Basketball On The Internet.

ABBEY Ellis last night joined WNBL's "immortals" when she singlehandedly torched the Lightning with a breath-taking 47-point game, the like of which the league has not seen in 21 years, doing it in the same city Isaac Humphries announced his NBL retirement.

Not since Belinda Snell bagged 54 points in 2005 to break Julie Nykiel's 23-year-old record of 53 points, on top of Penny Taylor with 52 in 2001, Lauren Jackson 48 in 2003 and Jessica Bibby with 47 in 2005, has anyone approached the half-century mark in scoring with such pure surety.

Ellis, after a more subdued performance in the Fire's road loss to Perth, was breathing fire in Adelaide. She scored 25 of Townsville's first 33 points and their first 16 of the second quarter.  

In truth, with Alex Fowler still playing with what appears to be a World Cup hangover, Lauren Jensen contributing a paltry 2-point return for 32 minutes of court-time and Marie Gulich fouling out in 20:18, the diminutive Ellis loaded the club onto her shoulders and was simply incomparable.

Her 47-point haul consisted of 16-of-24 shooting (67 per cent), with seven 3-pointers and 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Why she didn't take a last play heave to try for the 50?

Because she had her hands on her thighs, bent over and completely gassed, having given Townsville everything she had in a 40-minute run that also brought her 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 steals and a block - yes, a block for the little PG listed at 168cm.

Adelaide captain Stephanie Talbot, back from the WNBA and defending players such as Caitlin Clark, could do little to curtail the Fire's greatest spark as she forced Townsville back from a 21-35 deficit during the second quarter and on to victory with a 27-10 final period avalanche.

WNBL Results, Rd1

Townsville Fire 86 (Ellis 47, Woods 14, Gulich 13; Froling 11 rebs; Woods 7 assts) d Adelaide Lightning 68 (Brazel 19, Ciezki 13, Aokuso 12, Talbot 11; Aokuso 6 rebs; Talbot 9 assts) at State Basketball Centre, Adelaide

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Adelaide 36ers fans were bracing for bad news from Humphries, the 7-foot tyro who anchored the middle for five years but stayed sidelined this season with a persistent knee complaint.

When news spread the 36ers were in talks with Sudanese-born big man Mangok Mathiang as a potential back up for Nick Rakocevic and Zylan Cheatham, the writing was on the wall Isaac would not be returning.

He retires after 173 games across eight NBL seasons with averages of 11.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1.5 blocks per game. Mathiang is likely to debut for Adelaide next round at South East Melbourne.

But please, NBL Media, can you stop referring to him as a former "NBA star" or any words resembling those? Suiting four times for Charlotte Hornets in 2017-18 really makes such unwarranted accolades look like pathetic stretches for clickbait.

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Please NBL refs, please. Just now and then, not even regularly, but just now and then, please call a dribbler for carrying the ball. This is Cairns' Jaylin Brown in mid-dribble and in front of the ref.

Come on. Do better.

* * *

WHAT a full-on week of elite basketball that was after Gordon Herbert's NZ stunned Sydney in an NBL Ignite Cup clash before the WNBL's new faces at Tasmania Jewels created history with a 103-point debut, the most ever scored by a new club in its opener, Gianna Kneepkens leading the way.

It all started with the Breakers' Carlin Davison showing the NBL world he is so much more than just "a great athlete" as has been his label since he first hit the hardwood.

Davison is the first player in 14 years to have three straight games with better than 11 assists after compiling 11 against Perth, 14 against Sydney and a further 11 versus Tasmania. (Thank you NBLFacts).

Meanwhile the beneficiary of much of Carlin's work, Sam Mennenga, enjoyed an equal career-best 15-of-19 field goals (79 per cent) in his 36-point return against Tasmania.

Only Ben Pepper, no relation to Elijah, at 16-of-19 in 2007, that's 84 per cent, has a superior percentage for the Breakers for anyone taking 15 or more shots. (Thank you John Casey).

After a cracker of a game against Tasmania, Coach Herbert was bemused at a couple of calls which went against his Breakers in the final 90 seconds.

In the words of Joey Wright, welcome to the NBL Gordie.

* * *

Let's have a look at it again. Torrey Craig's last shot from halfway in the Kings' eventual rout of a depleted Perth not only swished through but with such force the net swung back in front of the ring, popping out the ball to go through for a second time. Surely that's worth six?

* * *

Someone needs to find WNBL TV caller Jess Webster a studio with better lighting. In Adelaide's home loss to Townsville, she mentioned the game being "in the shadows of halftime" before revisiting that cliche not long after when the match was "in the shadows of three-quarter time".

The ever enthusiastic Jess either needs better lighting or to stop attending the Dwayne Russell School of Sporting Cliches. Least we haven't heard "high octane" on any of the calls lately.

* * *

With Hunter Goodrick missing through injury, new dad Jordan Hunter is now doing all his own stunts at South East Melbourne. That play against Cairns where he scrapped on the floor for a loose ball, then rose with it to drain a 3-pointer, I recorded that, played it in slow-mo and yep, Jordy definitely did the whole thing by himself.

* * *

Melbourne United, with a young rookie coach and a team laden with alpha males, definitely needs to focus on its basketball and not the officiating if it is to fulfill its promise this season.

(Amazing innit, to think it's United whining about the officials?)

But as long as Cole Anthony is a distraction - compare his first half against Illawarra with his second - United will stay on Struggle Street.

* * *

Arnas Velicka needs to heal quickly as Brisbane's replacement PG import Raul Neto is a quality signing. Not sure about the rules here re playing for two clubs in one season - have seen it happen in the NBL but it is rare - those clubs still looking for a point guard (Illawarra, maybe Perth) could do a lot worse than snap him up.

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One of the best things about Abbey Ellis scoring 47 points for the Fire against Lightning was she did it without glaring at refs for calls, or any theatrics or histrionics. (Maddi Rocci, take note.) Ellis left it all out there and was on an inspirational high.

Kudos to Canberra for its terrific win over Bendigo and also to the JackJumpers for being part of the sold-out crowd at the Jewels' historic first WNBL game. Darcee Garbin, Steph Reid, Brooke Basham, Keely Froling and Gianna Kneepkens in particular stood out on a memorable night.

* * *

Yes, the poster says Hercules but it also says starring Steve Reeves when, in fact, that should read starring Sam Mennenga.

Shave off that beard, trim the hair and the Breakers' 208cm giant stands tall, having an All Star 5 season, if not in MVP calculations.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright's injury has not impacted as profoundly as expected but only because Mennenga has elevated his game to the next level. His inside-outside presence is huge, Carlin Davison and Mojave King also making greater contributions than originally anticipated.

Mennenga is averaing 23.3 points per game (4th in the league), 9.1 rebounds (2nd) and 3.1 assists (career high).

He also has some attitude, which doesn't hurt, genuine strength and has sufficient aspects to his game to make him #1 on any current list of who's going to the NBA next from our NBL.

Oops. Taran Armstrong says hold my beer.