Basketball On The Internet.

THERE was a Dasher and a Comet as the 36ers went Blitzen the Wildcats tonight, the NBL club's hardy followers finally able to wonder if Christmas has come early with their new-look team.

It certainly was one of the most entertaining NBL games in yonks and easily among the all-time best preseason games as Adelaide held out their regular nemesis 102-91 at Trinity College in a match played - for the most part - the way basketball games should be played.

It was fast, it was spectacular and left the Trinity schoolkids who packed the auditorium with plenty of "OMG" moments to salivate over.

First there was Jarrid Frye's inbounds-pass interception and subsequent three-point play three seconds after Daniel Johnson's game-opening basket.

Then Jermaine Beal's sizzling layup at the other end six seconds after Anthony Petrie's putback basket gave Adelaide a 7-0 start.

Or how about Adam Gibson's perfectly-timed interception which led to another Frye layup?

Or Frye rising above the pack to throw out Shawn Redhage's shot attempt?

Or Gibson pulling up with a jumpshot, then sticking a three in transition to force a Perth time-out, Adelaide ahead 20-3 and only 3:17 of game-time having so far elapsed?

That's right. That was the first 197 seconds of the game. And I left a few bits out. It was end-to-end action, Damian Martin making two big plays, one at either end.

He banged in Perth's first three and also showed that defence IS NOT being penalised unduly by taking a picture-perfect charge on Frye.

Taking the charge may have hurt Martin too because he's no ... small ... Frye...

James Ennis' first bucket was a nice pump-and-jump and he had a dunk not too much later. Then a lovely corner three.

Big Tom Jervis came in to complete a three-point play but Jason Cadee-to-Mitch Creek on the break meant Adelaide led 39-22 at the end of the first quarter. That's 61 points in a quarter of basketball.

It was like old times!

Perth took the second period 31-20 with Redhage, Ennis and Beal the main factors but Erik Burdon also arriving, nailing his first of three triples in an 11-point Perth debut.

Anthony had 11 points for the Sixers in a brilliant effort of just hard-a$$ed ball, six points the interval margin and 112 points scored in the half.

The third quarter had its share of those moments - you know, the ones to make you shake your head in admiration and wonderment - such as Frye challenging Ennis one-on-one, getting past him to the basket and slamming it down.

Or Beal backing down Gary Ervin in what can only be described as great defence by the 36er and just slightly better offence by the Wildcat.

Ennis took to outer space for an emphatic reject of a shot attempt by Petrie. It was a head-shaker.

Then Ervin played some one-on-one, realised time was running out and just beat the shot-clock by a millisecond, banking in a three!

Fans were still enjoying that when Martin was swishing a triple at the other end!

Bruce McAvaney would have moaned and called it "delicious", as was Frye's last minute of the third. After he drove for a pull-up jumpshot, he blocked a shot by Jervis.

Threes by Frye and Petrie started proceedings for Adelaide in the fourth, Ennis fouling on what otherwise would have been another cloud-bursting block, this time on Johnson.

There was still much to come; two threes by Burdon and one from Redhage to shave the margin to within Perth's grasp, Drake U'u getting up to block a Johnson dunk attempt.

Yes. This is basketball as fans will relish seeing it.

ADELAIDE 36ERS 102 (Frye, Anthony 19, Johnson 18, Ervin 12, Petrie 10; Anthony, Johnson 8 rebs; Cadee 7 assts) d PERTH WILDCATS 91 (Redhage 21, Ennis 14, Beal 12, Burdon 11, Martin 10; Redhage 8 rebs; Martin 5 assts).

WHAT DID WE LEARN?

*That it really wasn't necessary to play the national anthem before the Kings-Crocs Blitz game last night after all. They didn't play it at the 36ers-W'cats Blitzer and at last count there were still no complaints! (We've all heard the national anthem so many superfluous times now and the line "girt by sea" that I thought I'd see how much use "girt" saw in everyday life. So last year I wrote in a match review: "Schenscher took the rebound but was girt by defenders." You never read it because the sub-editor took it out. We are girt by fools!)

*That Trinity College in Sydney has a bigger and better underground carpark than at least five Adelaide shopping centres.

*That the four imports at Adelaide and Perth are all quality.

*That maybe the Wildcats (and the Breakers) will be slowest to adjust to the tighter officiating, four of them fouling out and none of them named Shawn.

*That the 36ers' free throw shooting could become a problem.

*That Matt Beattie, Brett Hogan and Matt Townsend did a good job as an officiating team of sticking to the formula.

*That Shane Heal was at the game and, judging by his tweets, the Kings coach was a little impressed.

*That Redhage is still a player and when Matt Knight gets back, Perth will be very much in the championship mix.

BECAUSE you asked for it - well, you didn't really but I'm giving it to you anyway - here is the Blitz table for the Loggins-Bruton Cup at the end of "regional" games and before the tournament-proper tips-off on Friday at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre.

Team Name         Played   Won  Lost  QtrsWon  Pts

Cairns Taipans       1            1        -          4          7.0

Melbourne Tigers  1            1        -        3.5         6.5

Adelaide 36ers      1            1        -        2.5         5.5

Sydney Kings        1            1        -          2          5.0

Townsville Crocs    1           -        1          2          2.0

Perth Wildcats       1           -        1        1.5        1.5

NZ Breakers           1           -        1         0.5       0.5

W'ongong Hawks    1           -       1          0          0.0