BASKETBALL

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25610, 27 September 1948, Page 9

BASKETBALL

AMERICAN TEAM BEATS • CANTERBURY In a closer game than was expected, the American M.I.A. basketball team beat Canterbury by 69 paints to 32 at the Wentworth on Saturday afternoon. Although the Americans seemed to have an advantage in the early stages of the game, Canterbury, with a very strong defence and some fast forwards, seemed in better condition, and was almost continually on the attack in the last quarter. . The American team consists of amateurs who are in New Zealand for two years; on a Church missionary course. They are not all citizens of the United States, a number of them coming from Canada, The star players of the American team wefe Neilsen, Willie, and Andrus in the forwards, and Gregson on defence. They shone, not as a defending team, but concentrated on attack. Their passing was first class and during the first three quarters they hardly made q mistake. When Neilsen was spelled, the rest of the team seemed to play with less life. Willie was very fast, and, using his height to advantage, scored many goals. Andrus tired at the finish. In the Canterbury side, the most prominent players were Thomson, McQougall, Ingham, and Latimer. Although slightly bewildered at first by the speed and combination of their opponents, they settled down and at the finish were playing very well. The M.I.A. team will travel to Dunedin, where it is to meet a New Zealand side. The teams were:— M.I.A.—G. W. Neilsen (captain); A. D. Gilbert, G. V. Olsen, M. J. Westover, R. G. Willie; R. B. Andrus, G. S. Gregson. Canterbury.—G. Luxton, L. Hack; M. A. McDougall (captain), R. S. Thomson, K. Ingham, H. Fox; D. G. Christie, R. Latimer, .S. Brown, A. Thompson. » FIRMS’ ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT The Christchurch Firms’ Recreation Association held its annual indoor basketball tournament at King Edward Barracks on Saturday morning. Results:— Men's Section First Round. —Hays won by default from Duckworth, Turner; Beath’s won by default from Miller’s; Workshop’s 11, N.Z.F. 5; National Airways ’’B” defaulted to Bunting’s. Second Round.—Burnsco 11, Dunlop 2; Hay’s 16, Beath’s 0; Workshops 11, National Airways’ A 4; Bunting’s, a bye. Semi-final.—Hay’s 3, Burnsco 2; Workshops 14, Bunting\s. Final.—Workshops 10, Hay’s 2. Women’s Section First Round.—Hay’s A 21, Burnsco 4. Second Round.—City Council 10, Lichfield 8; Hay’s 16, Urlwin’s 6; Duckworth, Turner’s IfL Hay’s B 0; Beath’s defaulted to N.Z.F. ? * Semi-final.—Hay’s A 18, City Council 2; N.Z.F. 15, Duckworth, Turner’s 3. Final.—Hay’s A 12, N.Z.F. 8. FIELD DAY AT HAGLEY PARK Representative teams from a number of Canterbury centres took part in a basketball field day at Hagley Park on Saturday afternoon. Results:— Senior.—North Canterbury C 11, Ashburton A 9; Hurunui A 24, North Canterbury B 17; Ashburton B 17, North Canterbury C 9; North Canterbury A 24, Ellesmere A 11; Ellesmere B 16, Hurunui A 14; North Canterbury B 22, Ellesmere B 15; Canterbury senior reserve 37, Nortn Canterbury A 10; Canterbury senior reserve 33, Ellesmere A 6. Second Grade.—North Canterbury A 20. Canterbury 16. Third Grade.—Canterbury 36, Ellesmere B 6; Canterbury 34, Hurunui A 9; Canterbury 30, North Canterbury B >l2. Fourth Grade.—Canterbury 13, Ashburton 4. Fifth Grade.—Canterbury 14, Ashburton 7; North Canterbury 17, Canterbury 11.