Each round we'll bring you the Immer Kitchens or Rise Above Adversity NBL1 Player of the Round (previously Player of the Week but there's double-headers which necessitated a name change) award as judged by our editors and anyone else we know who's attending the games or watching on replay.  This round saw ... because we're all about rewarding career highs.  With no further adieu, we present the NBL Round 16 Player of the Week award to South Adelaide's Daniel or Jonty Smith.  Congratulations and all the best for the remainder of the season.

Round 1 (W):  Daniel Smith 10:27min 4pts 4reb 1blk
Round 2 (W):  Daniel Smith 24:54min 12pts 4reb 2ast 1stl
Round 3 (W):  Jonty Smith 10:27min 6pts 2reb 1ast 2blk 1stl
Round 4 (L):  Daniel Smith 14:18min 4pts 3reb 2ast 1stl
Round 5 (L):  Daniel Smith 27:26min 17pts 9reb 1blk 4stl
Round 6 (W):  Daniel Smith 18:47min 12pts 4reb 1ast 3stl 
Round 7 (W):  Jonty Smith 12:16min 2pts 1ast 2stl
Round 8 (L):  Jonty Smith 12:20min 9pts 2reb 1ast 1stl
Round 9 (W):  Daniel Smith 22:29min 6pts 9reb 4blk
Round 10 (W):  Daniel Smith 25:47min 7pts 4reb 1ast 3blk 
Round 11 (L):  Daniel Smith 22:52min 10pts 5reb 3blk
Round 12 (L):  Daniel Smith 15:56min 2pts 4reb 3ast 4blk 1stl
Round 13 (W):  Jonty Smith 10:40min 1pt 2reb
Round 14 (W):  Daniel Smith 18:36min 7pts 4reb 1ast 2stl
Round 15
Round 16

You'd think that in their 66th grand final, it'd be impossible to have another first.  Wrong but more on that later.  The game began with the Thunder at full strength, attacking CFC early as the margin jumped out to double figures.  As they have all season, CFC fought back with a series of drives and open jumpshots but at half time, you'd be forgiven for thinking the Thunder were on their way to a win.  Then it happened.  Early into the second half, Thunder forward B.Smith sat near the sideline during an offensive set, then moved to the side of the court for the coming 5 minutes until he made his way to the bench.  From where we were sitting, we couldn't tell what happened but when he called for a bin on the bench and subsequently gave up yesterday's breakfast, you knew something was up.  The game itself continued on despite his on-court absence but you sensed there was more at play.  There were triples from both teams, a plethora of dunks and just as many airballs from players making their first appearance in two months, but as the boys in green arrived on the final siren, you were left wondering what was going on.  Final score Gateway 72 (Jon.Smith 23, D.Smith 17, Sleep 11, Penn 10, Jos.Smith 6, McKinnon 4, Vucetic 3, J.Smith 2) d CFC Stars 51 but as the Thunder captain was wheeled away to a waiting ambulance, thoughts and prayers were with him as the premiership photo was taken with #6 absent.  As a post-script, the long-term diagnosis is good but we'll skip all the details here on the public record.  Needless to say, some things are bigger than basketball and we're glad it turned out OK.  And yes, for those keeping score, that's three.  It was that kind of night.  Interesting times, interesting times.

After the disappointment of not even making last season's grand final, the Heatwave came out strong from the opening tip and were never headed.  5 triples from McNicol sure helped, with contributions from the whole team delivering their first title in a number of seasons.  Final score Gateway 53 (McNicol 22, Nairn 14, Beales 13, Cowley 2, Scollen 2) d CFC Slammers 37.  Two down, one to go.

A game for the ages.  Full review coming soon, to be written by one of the players themselves.  There were buzzer beating triples, clutch free throws and guest appearances from Port Adelaide players.  Wow, what a game.  Final score at the end of regulation 46-46, at the end of overtime 53-53, at the end of the second overtime Gateway 64 (Shepperd 33, Hill 14, N.Kyriazis 5, Bridges 4, Winter 4, Player Hidden 4) d Port Pelicans Blue 57.  One down, two to go.

4 years ago, we wrote about South Australia closing its borders to the rest of Australia on grand final eve.  We spoke about how the state could get locked down next, meaning Butters, Duursma and Rozee could be 18 years old by the time the grand final gets played.  Fast forward 4 years and here we are with Butters gone and Duursma and Rozee now 19 years old.  Yes, it happened.  We can't wait for tonight's action.  Gateway qualified for 3 grand finals this season - F Men, A Women and A Men.  Amen indeed and we say so like last season and every season before, this will be no normal grand final preview.  It's Gateway grand final preview time with previews of all games.  Does it get better than this?  We're hungry for three.  That said, any premiership is a good premiership but imagine if we won another three tonight and then set off for Jultopia Wollongong?  Good times, good times.  With no further adieu, we present to you Gateway v the world. 

7.20PM COURT 4, F MEN: GATEWAY v PORT PELICANS BLUE
Last season's 6 point loss to the Clovie Bloodline still stings but that's then and this is now.  The Downpour enter the game as favourites from where we sit, having knocked off the Pelicans 27-22 and 47-41 in their last two contests, following on from a 28-36 loss near the beginning of the season.  The Downpour no longer have lead guard Brook but have a full lineup of a Hill to climb, Bridges to cross, Winter to endure, Shepperd and his sheep, and Turner to get around.  There's juniors involved in this game so we can't say too much - state law prevents it - but you can be rest assured it'll be a ripsnorter.  Our tip?  Gateway by 6 points.  We’re a Gateway website and that makes us unequivocally biased.  Let’s hope we’re right.  That's 1/1.

8.30PM COURT 2, A WOMEN: GATEWAY V CFC SLAMMERS
The Heatwave make their return to the big dance and were all set for a mighty contest until smash, crack, ouch and they lost their starting point guard to a fractured patella.  Yes, it's like that but they have the depth to cover.  Matches between this two have been Heatwave by 20, Heatwave by 3 and Slammers by 1.  If history continues, it's leaning towards the Slammers but we're a Gateway website.  Our tip?  Gateway by 5 points.  Yet again, no bias and not even the slightest bit parochial.  Go Gateway!  That's 2/2.

8.30PM COURT 1, A MEN: GATEWAY v CFC STARS
After a last second Revolution Bullets win over Gateway, the Thunder came back to win their own last second victory grand final over Futures Pioneers.  Then it was a 4-point grand final win over Futures Pioneers again and with the Thunder now looking for a threepeat tonight.  Check those results again though and you'll see 1 point, 2 points and 4 points as the margins for the last three grand finals.  The Thunder come up against the CFC Stars tonight and whilst the Thunder are yet to lose a game this season, the Stars have scrapped and fought their way to the grand final and are in form at the right time of the season.  The Thunder's lineup remains a mystery with players missing and injured, and with eyes on Jultopia next week.  Anything could happen tonight and probably will.  Our tip?  Gateway by 2 points.  And again, no bias at all.  Go Gateway!  That's 3/3.

And that ends our grand final preview of Gateway v the world.  If you're not doing something better - or even if you are - come on down and enjoy a great night's action on Court 4, Court 2 and Court 1.  Admittance is free for spectators so bring along your vuvuzela, bugle and party poppers and get behind your club at the St Clair Recreation Centre.  And in the immortal words of Gateway Detlef ..... go Gateway!

With thanks to our bothan spies for the annual South Park-inspired team photo, we introduce to you the 2025 Survivor Jultopia Wollongong Golf Open Duck and Cover Berkeley Freezer and Meat Packing Facility Carnival team to represent South Australia in A Grade Men.  Before you ask, we don't know who they are but the walking canes in the front row suggest the youth movement hasn't been a complete success, though the back row is more promising.  We await formal team announcements and look forward to next week.  Meanwhile, no exercising, no running or jumping or anything at all in case you get hurt and yes, that includes tomorrow night's WCB grand final.  Our advice is to spend the week on the couch like we will be.  Now that's good times, good times.

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Exciting times as the 2025 Survivor Jultopia Wollongong Golf Open Duck and Cover Berkeley Freezer and Meat Packing Facility Carnival commenced today and equally as exciting was the announcement of South Australia's A Grade Men team.  In a first ever - ironic given they wear First Ever and we promise you that joke will never get old - the team has 5 players over 42 years of age, 4 teenagers and 1 in-between.  With no further adieu, we present to you the South Australia A Grade Men lineup to bring home the bacon and onion chips ..... again.  Let's hope so.

2025 Survivor Jultopia Wollongong Golf Open Duck and Cover Berkeley Freezer and Meat Packing Facility Carnival team to represent South Australia in A Grade Men.  Before you ask, we don't know who they are but the walking canes in the front row suggest the youth movement hasn't been a complete success, though the back row is more promising.