BASKETBALL

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27986, 5 June 1956, Page 12

BASKETBALL

CANTERBURY BEATEN BY NELSON

SOUTH ISLAND INDOOR TITLE

With ball control, precision play, and shooting of a very high standard, the Nelson A team deieated Canterbury by a margin of two points in the final of the South Island indoor basketball championships at Nelson yesterday. This is the second time that Nelson has taken the title from Canterbury in the last three years. The score was: Nelson A 43, Canterbury 41.

Canterbury used pressing man-to-man tactics throughout, and if a number ot the shots which entered the ring only to spin out again could have been counted the result wou d have been different. R. Salt played magnificently for Canterbury, scoring 12 of his team’s points, some of .hein from seemingly impossible positions. H. Fox, who was captain of the Canterburi- sic' , was also one of the stalwarts. At guard his game was excellent, and his penalty shooting accurate. B. Bradley and B. Cotton, both of whom are New Zealand representatives, were the key men in the Nelson team, with ball control of the highest order. Canterbury was unlucky not to equalise shortly before the bell sounded time. The highest scorers for Canterbury were R. Salt (12), A. Mcßae (8), H. Fox (6). and for Nelson. B. Bradley (22) and S. Robertson (8). Motueka Wins B Grade With the Mid-Canterbury team tiring towards the end, Motueka seized the intiative to win the final of the B grade, 29-24. For most of the game only two points separated the teams. It was the height of players in the Motueka team which allowed them to win the ball from rebounds continuously, and this aecided the issue. By using a pressing game. Motueka upset the Mid-Canterbury shooting. with the result that there was much fouling The highest .scorers for Mid-Canterbury were S. Bennett (8), J. Merton (5), and for Motueka. P. Assaf (14) and B. Kitchen (13). Results:— A Grade.—Otago 30, Marlborough 22. Nelson A 43. Canterbury 41; Nelson A 73. Marlborough 29. B Grade.—Motueka 48, Nelson B 34; Motueka 29, Mid-Canterbury 24.