Discussion:

1. What does it cost you to be a competitive athlete?
2. What do you regularly sacrifice to compete in your sport?
3. What sacrifices have you seen others make to achieve highly in their sport?
4. Let’s read about someone who made a very important sacrifice.  Let’s read Luke 23:32-46.
5. What was it that Jesus sacrificed in this story?  Why would He do that?
6. Why do you make the sacrifices that you do?
7. For what and for whom will you make sacrifices today and in the coming days?

Summary:

• Pay the price to compete in your sport.
• Make the sacrifices necessary to be more than average.
• Sacrifice greatly for teammates, coaches, friends and family.

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 now which necessitates 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 a player set career highs across the board in a performance that we say saw him unjustly robbed of the Anzac Medal.  Heck, we would've given him two so after a stunning performance of blue collar basketball, we present the NBL1 Round 5 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
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 27:26 min 17pts 9reb 1blk 4stl

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 (2). CFC Stars 5-1-3, 20pts @ 98%
3 (3). Futures Hornets 5-4, 19pts @ 92%
4 (4). Gateway Tsunami 2-1-6, 14pts @ 77%
5 (5). Futures Pioneers 1-9, 12pts @ 82%

Solid.  That one word describes last night's win v the bye.  20 points scored for, 0 points scored against.  Solid.  Good times, good times.  That is all.

Another week off which is no doubt appreciated by the Thunder's resident youngsters after a double header weekend with their development club South Adelaide.  So enjoy the night off folks, and see you all again next week ahead of a major announcement from the Thunder and no, we don't know what it is.  It's just how our bothan spies roll.  Tell us something's coming but don't tell us what it is.  Good times, good times.

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 was a little quieter amidst a disappointing loss but still saw an equal career high for assists so with no further adieu, we present the NBL1 Round 4 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
Round 3 (W):  Jonty Smith 10:27min 6pts 2reb 1ast 2blk 1stl
Round 4 (L):  Daniel Smith 14:18min 4pts 3reb 2ast 1stl

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

Lest we forget.

With the 2024-25 season over, it's an opportune time to update the history of the WCB NBA Fantasy competition for each of the competition's 9 years.  As for us, we're not ready to talk any more about it so that's it for the season.  Bring on 2025-26.  Good times, good times.

PREMIERSHIPS
1. Hoxley Tigers 4
2. North Tower 2
3. Big Girls Don't Kawhi / Power Bulls / Wacko Jacko Elite 1

TOP FOUR FINISHES
1. Hoxley Tigers 8
2. North Tower 4
3. South Tower / Captain Collo 3
4. Big Girls Don't Kawhi / Hoxley Cubs / Marion Megaladons 2

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

"Interesting times."  That was it from our bothan spies, two words accompanying the above picture  We're not sure what it means but it's definitely interesting.  Stay tuned because we can sense something big is coming.  Interesting times, interesting times indeed.

Exciting times with the WCB releasing the full season schedule through to the grand final at the end of June, should the Thunder make it.  2x 9.55 games, 3x byes ... the schedule has everything and we for one, can't wait.  We'll update the games on the header to display the coming few games - if you're after the full season schedule, go to Basketball Connect and google them.  Good times, good times.

For some it's a negative, for the Thunder veterans it's a positive.  Yes folks, no games tonight due to Easter Monday.  Enjoy the break ahead of the season's stretch run.  Good times, good times.

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 another player set career highs across the board and whilst he played less minutes than his teammate, his efficiency and all-round game was off the charts so 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 (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 1st 2blk 1stl