Basketball On The Internet.

HERE'S the good news first. If Sydney Kings, victors last night over Perth Lite, beat Townsville on Saturday, they will have matched the 25 per cent winning ratio they had when Damian Cotter was dumped.

Cotter, running the team with superstar Josh Childress in absentia, was 3-9 when the axe fell, the Kings diverse ownership - let's call them the "Sweathogs" for want of a better term - keen to scapegoat him for failing with the team they assembled.

Linus, er, JOE Connelly was handed the towel, er, REINS, to take the Kings to new heights and, well, will you look at that? Before last night's win over the Mildcats, Sydney was 2-12 under its new management.

SWEATHOGS... or Kings ownership? Both hassled K(C)otter

That now, of course, is 3-12 with Sydney winning its last home game, a great note on which to leave the fans.

A win over Townsville would finish Connelly's reign on a 4-12 record or ... 25 per cent.

Now that's progress!

(Of course, they still have to win in Townsville to match Cotter's percentage.)

Last night, at 11-11 during the first quarter, Perth was looking OK. Then Angus Brandt accidentally used Greg Hire as some sort of pommel horse. But he didn't quite do a Mary Lou Retton, landing instead in Hire's face.

Ouch.

Josh Childress led the assault from there, with 25 points at 69 per cent, 11 boards, four assists, a steal and a couple of blocks. He didn't do a celebratory goose-step this time though, so he should be right for the match in Townsville.

Beaten by 26 points, Perth did look as if it missed Martin, Beal, Prather and Jawai a little.

Indiana Faithfull also had his break-out game, his 1-of-1 triples showing he should maybe spend more time raiding from the lost arc.

REPTILE RUMBLE: Clint Steindl fires up for the Crocs against his former team.

Tonight: GRAB a two-game superpass from just $30 and you can not only see Townsville-Cairns battle out their Reptile Rumble, but be back to see the Crocodiles maul the Kings on Saturday. The end of the Taipans' playoff dream may factor into how they fare against Townsville and I'm just leaning toward the home side.

Last night: SYDNEY KINGS 103 (Childress 25, Garlepp 22, Thornton 16, Brandt 14, Faithfull 12; Childress 11 rebs; Cadee, Childress 4 assts) d PERTH WILDCATS 77 (Knight 15, Hire, Kenny, Redhage 11, Jervis 10; Knight 9 rebs; Wroe 3 assts) at The King-Hit, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre.