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THE new Melbourne Mongrels will not be growling next season after all, BA ruling there were some concerns about sufficient funding.

"While the proposal contained encouraging aspects - such as a strong community model - the BA Board could not ultimately be confident the club had sufficient financial arrangements in place to ensure its medium to long term sustainability,"  Basketball Australia chairman Scott Derwin said.

BA CEO, Kristina Keneally immediately stormed out, looking for her contract which clearly stipulates she must be quoted on ALL issues re BA, NBL, WNBL, SEABL, ABA, ALP, LCP and BHP.

It's all quiet on the Brisbane front too, which is a little troubling.

CEDRIC Jackson's Player of the Week win after creating the first triple-double in Breakers' history - 28 points (71 per cent), 10 boards, 10 assists - was probably the easiest pick of the round and made him a dual weekly winner this season.

So too the Batgirl, Suzy Batkovic, whose 25 points, 11 boards and five blocks made her a two-time PotW winner.

Those dazzling performances set up wins over Melbourne Tigers and Townsville Fire respectively.

Suzy made The Advertiser at http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/adelaide-lightnings-suzy-batkovic-the-centre-of-attention-again/story-fndekpx4-1226531570337 and I reckon The Entertainer made the column at http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/around-the-nbl-sixers-make-the-grade-for-all-stars-game/story-fndekpx4-1226530763338

OSCAR Forman's elevation into the North All Stars starting five will please Hall of Fame inductee Ken Cole as much as the Big O himself, the King a huge fan of Forman's potential.

Ossie joins Wollongong teammate Adris Deleon, Sydney pair Ben Madgen and Darnell Lazare and the top votegetter Cam Tragardh (Cairns) in the North first five against South at Adelaide Arena on December 22.

My (e)mail is someone named Reece Masten will be there performing as well.

YES, I strongly agree the Adelaide 36ers' axing of CJ Massingale was one of the greatest singular acts of bastardry I can remember in NBL history and, certainly, the finest example of Adelaide 36ers at their worst.

I've made my views clear here at the blog, the original story of the sacking at http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/adelaide-36ers-adamant-cj-massingale-not-made-scapegoat-for-form-slump/story-fndekpx4-1226530724788 but I would suggest a trip to adelaidenow tomorrow when CJ says his piece.

RACHAEL Flanagan's success in cracking the WNBL's 250-game club in Round 2 this season, will finally be acknowledged in Townsville before tonight's game against Logan.

Kristina Keneally herself will be on site to congrulate Rach.

"I'm particularly proud to formally recognise Rachel (sic) Flanagan in honour of her 250th WNBL game. Rachel (sic) has become the face of the Townsville Fire and is certainly a proud ambassador of the WNBL," Keneally said in a press release which, I believe, in part at least, placated her for Scott Derwin's audacity in being solely quoted on the failed Melbourne NBL bid .

NBL Rankings

This Wk ... Prev

8 (6) TIGERS - A 30-point hiding and Melbourne is now officially in the doldrums.

7 (8) CROCS - Good opening win and now have Tigers in their sights.

6 (7) TAIPANS - Do they need milestones every week to get motivated?

5 (4) 36ERS - Home to their Perth "bunnies" but truly dismal last round.

4 (5) KINGS - Great bounce-back after Perth loss and played with heart.

3 (1) HAWKS - Disappointing road loss after twice beating Cairns already.

2 (3) BREAKERS - Have the NBL's best player and right in the mix.

1 (2) WILDCATS - Injuries, illness, so what? No excuses, Perth just gets it done.

WNBL Rankings

This Wk ... Prev

9 (9) WAVES - No end in sight to the misery, with Bulleen and Adelaide on the road.

8 (8) FLAMES - You just can't trust them.

7 (7) THUNDER - Went about as expected last round but finals dream will end in Townsville.

6 (6) FIRE - Went 1-1 on the road and can get back to even keel with a Logan "keel".

5 (3) CAPITALS - Need to regroup now and focus on the four and not the LJ return date.

4 (5) BOOMERS - Snuck into the four and can build against West Coast.

3 (4) LIGHTNING - Looked their best all season last week and with a good home run.

2 (2) SPIRIT - Can take back the summit in a grand final preview this round.

1 (1) RANGERS - The best talent in the competition ... unless Bendigo has more.

THIS WEEK'S TIPS

Flames v Capitals (W)

IT'S hard to have too much faith in Sydney because their most consistent quality this season has been to let you down.

Canberra had a rough week, tumbling to sixth. But the Caps have finals in mind and simply must get this or risk starting to fall into a hole.

Wildcats v Hawks (M)

PERTH has beaten Wollongong 12 straight times in Perth although this will be their historic first Perth Arena clash.

Michael Dunigan makes his debut as the substitute-Matt Knight as Captain No-Beard's crew - yes, The Buccaneer returns - tries to make it three straight at home, and unlucky 13 for Wollongong out west.

Fire v Thunder (W)

TOWNSVILLE at home simply must win this and it would bring its record to an even 6-6.

Logan is still within reach of the four but is just as close to the competition floor, making this extremely big for both teams.

Expect Townsville to, ahem, Fire up.

Kings v Breakers (M)

IAN Crosswhite is ready to step in as acting-captain if Ben Madgen - who courageously, but perhaps foolishly, returned to lead the road win over Adelaide after "popping'' his shoulder, is forced out of this one.

Crossy is one of the NBL's most under-rated but clever players but New Zealand has so many weapons to beat you with, it is tough seeing anything but a Breakers win.

Boomers v Waves (W)

DEANNA Smith should slowly start playing her way into PSST form for West Coast but beating Bulleen at the Veneto Club, just as the Boomers crash the top-four party, is hard to see.

The Waves gave Bulleen a hurry-up at the PSST but Elyse Penaluna wasn't playing then and she has been the Boomers' barometer since returning.

Crocodiles v Tigers (M)

WITH more immediate games against Adelaide coming up, Townsville could not be happier.

But first, there is the challenge of reversing a 25-point loss in Melbourne, which would push the Tigers within howling distance of the bomb shelter.

Luke Nevill will be up for this as the Crocs chase their first winning "streak'' after that initial 0-10 start.

OK. Maybe 2-0 wouldn't quite constitute a "streak'' but a week ago it looked like Christmas.

Lightning v Waves (W)

WITH Batgirl in full swing, Adelaide smacked away its 0-3 run (and Townsville with it) and looked about as good as it has all season.

That's ominous for West Coast, which starts its weekend at Veneto Club, where many a fine athlete has fallen at the sight of the post-game buffet.

Spaghetti, spiralli, tortellini, ravioli, cannelloni, penne, macaroni ... it's too much!

By the way, Tom? Get the hell out of the kitchen.

36ers v Wildcats (M)

THE crowd fall-out from the CJ Massingale sacking will be interesting, though fans, quite rightly, love their team. Well. The players, at least.

The Cattalini Cup is up for grabs, as is the Paul Rogers Medal, Perth lately having become Adelaide's bunny.

This will be an interesting day.

Spirit v Rangers (W)

THE battle of the league heavyweights is easily the match of the round and this time around, I expect Bendigo to grab the W.

Rumors abound Dandenong will have at least one player missing through injury - no, not Krista Phillips with her suspected cold - but whether that helps Mark Wright's wrotations or wrecks them wremains to be wreviewed.

THE Three Little Pigs, the Three Stooges and the Three Musketeers walk into a bar. The barman looks up from where he is cleaning glasses, stares at them and says: "What is this? Some kind of joke?"