Before we begin today's stories, we apologise for the lack of pictures and gifs. We have some technical issues here at leaguelineup.com and hope to rectifiy them in the coming week. Back to today's story and they did it again. Our Hoxley Tigers are back at the top of the tree, overcoming what was predicted to be a 400+ point loss at the start of the league's first ever two-week grand final. With a world record number of lineup changes and too many Sacramento players as the game wore on, it was a coaching masterclass from Coach James Smith as they ran away with the unexpected win over Mr 66 who to be fair, had one heckuva season themselves. Of note, the Tigers finished with just two drafted players, gutting their team as the year wore on with a formula that proved as surprising as it was successful. Final score Hoxley Tigers 3762 d Mr 66 3425 with the following lineup ending the season in the Tigers teal. From everyone at leaguelineup.com and the Thunder, congratulations to the five-time champs. Good times, good times. Brooklyn - Nolan Traore Golden State - Gary Payton II Houston - Kevin Durant (drafted) LA Clippers - Derrick Jones Jr Memphis - GG Jackson New Orleans - Yves Missi New York - Mikal Bridges Sacramento - Devin Carter, Daeqwon Plowden San Antonio - Victor Wembanyama (drafted) Utah - Kennedy Chandler, John Konchar

We have even more technical issues than we thought, as we're unable to code new lines or paragraphs but we soldier on. Each round we'll bring you the Immer Kitchens or Rise Above Adversity NBL1 Player of the Round award as judged by our editors and anyone else we know who's attending the games or watching on replay. This round saw no career highs and our winner was quiet, benefiting from the fact he's the only Thunder player currently suiting up. With no further adieu, we present the NBL1 Round 2 Player of the Week award to South Adelaide's Jonty Smith. Congratulations and all the best for the season ahead. Round 1 (L): Jonty Smith 26:29min 12pts 5reb Round 2 (L): Jonty Smith 18:38min 5pts 2reb 1stl

John 19:28-30: Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

They did it. Yet again it went down to the wire but they did it, the Adelaide 36ers holding on for a 92-91 win over the Sydney Kings to force a deciding Game 5. Wowee, they're exciting to follow and for long suffering Adelaide fans, the chase for the first championship in 24 years lives on. From everyone at leaguelineup.com and the Thunder, all the best to the 36ers and may the best team, oops, make that may Adelaide win. Good times, good times.

Luke 24:5 - Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he is risen! Back to the basketball and wowee, that was exciting. In their last ever game at Marion Stadium where Thunder captain Brad Smith scored for Seaview Primary more than 40 years ago despite playing alongside Thunder coach James Smith for Sturt Primary - not that we're still upset about it - South Adelaide fell behind early, fought back and held on for a thrilling final victory. In front of a capacity crowd, Thunder guard Cal McKinnon watched on as Thunder forward Jonty Smith played every minute of the second half to lead the Panthers to a much needed win. More on Jonty's performance later when we award the Rise above Adversity player of the round but for now, well done and we look forward to more wins in the coming weeks. Exciting times, exciting times. And while we're at it, good luck to the 36ers today. Bring the Dr John Raschke trophy home, gents. Exciting times, exciting times.

It's Easter and you know what that means - no games on Easter Monday. Coming on the back of two consecutive losses, it couldn't come at a better time. Enjoy the week off folks, and see you next Monday as games resume. Good times, good times.

Damn. It couldn't have been closer, the 36ers leading down the stretch before Sydney tied the game and a Bryce Cotton layup rimmed out, heading to overtime where the Kings' depth proved too much. We said as much prior to the championship series and whilst we thought it would be a 3-0 sweep, there is much to be proud of with the 36ers. Wowee, they were exciting and sent arguably the most exciting grand final series we've seen at least since last year, to overtime in Game 5. Onward and upward for next year and be proud of what you achieved because wowee, we got close. From everyone at leaguelineup.com and the Thunder, congratulations Sydney on the win but damn, that was close. Sad times, sad times.

With the 2025-26 season over, it's an opportune time to update the history of the WCB NBA Fantasy competition for each of the competition's 10 years. As for us, we're still celebrating yet another Hoxley Tigers win. 10 seasons, 5 championships and more to come in 2026-27. Good times, good times. PREMIERSHIPS 1. Hoxley Tigers 5 2. North Tower 2 3. Big Girls Don't Kawhi / Power Bulls / Wacko Jacko Elite 1 TOP FOUR FINISHES 1. Hoxley Tigers 9 2. North Tower / Captain Collo 4 3. South Tower 3 4. Big Girls Don't Kawhi / Hoxley Cubs / Marion Megaladons / Mr 66 2 2025-26 1. Hoxley Tigers 2. Mr 66 3. Captain Collo 4. Blaming Injuries 2024-25 1. Wacko Jacko Elite 2. Hoxley Tigers 3. Captain Collo 4. Mr 66 2023-24 1. Big Girls Don't Kawhi 2. Captain Collo 3. Hoxley Tigers 4. Tanking for Wembanyama 2022-23 1. Hoxley Tigers 2. Tanking for Wembanyama 3. Captain Collo 4. Sam Bowies Left Leg 2021-22 1. Hoxley Tigers 2. Bye Week 3. South Tower 4. Highbury PIP 2020-21 1. North Tower 2. Hoxley Tigers 3. Hoxley Cubs 4. South Tower 2019-20* (ladder position when season ended due to COVID-19) 1. North Tower 2. Kookies n Kareem 3. Thad Young and the Restless 4. Hoxley Tigers 2018-19 1. Hoxley Tigers 2. Hoxley Cubs 3. North Tower 4. Marion Megaladons 2017-18 1. Power Bulls 2. Zazas 3. Twin Towers 4. Greg Oden 2016-17 1. Hoxley Tigers 2. Team Sparke 3. Ya Mum 4. Marion Megaladons

Our technical issues continue so no pictures but we're hopeful they'll return soon. Meanwhile each round we'll bring you the Immer Kitchens or Rise Above Adversity NBL1 Player of the Round award as judged by our editors and anyone else we know who's attending the games or watching on replay. One player equalled multiple career highs in several categories but from where we sit, it was his career high +/- of +15 that sealed the deal in their win over Norwood. With no further adieu, we present the NBL1 Round 3 Player of the Week award to South Adelaide's Jonty Smith. Congratulations and all the best for the season ahead. Round 1 (L): Jonty Smith 26:29min 12pts 5reb Round 2 (L): Jonty Smith 18:38min 5pts 2reb 1stl Round 3 (W): Jonty Smith 26:14min 11pts 5reb

Luke 24:1-6 - On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ?Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!

We continue with our Saturday NBL stories with news that DJ Vasiljevic is gone from the Adelaide 36ers.  More on who's coming in his place but any time the captain leave your team is a story of its own.  We await news of where he'll end up with whispers that he's been talking to other teams since halfway through the past season.  Yeah, it's not ideal.  Buckle up, folks because the offseason is about to get wild.  Interesting times, interesting times.

Exciting game last night as South played their first game of the season at Mitchell Park, struggling early but eventually running over West Adelaide in Jonty Smith's first career start.  The win moves South to 2-2 on the season and back into playoff calculations after an 0-2 start to the year.  Lose 2, win 2 ahead of next week's must-win game v Southern.  Exciting times, exciting times.

Welcome to the mid-point of the season as the Thunder enter bye time, with only 1 game in 4 weeks.  Easter bye and two team byes mean it's time to rest up, get your arthritis treatments and joint replacements ahead of the stretch run to the playoffs.  The Thunder find themselves in 2nd position after two consecutive losses so the coming weeks are bound to get interesting fast.  Stay tuned.  Fascinating times, fascinating times.

Shocking news with leaguelineup.com announcing the end of the leaguelineup platform.  The date was initially the end of May, is now August and we await further news.  No doubt the good folk at leaguelineup.com will help with a transition to another platform or not but for now, it's business as usual as we consider our options.  We first posted 21 years ago so expect something else in its place.  Until then, carry on as usual.  Strange times, strange times.

We published this story last week but with formatting limited to raw text, it didn't display right.  So here we are again but this time, with formatting.

With the 2025-26 season over, it's an opportune time to update the history of the WCB NBA Fantasy competition for each of the competition's 10 years.  As for us, we're still celebrating yet another Hoxley Tigers win.  10 seasons, 5 championships and more to come in 2026-27.  Good times, good times.

PREMIERSHIPS
1. Hoxley Tigers 5
2. North Tower 2
3. Big Girls Don't Kawhi / Power Bulls / Wacko Jacko Elite 1

TOP FOUR FINISHES
1. Hoxley Tigers 9
2. North Tower / Captain Collo 4
3. South Tower 3
4. Big Girls Don't Kawhi / Hoxley Cubs / Marion Megaladons / Mr 66 2

2025-26
1. Hoxley Tigers
2. Mr 66
3. Captain Collo
4. Blaming Injuries

2024-25
1. Wacko Jacko Elite
2. Hoxley Tigers
3. Captain Collo
4. Mr 66

2023-24
1. Big Girls Don't Kawhi
2. Captain Collo
3. Hoxley Tigers
4. Tanking for Wembanyama

2022-23
1. Hoxley Tigers
2. Tanking for Wembanyama
3. Captain Collo
4. Sam Bowies Left Leg

2021-22
1. Hoxley Tigers
2. Bye Week
3. South Tower
4. Highbury PIP

2020-21
1. North Tower
2. Hoxley Tigers
3. Hoxley Cubs
4. South Tower

2019-20* (ladder position when season ended due to COVID-19)
1. North Tower
2. Kookies n Kareem
3. Thad Young and the Restless
4. Hoxley Tigers

2018-19
1. Hoxley Tigers
2. Hoxley Cubs
3. North Tower
4. Marion Megaladons

2017-18
1. Power Bulls
2. Zazas
3. Twin Towers
4. Greg Oden

2016-17
1. Hoxley Tigers
2. Team Sparke
3. Ya Mum
4. Marion Megaladons

Each round we'll bring you the Immer Kitchens or Rise Above Adversity NBL1 Player of the Round award as judged by our editors and anyone else we know who's attending the games or watching on replay from Alice Springs.  One player had his first career start with career highs in minutes played, field goal attempts and field goals made and we're all about career highs here at leaguelineup.com.  With no further adieu, we present the NBL1 Round 4 Player of the Round award to South Adelaide's Jonty Smith.  Congratulations and all the best for the season ahead.

Round 1 (L):  Jonty Smith 26:29min 12pts 5reb
Round 2 (L):  Jonty Smith 18:38min 5pts 2reb 1stl
Round 3 (W):  Jonty Smith 26:14min 11pts 5reb
Round 4 (W):  Jonty Smith 26:53min 9pts 4reb 1ast 1blk

Ready: “And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.” – Mark 1:11

Set: In high school, I had the privilege of being part of an incredible girls’ basketball program. I pushed myself at every practice, stayed late to get in extra shots and never wanted to let my teammates or coach down.  We had made it to the state championship game, and as seconds ticked down, I took a shot that swished through the net. We were state champions! Instead of the lasting joy I thought I’d feel, though, there was a persistent emptiness I couldn’t shake. Sure, the recognition was fun — fans and coaches celebrated us — but it didn’t last. The satisfaction faded, and before I knew it, the pressure to please everyone again — for next season — was already weighing in.  Looking back, I realized I wasn’t chasing a trophy; I was chasing approval from other people. I craved that “Well done” from coaches, teammates, parents — anyone who could tell me I was valuable. I desperately wanted to feel worthy and like I measured up. To me, winning felt like the only way to fill that hole. We think we can earn love by constantly chasing approval, working harder and measuring our worth by the numbers on a scoreboard. But what if that’s not the full story?  When we understand that God sees us through the lens of Jesus' death and resurrection, everything changes. Jesus has already shown us that God’s love is enough. It’s not something we have to earn or prove — it’s secured through His sacrifice on the cross. We no longer need to strive for approval. Instead, we can live from a place of security and freedom found in a relationship with Jesus. The pressure to please others fades because our worth isn’t found in their approval, it’s in Jesus' finished work on our behalf.  Whether you’re in the middle of your coaching career, your athletic career or life’s challenges, glorifying God is what truly matters most. You don’t have to earn His love, approval or affirmation. It’s already yours. You are His beloved child, and He is well-pleased with you — not because of what you’ve done, but because of who you are in Christ. When we start to live out of this truth, it changes everything.

Go: How have you been trying to gain approval from others? What does God say about your value? Take a few minutes to sit with God and let Him speak His love over you. Allow yourself to remember your identity as His beloved child.

Workout:

Overtime:

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Yes, we know it's not All-American but we couldn't find a Region IX logo.? Exciting times in the NJCAA with Thunder forward Daniel Smith named to the Region IX All Region second team.? We don't have the details of the other conference in the region but for Central Wyoming and their conference opponents, these were the players named to the All Region teams.? From everyone at leaguelineup.com and the Thunder, congrats Daniel on a fair old rookie season on the back of a horrible wrist injury to start the season.? Can't wait to see what next season might bring but for now, let's enjoy today.? Awesome times, awesome times.

2025-26 REGION IX FIRST TEAM
TJ Coulter (Laramie)
Rasaad McCormick (Gillette)
Mateo Trujillo (Northwest)

2025-26 REGION IX SECOND TEAM
Aaron Sievert (Casper)
Daniel Smith (Central Wyoming)
Paulius Narvilas (Western)

2025-26 REGION IX THIRD TEAM
Sayid Sayid (Gillette)
Drezdon Yanssen (Eastern)
Nasir Washington (Casper)

Exciting times last night as South led big early, followed by a huge run by Southern before South steadied the ship for a comfortable win out of the half.  South were at their best despite foul trouble to some big names, with the pending return (we believe) of forward Daniel Smith a game changer for when he does finally appear.  Sadly, we don't know when that is but for now, enjoy the win.  Good times, good times.

One game in four weeks and staring down three straight loss, the Thunder come into today's game desperate for a win.  Win and everything turns around.  Lose and it all falls apart. Two teams enter, one team leave.  With no further adieu, we present to you Gateway v CFC Stars.

LAST FIVE GAMES HEAD TO HEAD
9/3/2026:  Gateway 72 (Josip Vucetic 27, Kerwin Penn 14, Jonty Smith 13) d CFC Stars 49
2/2/2026:  Gateway 55 (Cal McKinnon 22, Kerwin Penn 11, Josip Vucetic 9) d CFC Stars 53
8/12/2025 (grand final):  Gateway 75 (Jonty Smith 24, Kerwin Penn 20, Terry Sleep 9) d CFC Stars 57
22/9/2025:  Gateway 67 (Jonty Smith 32, Kerwin Penn 12, Terry Sleep 8) d CFC Stars 49
11/8/2025:  Gateway 71 (Jonty Smith 25, Daniel Smith 18, Josh Smith 8) d CFC Stars 49

OUR PREDICTION
Gone.  We want to believe but two straight losses have us worried.  Our bothan spies tell us up to six players will miss tonight's game and that's enough for us.  CFC Stars need the win and whilst the Thunder do too, they need cattle to do it.  And they don't.  CFC Stars by 8 points.  Let's hope not.  Nervous times, nervous times.