Basketball

Peter Argent. In her second game back from a knee reconstruction, Stephanie Talbot (Kadina) played a vital role in the Adelaide Lightning’s third successive victory at the 36ers Arena on Saturday evening. Talbot came off the bench and ignited the Lightning in the first half against the Melbourne Boomers, with eight points, seven rebounds, a couple of assists, three steals and a blocked shot.

Peter Argent. Stephanie Talbot (Kadina) made a stunning return to basketball in the Women’s National Basketball League for Adelaide Lightning against Canberra Capitals on Sunday, January 28. It was Talbot’s first game of competitive basketball in 11 months, since rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in a February 18, 2023 WNBL game.

Fin Hansen. Kadina’s Stephanie Talbot is already eyeing a return to the court just six months after rupturing her ACL. The 29-year-old Adelaide Lightning captain will miss the majority of the 2023-24 Women’s National Basketball League season following the knee injury in her side’s third-to-last game of last season.

Fin Hansen. Seventeen years after receiving a cochlear implant, Bailey McNicholl has discovered his hearing could have been blocked by a flawed hospital system... The faults resulted in the potential under-mapping of implants, meaning devices were incorrectly programmed in up to 208 recipients, including now 23-year-old Bailey.

In recent weeks headspace Swan Hill has actively partnered with twenty-four local sporting clubs to deliver important mental health messages and strategies in three leagues across the North Central and Mallee communities.

Patricia Gill. Denmark Shire chief executive David Schober will officially end his tenure on July 11 to return to a lifelong passion, coaching basketball. Former professional basketball coach David will take a ‘dream job’ at the Denmark Senior High School vacated by dual Olympian Paul Rogers.

Inspirational community contributions celebrated. Well known Narrandera Shire resident Rex Evans was rewarded for his generous and ongoing contribution to Narrandera shire communities over many years with the 2023 Citizen of the Year Award ... "our town wouldn’t be what is without volunteers": Senior Citizen of the Year, Beverly Hughes.

After being honoured at the Allora Regional Sports Museum earlier this year, the accolades continue for Allora born and bred netballer Laura Geitz, who was inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame recently ... "Drawn to netball by her older sister’s purple netball shoes, she stands an imposing 1.9m and is an extraordinary mix of athleticism and aura, competitiveness and charisma, grit and glamour. And she is one of Australia’s all-time greats": Queensland Sport.

Samuel Davis. Megastar athletes are nice but meat pies, roadhouse burgers and hugs from daughter Talei are what really fuel this truckie ... The hardest working man in Australian basketball is finally taking a break ... Junior Virantuleo, the Cooktown truckie, who swapped the cabin for courtside at some of the biggest arenas in the world, returned home this month.

Patty Mills for Prime Minister – that was the call on Saturday night as the star basketballer drained 42 points to lead the Boomers to their first ever Olympic medal. The Torres Strait Island product was amazing in all the big moments as he led Australia to a 107-93 win against Slovenia to pick up a much-deserved bronze medal. Bronze felt like “rose gold” to Mills.

Patrick Mills sunk his first basket on Thursday Island, but his journey to international stardom has rarely been in the Torres Strait. Over the next two weeks, he will attempt to lead the Boomers to a historic medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Olympics veteran Patty Mills says he understands the privileged position he is in to be one of the two flag-bearers for the Australian team at Tokyo. “As a proud Kokatha, Naghiralgal and Dauareb-Meriam man it’s incredible. A very passionate moment I can feel in my bones,” Mills said after the announcement that he and Cate Campbell will lead the Aussie team at the opening ceremony.

Torres Strait basketball prodigy Tamuri Wigness has been named as the captain of the Australian Emus team ahead of the upcoming FIBA U19 World Cup.