MILESTONE: Feel a bit strange writing my own milestone but I will throw it out there in the interests of reporting and not in the interests of bigging myself up
(I will write in the 3rd person for prosperity sake).
With a meaningless a 3 pointer in the 1st half in a meaningless Monday night game against a sub-par opponent, Ben "Palky" Palk became the 1st person to score 4000 points for the Old Reds Basketball Club.
Palky joined the club in 1995, making this season his 20th season. He has played almost all of his ball in the Crazy Wednesday's mid-week team and has been in all the Saturday grades from A Grade to E Grade. he has been the main scorer in teams and has been the 3rd guy off the bench ... and when he came on he shot a lot of 3's*. In the early days of the stats Palky would score around 50% of his points from 3's - as he has gotten older that number has increased to 75%.
Palky has won 4 Saturday titles in his 20 years - A's in 2000, B's in 2004 and back to back C's in 2007 and 2008. In addition was in losing Grand Final is 1999, 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010. The Crazies have also won 4 titles in 1999, 2001, 2003 and most recently in 2011.
As well as the championships, Palky has won a few individuals awards - most notably he was somehow named the 2012 Club Champion and 2012 Sean Heylen Medalist for best player in the Intercol. He received the E's Players' Player in 2010, the 2012 "Lowbrown" (The Crazies Players Player) as well as 3 team MVP's, 5 Best Team Man and in 1995 Most Improved Player.
As stated in the opening, Palky is the 1st player to score 4000 points (in the stats keeping era 1999-2014), he is the club's leading total points, 1st in games played, 1st in 3's made and 4th in FT%.
Reverting back to 1st person, as you know I am quite passionate about this club and its stats. I am keeper/guardian of the stats, I think it is important to keep the records for the history of our club as well as a good conversation point. Two things have been pointed out to me on a number of occasions:
1. That I am the leading scorer in this club just because I have played the most games. Exactly! It is tough to play this many games - as you get older many other things come in your life and basketball becomes a 3rd, 4th, 5th priority. I have been pretty lucky with injuries (except this year). Your body breaks down and it's not like I am the most athletic specimen in the world. I am very proud that I am the first person to reach 4000.
2. That as I am the keeper of the stats I have the ability to somehow tamper with that stats - to know me is to know that is folly.
So enough self indulgence - Here is a good link for nice sports moments
To the short reports:
A's (11-1) v Oakden A (2-10) - The A's just needed to get the job done. Oakden persisted with a 3-2 and they were made to pay. Everyone was able to get into the heart of their D and they were either scoring at the front of the rim or dishing for baskets. The A's ball movement was sublime and they are starting to gear up at the right part of the season. Orks was scoring at will and Phil was hitting jumpers and getting to the basket. A's win 55-30. Orks 23, Phil 13, Liam 7.
B's (6-6) v Knightsbridge A (2-10) - For the B's to finish top 4 they have to beat the 2 teams below them (Oakden and Knightsbridge). The B's made tough work of beating Knightsbridge. During the 2nd half the game was close - Knightsbridge were hitting 3's and getting on the offensive glass. Good shooting kept the B's in it with Jono, Palk and Kartik all making 3's. Knightsbridge had 3 chances to tie the game up in the last minute but failed to make any of their shots. B's escaped with the win. The B's ability to get out to 3 point shots is not great and will cost them in the finals against both Saints and Gateway - they need to work on it. B's win 39-36. Gus 9, Jono and Kartik 7.
C's (9-2) v Unley Park A (8-3) - With G and Hendo missing and Fancy late, the C's were lucky that Unley Park were also missing their best player. Unley started with 4 (had 2 not so good fill ins) and the C's got out to a good lead with Brad and Goody able to get to the basket. The C's D was solid without being great and they were able to get key baskets when needed. Loads of turnovers didn't help the C's cause. 2nd half Goody made a key "and 1" and BB made a tough runner to close the game. Win 32-26 - Brad 11, Goody 7, Late Player 4.
D's (8-3) v Southwest A (3-9) - Written by Simon - Prelude – Our allocated umpires for the game were Jeremy and another guy – there was a weird dynamic on court, with a couple of calls overturned early as even the umpires battled for control against each other. Turns out that the other guy had ejected Jeremy in the game before ours, Jeremy then called back into the stadium as a referee for our game. Awkward!!
Southwest hit the floor with a new big guy and a new game plan – gone was the religious feed to the centre at the foul line – and in its place was the ad hoc offence that is normally encountered in our grade. Despite concerns over an extra big man for the Road Train and Kobe to sink their teeth into (sorry for the dental joke RT!), he was busy cutting base and accepting an occasional lob, but was well held to just 5 points for the game. The Reds started off slow against the Seahawks, Reggie opening scoring with 2 triples before we started to attack the rim, with trips to the line for Kobe, Ned and the Road Train. We welcomed Josh back from his European Vacation with Tim ‘Clark Griswald’ Purgacz * and he was active, finding some range in holes in the key for a couple of nice turnarounds, not to mention a big block in the 2nd half. Brendon shone in the rest of the 2nd half, and while our O was a little scrappy, we were finding an open guy for decent looks, Brendon getting into good spots for a couple of long J’s and a triple. Meanwhile Southwest were doing something we hadn’t seen before – hitting jumpshots – their athletic but generally ineffective #8 hitting a couple of jumpers early – pointed out by Road Train at the end of the game by saying “I’ve never seen you hit a shot before”. Things we love about Road Train – Size & rebounding ability – tick. Fondness for carpark beers – tick. No tact – actually still give that one a tick. So back to the game, we were up 20-12, but knowing we could play a bit better. It was an armwrestle in the 2nd, SW getting a couple of lucky rolls and keeping up with us, both scoring 14 for the half. Ned got driving in the 2nd half, Stu played some great D and pressured the ball, Kobe hit one of the sweetest shots of the year with a drive across the key, change of hands, change of shot & a kiss off the glass. Reg and Ned hit triples and B-Frangars hit another long J. Final score 34-26, not our best game but we did what we needed to against a much improved SW. Brendon & Reggie with 9, Ned 7.
* we’re making good time etc.
E's (9-3) v St Casmir A (3-9) - Forfeit Win
F's (7-4) v SPOC C (9-3) Written by Lenny - The F's went out with intent against a disorganised Saints who could find 5 names on a scoresheet and lots of others expected but didn't turn up?? The hyphenated teagan-Anderson was expected but let Bill down! So we were 3 - 0 up in the first few minutes (Tim hitting a tres and Ben got a nice look inside - 5 - 3). The man was working and then we let them in and we stopped; number 4 - Mansfield - got off his leash and they were 5 - 5; 9 - 5; and then they spread some scoring and drew some fouls; Phil stepped up and Ben got to the line helped to lift us to 8; so it and it was 17 - 8 at the half. Second half was frustrating with more fouls being called, but the reds didn't help their cause by getting 2 techs called against us for audible expletives rhyming with truck. Orks got fouled out on a big block called and he aired his displeasure. Saints had got it out to 20 point spread with their #14 stepping up outside and inside. At the end of the game we were only 14 down having gone 26 - 21 in the half - which showed again what we can do. There were 2 5 minute bursts where Saints got off the hook - otherwise we were more competitive than when we played them last time but didn't push home our advantage - however, we have learned some more things along the way. Tim was top scorer with 18, Bjork chipped in with 5 and Toma a handy 4 getting to the line to bring us back closer in the last few minutes.
G's (3-7) v East All Stars A (7-3) - NO REPORT. Lost 17-56. Troy 6, Dillon 4
Lady Reds (7-5) v Unley Park A (9-3) - If the Lady Reds are going to win the title this year - they are going to need to beat Unley Park A at some point. They lost this game but I think they will take a lot out of this game ... namely they can play man and Unley Park will not be able to handle it. The first half - Unley Park were hitting jumpers all over the court as the Reds focused on stopping the 2 Unley bigs. They stayed in touch with some good shooting from Megan, Tracey and Alicia but were down 14-18 at halftime. The 2nd half they switched to man - they shut down Unley and they struggled all half. The problem was that the Reds didn't take their chances in offense. They got the lead late but the only player for Unley able to handle the man scored 3 baskets late. Reds had a chance to tie the game up but missed FTs cost them. Reds lost 24-27 Georgie and Tracey 5, Alicia 4.
Palky's Super Top Trio - Week 12:
3rd - Simon Miller
2nd - Angus Crawford
1st - Josh Orken
Game Times - Week 13:
A's v B's - 5.10pm @ CBC (Bring your Reds uniform)
C's v D's - 2.40pm @ CBC (Bring your Reds uniform)
E's v Golden Grove A - 4.20 @ Marion
F's v Hope A - 1.50 @ Marion
G's v Spicer B - 1.00 @ Marion
Lady Reds v Dunn A - 1.00 @ CBC
*
| Year | Total Pts | Pts from 3's | % of Pts from 3's | |
| Palk | 1999 | 157 | 93 | 59% |
| Palk | 2000 | 158 | 81 | 51% |
| Palk | 2001 | 261 | 138 | 53% |
| Palk | 2002 | 273 | 186 | 68% |
| Palk | 2003 | 263 | 132 | 50% |
| Palk | 2004 | 255 | 141 | 55% |
| Palk | 2005 | 225 | 135 | 60% |
| Palk | 2006 | 217 | 159 | 73% |
| Palk | 2007 | 226 | 126 | 56% |
| Palk | 2008 | 316 | 222 | 70% |
| Palk | 2009 | 228 | 147 | 64% |
| Palk | 2010 | 257 | 192 | 75% |
| Palk | 2011 | 330 | 234 | 71% |
| Palk | 2012 | 445 | 342 | 77% |
| Palk | 2013 | 208 | 153 | 74% |
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