Exciting times tonight as the WCB host their summer AGM.  All club reps are reminded to attend because if you don't, you won't be there and things will happen and be voted on and no doubt you'll say "Why wasn't I asked?" and the answer will be "You were, but you weren't there".  Get involved with the running of your competition and come along.  Despite the title, it's not a boring meeting and a good time is had by most.  Time is 7.30pm at the St Clair Recreation Centre.  See you there!

CWC (171st) d CASPER (132nd)
We didn't see this one live due to work commitments and CWC totally not thinking of our needs when they scheduled the game but we digress.  CWC came into the game as underdog but you wouldn't guess it early on as Thunder forward Daniel Smith got busy, ably assisted by backcourt duo Gulley and Peel, and forwards Ormond and Patik.  Enter the bench trio with Jette, Kranz and Danielson making valuable contributions of their own and when Peel got fouled, fouled and fouled again down the stretch, the automatic free throw shooter iced the game to see CWC start conference play 1-0.  Final score CWC 76 (Jordan Peel 25, Daniel Smith 16, Julian Ormond 13) d Casper 64 (Zaire Richardson 15, Aaron Sievert 15, Nasir Washington 13).

GILLETTE (146th) d CWC (171st)
Ouch.  This one is gonna sting for a while.  Gillette were the home team and ready to claim the dub but again from the opening tip, a Julian Ormond-less CWC took control led again by Thunder forward Daniel Smith who was Efficient with a capital E.  With Smith doing his thing with strong support from Peel, Jette and the rest of the team, the Rustlers seemingly had this one with a 5-10 margin down the stretch.  Then it happened, a combination of missed free throws at one end and made free throws at the other and finally, a buzzer-beating triple by Gillete (after a subtle four step shuffle unseen by the refs) and we had overtime.  OT saw Gillette take charge with Patik and Jette fouled out and it was too little, too late, CWC letting this one slip to fall to 1-1 in conference play.  Final score Gillette 64 (Rashad McCormick 24, Sayed Sayed 12, Jaden Smith 10) d CWC 58 (Daniel Smith 24, Jordan Peel 10, Tyler Jette 10).

They say a picture tells 1000 words and after his return in late December, Daniel Smith's stat line speaks for itself.  From (points and rebounds) 6 and 1, to 13 and 4, to 20 and 12 today, the three-time WCB league Best and Fairest is finding his groove and that can only be good news for the Rustlers.  Cam Gulley was exceptional in this one too, finishing one assist short of a triple double and showing that alongside two-time Jultopia champion Jordan Peel, the backcourt is in safe hands.  Four Winds University started slow - down 23-2 - but fought back and provided what was an entertaining and competitive match for both sides.  For us though, this was the day Daniel Smith said he's back and he's ready and that's much more important than the result.  Final score Central Wyoming 75 (Daniel Smith 20, Camrin Gulley 13, Connor Davidson 12, Jordan Peel 12) d Four Winds University 61 (Gilbert White Jr 18, Shelby Steele-Tymes 14, Michael Janis 13).  Next up?  Conference play this coming Thursday.  Exciting times, exciting times.

READY:  “Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.’” – Luke 9:23

SET:  Just before finishing at my university, I was asked to play with a Christian basketball team called Spirit Express against an all-star team of the best players from universities across Missouri. My teammates were unheralded and so few in number that we all fit in a van that arrived just in time for tipoff.  The other team was the opposite—well known and a full roster with a few guys headed to the NBA.  My teammates, who had never played together before, brought no agenda but Christ and team. Little David beat mighty Goliath that night.  Teamwork was key, but it started with each of us humbly forfeiting our own selfish agendas, putting to death our personal dreams, and following our coach and his game plan for the team.  Similarly, Jesus, our Master Coach, recruits us to His team with a challenge: If you want to be on My team, give up your selfishness, put to death your rights and self, and follow me.  Just as I can bring my own selfish agenda to a sports team, it is easy to approach Christ for what I can get.  It is the opposite of His invitation to self-denial.  Your lack of self-focus frees you of the demands to get your own way and makes you the teammate that others dream of playing with.  Imagine a team filled with people like that!  Let the competition begin.  Let the glory be God's. 

GO:  How can playing sports lead to selfishness?  What are some ways that Christ is calling you to turn from selfish ways?  What is holding you back from following Christ whole-heartedly?

WORKOUT:  Matthew 9:9; Luke 5:11; Philippians 2:3-4

OVERTIME:  Jesus, give me grace to turn from selfishness to follow You. Amen.

Welcome back to Massey Ratings Thursday and if you've come here for rankings, opinions and proving people wrong, you've come to the right place.  The good folk at Massey Ratings published their preseason rankings and listed Central Wyoming at 155th overall, then 131st, 155th, 227th, 263rd, 212th, 190th, 183rd and now 189th.  The drop is surprising but we choose to focus on the climb back up the ranks from 263rd, also known as the Daniel Smith effect.  The Rustlers have won their last 3 ahead of conference play this week.  Welcome back, Daniel.  Central Wyoming's rankings are as follows, by category:

CENTRAL WYOMING RANKINGS (from now to the end of the 2024/25 season):
Rating overall strength:  189-190-212-263-227-227-155-131-155-175
Power rating:  200-173-187-209-188-182-n/a-134-159-182
Offensive power to score:  309-303-321-326-308-308-n/a-169-285-358
Defensive power to prevent opponent from scoring:  87-75-75-96-93-88-n/a-75-81-45
Strength of schedule - played games only:  81-63-49-59-50-190
Strength of schedule - including future games:  98-832-86-87-911-89-n/a-83-89-64

We did some homework and added extra description to the categories above but we still don't know how they come to these numbers.  Regardless, we'll continue to track their progress at https://masseyratings.com/cb/njcaa/ratings - come back each Thursday because Thursday is Massey Ratings day.  Go Rustlers.  Good times, good times.

We've run this story before but with Thunder forward Daniel Smith's target amount still to be reached, we're running it again.  With Jultopia teammates Daniel Smith and Jordan Peel suiting up for Central Wyoming this season, we're excited to share news of their 2025-26 season fundraiser.  All funds go directly to the team, funding player gear and travel costs.  All donations - big, small or otherwise - are greatly appreciated.  Note that donations are in US dollars so for our Australian viewers, be aware that's probably 1.5 the Aussie dollar at the minute.

Follow the links at https://ets.rocks/3KR8dqj to donate.  Thanks folks and go you Rustlers!

The early part of the season has seen some teams escape from the pack - Blaming Injuries, Hoxley Cubs and Mr 66 - whilst four teams lay just behind with only 3 losses each.  The team to watch for us?  North Tower.  The two-time champion North Tower began the season slow but with their coach on the ground in the USA at the minute, he has an advantage and it's starting to show.  An 842 point win this week only reinforced our view and we're telling you, he's up to something.  Is the final 12 set?  It could well be with and only 17 rounds, there's only 6 rounds remaining to make your move.  North Tower, we see you.  Here's the ladder after Round 11.  Go the Hoxley Tigers.

LADDER (points are current at time of printing)
1 (1). Blaming Injuries 11-0, 20326pts
2 (2). Hoxley Cubs 10-1, 18637pts
3 (3). Mr 66 9-2, 19524pts
4 (4). Ctrl+Alt+Defeat 8-3, 18580pts
5 (6). Hoxley Tigers 8-3, 17688pts
6 (5). D Major 8-3, 17192pts
7 (7). Sam Bowie's Left Leg 8-3, 16305pts
8 (8). Fli on Zion 6-5, 16812pts
9 (9). Wacko Jacko Elite 6-5,16623pts
10 (10). Tanking for Wembanyama 5-6, 15917pts
11 (11). South Tower 5-6, 15819pts
12 (12). Highbury PIP 4-7, 13665pts
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
13 (14). North Tower 3-8, 14734pts
14 (13). Bart Simpson 3-8, 12834pts
15 (16). Poole Party 2-9, 12662pts
16 (15). My Team is a Jokic 2-9, 12562pts
17 (17). Irritable Bol Syndrome 1-10, 7974pts
18 (18). Giddey Party 0-11, 1408pts

Some important WCB dates noted from the WCB Bookface page:

19 January - Annual General Meeting at St Clair
2 February - 2026 First Season starts
29 June - 2026 First Season grand final
5 July - Salvation Army Basketball/Netball Carnival (Gold Coast) begins

Confirmation today that the WCB heard our cries.  The 12 days of Christmas are coming.  Not yet but they're coming, probably next weekend and we for one, can't wait.  Good times, good times.

Last year, the WCB gave us the 12 days of Christmas as they reviewed the previous season's results with winners, runners-up and B&F awards for all grades.  Dear WCB, let's do it again.  Please.  We'll wait.

READY:  “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” – John 16:33

SET:  You’ve heard your coach say, “BE TOUGH!” As an athlete, you know what he means. It’s an encouragement to rise above the pain that could keep you from achieving your highest level of success.  Sometimes as a competitor, you’ll face mental challenges and have to fight emotions that bring discouragement and hopelessness. There will be times when you endure an injury that could bring physical pain and make you question whether or not you want to keep playing. Being tough is an attitude that allows you to push through mental and physical challenges that might cause others to give up.  But as a Christian athlete, the phrase, “BE TOUGH,” carries a deeper meaning that can give you success in every circumstance of life. The words of Jesus Christ in John 16:33 should be a constant reminder that He has provided a supernatural covering that will help you rise up when hard times come.  He says, “Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” Jesus reminds us that adversity will come. Hard times in life will come. The question is, when will those times come? As a competitor for Christ you no longer have to worry about the answer to that question because you know that He will be right beside you.

GO:  What is happening in your life right now that is challenging you to be tough?  What will be the result if you push through and persevere with Christ by your side in this challenge?  How can being tough encourage others who are watching you respond to this challenge?

WORKOUT:  Philippians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 2:5; 2 Corinthians 9:8

OVERTIME: Ephesians 3:20

Father, remind me each day that there is no challenge in life that You will not help me through. Amen.

As 2026 begins, we follow on from yesterday's story with a prediction on 10 things that will catch our eye this year.  We'll check back at the end of 2026 to see how many we got right with a pass mark of 8/10.  Easy done again, especially with our flexible grading.  Happy New Year, folks.

1. Thunder warmups to be scheduled each week and have even more spectators than 2025.  Write it down.
2. Blizzard to win 1.  Coach K's dynasty is coming.
3. Downpour to win 1.  They won 1 in 2025 and continue to improve.  Lock it in, Eddie.
4. Thunder to win 1.  2025 saw them win the double despite the absence of 3-time B&F Daniel Smith.  If he returns, it's a lock.  Without him, the comp is just too good.  Sorry folks, we're tipping 1 of 2.
5. Thunder to unveil a new recruit in the first season, further clouding our prediction in further mystery.  Change is coming at Gateway.
6. Jultopia Gold Coast will continue to grow, with South Australia to claim the threepeat for the A Grade crown.
7. Thunder to continue their run of league B&Fs.  With 6 in a row now - Daniel Daniel Daniel Jonty Jonty Jonty - write them down for another 2.
8. Heatwave to win 1 more.  Again.
9. The Tsunami to continue their advance and made the A Grade finals.  Nothing is surer.
10. Hoxley Tigers time again, as they bounce back from an Anthony Davis-led grand final loss last season to claim their 5th WCB Fantasy premiership with a win over the Hoxley Cubs.  They will be joined by North Tower and South Tower in the final four.  It's happened before so no reason it can't happen again and yes, we will tip this same result every year because we can.  Good times, good times.

Last day of the year and it's time to judge our 2025 predictions made on 1 January 2025.  A pass mark is 8/10 and we did it, we got 8/10.  Now sure, we've embellished a bit but 8/10 is a win.  Happy New Year, folks.

1 Thunder warmups to be scheduled each week and have more spectators than 2024.  Write it down, folks.  Correct.

2 Blizzard to win 1.  They'll lose a key player but others are on their way.  Coach K is building a dynasty.  Incorrect but Coach K is building something, for sure.

3 Downpour to win 1.  They made two grand finals in 2024 and fell short.  No way that happens again.  Correct, a double OT classic in the first season.

4 Thunder to win 1.  2024 saw a buzzer-beating win, and the following season both finals were 4-point victories.  We're not tipping both.  The comp's two good.  Claiming the W as they did win 1 but technically, won 2.  Hey, we make the rules around here.

5 Thunder to unveil a new recruit in the second season, further clouding our prediction in further mystery.  I know we said this last year but we're sticking with it.  Correct.  To be fair, they unveiled two but again, they did unveil a new recruit.

6 Jultopia Sydney will continue its resurgence, with South Australia to go back-to-back for the A Grade crown.  Correct on all fronts.

7 Thunder to continue their run of league B&Fs.  With 4 in a row now - Daniel Daniel Daniel Jonty - write them down for another 2.  Correct.  Mark down two for Jonty which makes it a staggering six straight - Daniel Daniel Daniel Jonty Jonty Jonty.

8 Heatwave to win 1.  Surely.  Correct.  Won both but again, they did win 1.

9 The Tsunami to continue their advance and make the A Grade finals.  Rome continues to be built.  Correct.  Made the first season finals.

10 Hoxley Tigers time again, as they claim their 5th WCB Fantasy premiership with a narrow win over the regular season champion Hoxley Cubs.  They will be joined by North Tower and South Tower in the final four.  There's something cooking in the House of Hoxley and the Twin Towers and yes, we will tip this same result every year because we can.  Good times, good times.  Incorrect.  Your Hoxley Tigers were robbed by an Anthony Davis injury in the grand final after finishing 12th in the minor round and falling short on the final day of the season.  The whole thing is fixed and we're tired of all the cheating.  Again.