelaide's feeder teams compete one more time.  Folks, this will be an absolute crackerjackmajetski.  Get there early by no later than 9.09pm to get a good seat for the 9.10pm tipoff.  Two teams enter, one team leave.  With no further adieu, we present to you Gateway Thunder v Gateway Tsunami.

LAST FIVE GAMES HEAD-TO-HEAD
10/3/2025: Thunder 52 (Jon.Smith 25, D.Smith 13, Sleep 4) d Gateway Tsunami 47
4/11/2024: Gateway Tsunami 47 d Thunder 43 (Jon.Smith 14, J.Smith 12, D.Smith 8)
12/8/2024: Thunder 60 (Jon.Smith 22, D.Smith 17, Sleep 9) d Gateway Tsunami 37

OUR PREDICTION
Our bothan spies tell us Gateway will be without at least two players, one missing due to a bovine issue and the other double-booked.

The Thunder got off to a good start and didn't look back.  After the Tsunami scored the first 2 points, the Thunder went bang bang bang and quickly led 24-6, the game as good as done.  It wasn't though as the Tsunami flexed their muscles to stay in the contest but despite missing three Jultopia veterans, the  Thunder proved too strong, opening up a considerable lead over the rest of the competition as they approach the Easter break.  Final score Gateway  98 (Jon.Smith 36, Vucetic 22, McKinnon 15, D.Smith 15, Penn 8, J.Smith 2) d Gateway Tsunami 38.

Each Wednesday we'll publish the WCB A Grade Men premiership ladder here because well ..... just because.  OK, it's because we're old and can't work out the app but we have managed to work out how websites work.  Next stop is to give away our cassettes and start using CDs but we're not sure the technology will last.  We shall see.  With no further adieu, here's the full A Grade Men premiership ladder.  Enjoy.

1 (1). Gateway Thunder 9-0, 27pts @ 157%
2 (3). CFC Stars 4-1-3, 17pts @ 98%
3 (2). Futures Hornets 4-4, 16pts @ 92%
4 (4). Gateway Tsunami 2-1-5, 13pts @ 77%
5 (5). Futures Pioneers 1-8, 11pts @ 82%

The grand final is done and dusted and sadly, our Hoxley Tigers didn't win.  Wacko Jacko Elite - a rookie amongst seasoned veterans - swept all before him and rode the Dyson Daniels gravy train from beginning to end but he was made to earn it.  The 12th seed Hoxley Tigers trailled narrowly going into the final day and it looked to be anyone's game but with seven outs, the margin couldn't be overcome.  From everyone at leaguelineup.com and the Thunder, congratulations to Wacko Jacko Elite on an amazing performance and may you never be added to the group chat.  Good times, good times.

Grand Final
Wacko Jacko Elite 1724 d Hoxley Tigers 1479