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WOLLONGONG is considering petitioning the NBL for a late nickname change from Hawks to Black Cats after Glen Saville joined its injured ranks this round.

How much more bad luck can this franchise bear?

Sav will know after scans tomorrow whether he too has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear or whether his knee twist early in the loss to New Zealand might not be as bad as first feared.

But with his knee swollen and movement uncomfortable, the prognosis is not good for the 37-year-old.

He joins guards Rhys Martin and Lance Hurdle (both done, out with ACL tears), and regulars Larry Davidson, Tim Coenraad, Tyson Demos and Daniel Jackson who have all spent or are still spending time on the sidelines through injuries this season.

Sav makes the seventh Hawk to have his feathers plucked from Wollongong's original 11-man unit. That is an amazing, staggering stat, as if losing starting guards Martin and Hurdle in the same game was not sufficiently memorable, for all the wrong reasons.

If Wollongong's luck continues to be diabolical and he has suffered the dreaded ACL tear, the tragedy could be we may have seen the Olympian's last NBL game.

He has wracked up 563 (fourth behind excellent company in Tony Ronaldson 665, Andrew Gaze 612, Leroy Loggins 567) and had been indecisive whether this might be his final NBL season.

The way the Hawks originally were travelling before losing eight of their past nine games and clinging to their spot in the top four by a hang-nail, they were right in the iiNet Championship mix with New Zealand and Perth.

A championship finale would have been the perfect note on which to exit, a la his one-time small forward contemporary Martin Cattalini.

Now everyone waits on tenterhooks to see whether scans will throw a further massive blow at Wollongong's besieged battlers and where it might leave Glen Saville as he ponders 2013-14 or a round of golf.

WISDOM OF THE WEEK: There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.

(Not that too many from 36ers management would even understand what that saying might be getting at.)

My favorite line, though I've heard it often and from many different sources, came for quoting most recently a few seasons ago from Cairns coach Aaron Fearne the weekend he dropped Phill Jones from a road trip which included Adelaide.

"If you keep doing the same thing, you have to expect the same result," Fearney said.

Pretty simple and so true.


OK. How long before someone predicts Boston Celtics, having lost Rajon Rondo to an ACL tear - so much of that around this year - will come looking for Tigers' NBA point guard Jonny Flynn?

By the end of today at the latest, is my guess.


REVIEWS

Breakers v Kings (M)

A WITHERING shooting display by Daryl Corletto (22 points, 6-of-8 threes), some key big buckets by CJ Bruton and early foul woes for Sydney star Ben Madgen all contributed to New Zealand's 95-76 home win.

Kings centre Ian Crosswhite is enjoying a great finish to January and had another double-double with 22 points (on 9-of-12 shooting) and 10 boards. (The reigning PotW and arguably the league's best low-post defender is averaging 24.5 points at 83.3 per cent and 11.5 rebounds over the past fortnight. Here's the thing Crossy. You have raised the bar for yourself now mate. You can't go back to 5 points and 6 boards next week now, can you?)

James Harvey added 10 points at 57 per cent.


Rangers v Lightning (W)

LET'S be honest folks, no-one quite saw an 87-75 road win by Adelaide at Dandenong coming now, did they?

Down by a regulation basket with a period to plug, Lightning produced a 26-12 quarter to leave the Rangers gasping, adding the club's number into any final championship equations.

Adelaide's Olympians - Suzy Batkovic, Jenni Screen, Laura Hodges, Angela Marino - accounted for 55 points, 27 rebounds and 11 assists between them while Dandenong's Olympic trio of Jenna O'Hea, Kath MacLeod and Krista Phillips combined for 25, 14 and 9.

Four versus three, you say? OK. Throw star import Monica Wright into Dandenong's mix for good measure and they still only total 40, 21, 11.

The Lightning clearly came to make a point and certainly succeeded.


Taipans v Tigers (M)

SOMEONE forgot to mention to Melbourne that Cairns also still fancies its chances of making a late surge and snaring one of the vulnerable spots (Sydney-Wollongong) in that top four.

Someone DID remember to tell Taipans import Shane Edwards that, you know, while we all admire his undoubted athleticism, his length and his crazy potential, could you please actually DO SOMETHING soon?

Guess what? He did.

Edwards produced an 11-point final quarter to turn what had been a precariously balanced four-point lead into a huge 85-71 win for the Taipans. He did it in style too, with a couple of spectacular slams and a triple from the corner which broke Melbourne's heart.

He still only finished with 13 points, but he also had a game-high nine rebounds and owned the match's most spectacular highlights. No going back now, Sunshine.


Fire v Waves (W)

TOWNSVILLE was never going to let a home match against the league's bomb shelter resident West Coast slip and put it into the W column 81-62.

Jess Adair had a 21-10 points-boards double to continue showing - after a very slow start - she can be considered among the import elite. ... Considered.

Jess Foley, Kayla Standish ... the usual suspects all stood up for Townsville, which pretty much iced the game with a 23-10 second quarter, much to the delight of a terrific crowd of 1,722.

West Coast went down fighting, which says something for the team's longer term prospects.


Wildcats v Crocodiles (M)

MATT Knight is notable for many aspects of his game - his boards, his D, his putbacks, his low post, his mid-range.

Three-point shooting?

Not so much.

As Inspector Harry Callahan regurgitates to the leader of the vigilante police before he blows him up in the classic Dirty Harry sequel Magnum Force: "A man's got to know his limitations."

Knight knows his so hitting the match-winning three in a 62-59 escape - and yes, it was indeed an escape - over Townsville was a big explosion.

He had launched two this season - you know, the "heaves of necessity" as they are formally known as ends of quarters draw near - and made zero. So his 1-of-1 against Townsville was key after the Crocs had played a great game and led by as many as 10 during the third quarter.

Big shots by Kevin Lisch - ever read that before? - also played a part in saving the Wildcats in front of a whopping 10,900 fans.


Capitals v Boomers (W)

CANBERRA may have gone down 69-72 to visiting Bulleen but the Caps aren't going quietly into an off-season of rest and repair.

When you take into account arguably their most consistent player this season, Brigitte Ardossi, sat out the game after suffering some head trauma during the week (you know, you try to warn people that watching "Keeping up with the Kardashians" is dangerous to their well being but do they listen?) then it was an even more admirable effort.

Michelle Cosier and Nicole Hunt worked hard for 21 points apiece but the 44-31 boards disparity in Bulleen's favor was a key in determining the winner.

 
Spirit v Flames (W)

BENDIGO's 25-12 and 29-19 second and third periods rendered this fixture academic, the final 89-71 scoreline reflective of the Spirit having their sights on the prize and Sydney's personnel thinking about upcoming ABA, Waratah League and SEABL commitments.

Gab Richards' 23 points came at 79 per cent, Kelsey Griffin's 22 at 56, Renae Camino's season-best 21 also at 56, while Kristi Harrower had a 12-point, 10-assist double. MVP anyone?

Glad we could watch this one on free-to-air television.


Hawks v Breakers (M)

LOSING Glen Saville after just 5:12 of action when he had a rebound and was 2-of-2 from the floor, hurt Wollongong emotionally as well as physically.

But the Hawks battled on gamely, Malcolm Grant's debut of 10 points at 50 per cent, with 1-of-1 threes, 1-of-1 frees, a rebound and four assists in 26 minutes somewhat lost in a 23-8 New Zealand last quarter blitz for the 91-74 win.

Jeff Dowdell now looks an option for the Hawks as they try to salvage an injury-ravaged campaign, the Breakers cutting loose behind Cedric Jackson's 18 points, eight assists and seven boards.

Adris Deleon had another game-high 24 points for Wollongong but his six turnovers stung, New Zealand also handsomely claiming a 41-26 boards dominance.


Thunder v Waves (W)

WEST Coast gave Logan a heck of a fright before the home side won a low-scoring affair 54-47.

After an 18-18 first quarter arm wrestle, the Waves held Logan to 6 points in the second to lead by 10 at halftime.

Unfortunately for the visitors, they could not go on with it, held to paltry third and fourth period returns of 9 and 4 points respectively.

Between them then, these two sides scored 19 points across three quarters. Are we wondering why they are at or near the whine cellar?

"Six, nine and four? Surely you jest," someone just assumed in Cairns.

Kristen Veal was the real deal again to pace her team to victory with 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.
 

Tigers v 36ers (M)

WHAT happens when a team which is trying not to lose is playing a team which doesn't know how to win?

For the answer, watch the last five minutes of Melbourne's 87-80 "success" over Adelaide on Sunday.

In a game probably most notable for the Tigers almost squandering a 19-point buffer - the Sixers had it back to three with heartbeats left - Jonny Flynn (22 pts, 9 assists), Seth Scott (23 points at 62%), Jason Cadee (24 pts at 60%, including 4-of-6 threes) and Daniel Johnson (25 pts, 10 boards double) produced memorable personal performances.

CJ Massingale was spotted in the crowd. 36ers coach Marty Clarke almost subbed him in until he remembered he doesn't use imports, so didn't sub in Scott Christopherson instead.

 
Flames v Boomers (W)

BULLEEN saw its season slip away as Sydney stepped up with an 82-68 home win to reinforce it is the best side outside the top four.

The Flames won every quarter and had Ro Cox going off for 22 points at 82 per cent to lead the assault.

Rachel Jarry had 23 points and eight boards for the Boomers who will be playoff spectators for the first time in years after promising so much but delivering well short of expectations.


BEEF of the WEEK

IT'S the battle of the WNBL round with third-ranked Adelaide in Melbourne, searching for credibility against reigning champion and second-placed Dandenong.
 
It's the game which may break the apparent strangehold Dandenong and Bendigo appear to have on meeting on the final day of the season and provide an insight if any other side genuinely can challenge the Big Two.

So what game does the ABC choose to bring us?

Bendigo versus Sydney.

First versus who cares?

Yes, we know it can be a nightmarishly difficult decision to decide not to drive to Bendigo but across to Dandenong instead with the old outside broadcast van to see a pertinent WNBL fixture rather than an irrelevant near 20-point blow-out.

But can't someone at BA who gives a toss about the WNBL contact the ABC and make the suggestion? Or is everyone too busy sitting down with Chuck "The Fine-master" Harmison working out whether they can levy cash penalties against Jess Bibby and/or Kristi Harrower for daring to state the obvious to the oblivious?

That not enough time, effort or forethought is put into our premier women's competition.

 
Biggest Winners/Losers

WITH wins over current top four clubs Sydney and Wollongong this round, New Zealand clearly was the NBL's biggest winner, yet again.

Adelaide finally returned to the bomb shelter it occupied with such distinction last year, making it the round's biggest loser. The 36ers promised a lot but so did The Godfather III. Perhaps Marty Clarke should call Hawks coach Gordie McLeod and ask for Showron Glover's phone number. It's not too late.

ADELAIDE beating Dandenong in Dandenong to shake the preconceptions of everyone following the WNBL makes it the biggest winner among the women this week.

The biggest loser, believe it or not, was Dandenong. Had the Rangers won, the air of invincibility surrounding them would have created almost insurmountable psychological barriers for other lower finalists Adelaide and Townsville. Now? Don't think so.


PS

ADELAIDE 36ers icon Brett Maher, who before the NBL season tipped-off said the 2012-13 line-up was the best Adelaide team since the 1998-99 champion, has had to amend that again because South's 1995 State League men's Grand Final team did beat Sturt that year.