BASKETBALL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22453, 14 July 1938, Page 18

BASKETBALL

NEW ZEALAND TEAM FOR AUSTRALIA PLAYERS REVIEWED (By Shoot.) In less than a fortnight the 12 New Zealand basketball representatives will assemble in Wellington and will undergo 10 days’ intensive training in both the New Zealand and Australian codes before leaving for Melbourne to compete in the All-Australia basketball carnival, which will be held from August 15 to 22 inclusive. The players provide excellent material for the coach, Mrs H. D. Muir, who will travel with the team as manager. Mrs Bain Challis, of Invercargill, will accompany the team as first-aid official. The New Zealand executive has appointed M. Matangi (Auckland) captain, and J. Mitchell (Wellington) vicecaptain. In making these appointments, the executive has taken into consideration the record of each girl s basketball career. Details of the accomplishments of the members of the team follow: — M. Matangi, captain, fine in either the.forward or defence third, has represented Taranaki, Wellington, and Auckland, and has gained North Island honours at each New Zealand tournament at which she has played. Her years of representation cover the following: 1930 and 1931, Taranaki; 1932, Wellington: 1933, Auckland: 1934 and 1935 Taranaki; 1936 and 1937, Auckland. She was captain of the Taranaki team and vice-captain of the Auckland team, and also holds Auckland and New Zealand University blues. She was a member of the Victoria University College Club in Wellipgton.tchen, v i ce . ca ptain, is the wellknown and popular captain of the Wellington East Old Girls’ senior A team, champions of 1937, and captain of the Wellington representative team in 1936 and 1937. She also represented Wellington in 1932, 1933, and'l934, being a member of the first Wellington team to win the New Zealand Cup in 1934. She is a strong, reliable defence, ever ready to change tactics when required. _ J. Willson was in the Wellington B team in 1930 and 1931, and was selected for the 1932 A team as a defender. When in 1936 she changed from the defence to the forward third, she was again selected to represent Wellington in 1936 and 1937. gaining North Island honours both years. She is speedy and active, and at present is shooting accurately. „ x . F. Southon represented Canterbury B in 1933 and since then has been in the senior team. Her consistently good

play in centre has made her noticeable in the last two or three tournaments, and her type of play should fit in well with the Australian game. She holds a South Island badge. E. Heward, formerly of Otago, but now of Wellington, represented Otago in 1935 and 1936, gaining South Island honours. Last year she represented Wellington and was included in the North Island team. She is a fast, elusive forward, and an accurate shot. R. Butcher, a strong defender, comes from Hawke’s Bay. for which province she played from 1934 to 1937 inclusive. She also holds a North Island badge. Her quicknc :s in intercepting should be an asset to the team. L. Mehaffey has represented Southland since 1934 and is another player who has represented the South Island. For the last two or three years she has been one of the outstanding forwards at the New Zealand tournaments and has played consistently well. Her accuracy in scoring should be even better in the no-defending Australian game. E. Neame (Southland) is a speedy centre, and the experience gained in representing that province since 1935 should prove invaluable in assisting her to adapt her play to any change of game. She is a South Island representative. M. Howe (Wellington) first represented that province in 1933 as a forward, and in 1936 and 1937 was chosen for her excellent centre play. She is brilliant in quick interception and ever ready to make openings for her defence. This season her standard of play has been consistently high. M. Martin (Auckland) is another centre who has been particularly strong at the last two tournaments, gaining North Island representation. M. Tangye (Auckland), although having been a member of the Auckland B team, was a member of the Auckland A team for the first time last year, when she played a good open for-, ward game. She was one of the most accurate forwards at the tournament. E. Sinclair (Otago) is the youngest member of the New Zealand team. This plaver’s record shows that at the age of 13 she was a member of the Otago B team, and at 14 had attained a place in the Otago A team which played in the 1935 tournament. She again represented Otago in 1936 and 1937, gaining her South Island badge last year when only 16. She is a fine defender, her speed, height, and anticipation giving her many opportunities for brilliant interceptions. Representative Teams From the list of players who have been practising in the senior representative trials, 22 have now been selected as possibles and probables. Two teams —one of 12 players to compete in the New Zealand tournament at Timaru in August, and the other to play against Ashburton in Christchurch on August 6—will be chosen from the following players, who will attend a practice at the Christchurch East School courts at 3.30 p.m. on Saturday:—Forwards, R. Cursons (Awatea), Jean and Joan Felton (St. Mary’s), R. McKendry (Digby’s), E. Matthews (Technical), N. Smith (Technical), C. Swan (Digby’s), and O. Wheatley (St. Mary’s). Centres: A. Fielding (St. Mary’s), V. Flood (Digby’s), C. Hawkins (Technical), G. Irving (St. Mary’s), M. Scott (St. Mary’s), P. Taylor (Technical), and G. Winter (Digby’s). Defence: M. Bradley (St. Mary’s), M. Clark (Digby’s), N. Dick (Ngaio), M. Fancy (Technical), O. Felton (St. Mary’s), J. Millard (St. Mary’s), and K. Palmer (Digby’s). Fixtures July 30—Canterbury Third Grade v. Wellington Senior B team, at Wellington.

August 6—Canterbury second senior team v. Ashburton A team, at Christchurch; Canterbury Third Grade team v. Ashburton B team, at Christchurch. August 13—Canterbury combined Fifth and Sixth Grade team v. Banks Peninsula, at Christchurch. August 15-22—A1l Australia Carnival at Melbourne. August 29-September S—New Zealand tournament, at Timaru. September 3—South Island v. North Island, at Timaru.