free throw from Pickens with 4 seconds left to take a 32-31

Off-field issues and unwanted headlines are nothing new to the NRL, but Cronullas swift and decisive action in dealing with Ben Barbas positive cocaine test illustrates a new and improved culture at the Sharks.Cronulla and controversy not all that long ago were very close friends, but the relationship appears to have fractured over the past two years -- with the club showing signs of maturing into a professionally run organisation.The Sharks have previously been accused of dealing with delicate and controversial matters too lightly; officials preferring to sidestep or smother the issue and hitting guilty stars with a feather duster rather than a sledgehammer. Former serial offenders Todd Carney and Greg Bird were often issued relatively soft sanctions for poor off-field behaviour before they were finally sacked. And a host of past and present players and staff are still considered widely to have been fortunate to escape with just a three-month ban for their parts in the ASADA scandal; backdating and timing of the sanctions effectively meant some players missed just three club matches.Apart from the supplements saga,?there has also been?a sex-tape scandal and a string of individual player indiscretions that once placed the clubs very existence in serious jeopardy.Brett Kimmorley played 140 games for the Sharks between 2002 and 2008; he experienced some good and not so good times at the club, and he attributes a lot of their improved culture to chief executive Lyall Gorman.Lyalls been successful in some different organisations and hes got a board thats strong enough to stand by the decisions that the CEOs going to make, Kimmorley told ESPN, describing Cronulla as united, and that doesnt happen too often in many rugby league clubs.When the club broke down around five years ago, it was because there was no CEO, no strong board, and there were people running their own races.That was part of the governance that they had to improve and fix after the unfortunate ASADA drama.The doping scandal was one of the darkest periods in the Sharks 50-year history, but the club in the wash-up made one of its smartest business decisions in appointing Gorman.Almost two years to the day since Gorman was appointed Cronulla chief executive, the Sharks have rarely experienced better results on and off the field: Sponsors and fans are flooding back, the finances are healthy, and the club is celebrating its maiden premiership in their 50th season.Lyalls come on board over the past 18-24 months and he certainly runs a pretty tight ship, and they now understand what they stand for and where theyre heading. Kimmorley said.Theyve got a very strong board now that are all business people rather than ex-players or friends of friends out in that area and theyve taken a very strong stance.Theyve got some values now and I think theyre in a pretty good position financially.Gormans resume and results suggests he is one of Australias best sports administrator.As chairman of Central Coast Mariners, he masterminded one of the A-League clubs most successful eras; as A-League Head of Football, he helped to grow it into one of Australias leading sporting competitions; and at Western Sydney Wanderers he over saw the rise of a sporting powerhouse.Kimmorley has identified signs to suggest Cronulla are heading in the same direction, saying theyre in good hands.We dont know how long Lyall will stay but at least you know hes fixing things up and theres a more professional environment there, Kimmorley said.Damien Keogh is also an important figure in the Sutherland Shire so youd hope he will be around as the chairman of the board for a fair while.In about five years time they will start to see some money from the [Woolooware Bay] property development [with a projected worth of $Aus750 million].Theres also been a new DA put in, and theyll get a new high-performance training centre.All of a sudden they will go from training out of tin sheds, being broke and players not wanting to go there, to becoming equally as powerful as any of the other clubs in the NRL. 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As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Dorian Pickens hit a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 3 seconds to play and Stanford beat Indiana State 65-62 in the consolation round of the AdvoCare Invitational on Friday.Pickens game-winner came just 3 seconds after Indiana State had tied it at 62 on a 3 by Brenton Scott.I promise at some point were going to have some pretty games, Stanford coach Jerod Haase said. It was certainly a grind.Pickens and Reid Travis both scored 19 for Stanford (5-1). Travis also had 12 rebounds.Scott finished with 13 points in Indiana States second consecutive tough defeat at the Invitational. The Sycamores (2-3) lost 73-71 to No. 11 Iowa State in Thursdays opening round.Im tired of learning tough lessons, Indiana State coach Greg Lansing said. Were not in for participating. We want to win these games.I even more disappointed today than I was yesterday, Lansing added. More disappointed in our grit and our fight on the defensive end, and then our execution, especially down the stretch on the offensive end. Kind of got into our heads a little bit. Got a little bit too individual.Stanford went 22 of 27 from the free-throw line, with Travis and Robert Cartwright making six in the final minutes.Thats gutsy stuff, Haase said.Indiana State made 5 of 9 from the line.Stanford shot 36.5 percent from the floor and Indiana State shot 37.9 percent.There were 16 lead changes and 13 ties. Stanfordd held the biggest lead, seven points, five minutes into the second half.dddddddddddd.Stanford needed a pair of free throw from Pickens with 4 seconds left to take a 32-31 halftime lead.BIG PICTUREIndiana State: The Sycamores have picked up their play against Power-5 conference opponents at the AdvoCare Invitational. Before the tourney, Indiana State lost to Northern Illinois (80-78 in overtime), while beating Ball State (80-74 in OT) and Missouri-St. Louis (95-55).Stanford: The Cardinal were coming off a 67-53 loss to Miami in Thursdays first round, a game where Stanford was outscored 44-26 in the second half.NUMBERS GAMEStanford dominated the boards, outrebounding the Sycamores 47-31. ... The Cardinal had 18 turnovers compared with Indiana States seven. The Sycamores, however, scored just 14 points off the turnovers.PICKENS POWERThe junior guard has scored in double figures in 10 of his last 11 games, dating to last season. Through two games at the AdvoCare Invitational, Pickens is averaging 17 points, five rebounds and two assists.UP NEXTIndiana State: Will play either Quinnipiac or Seton Hall in Sundays seventh-place game.Stanford: Will try to conclude the tournament with a 2-1 record in the fifth-place game Sunday against either Quinnipiac or Seton Hall. ' ' '