N.Z. MEN’S INDOOR BASKETBALL

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28053, 22 August 1956, Page 14

N.Z. MEN’S INDOOR BASKETBALL

AUCKLAND LEADING IN TOURNEY (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, August 21. Auckland, with convincing wins over Palmerston North and Otago, has now had four wins in four matches and is well in the lead in the New Zealand men’s basketball championships. Southland is also unbeaten, but it has played only two matches. It will meet Nelson tomorrow afternoon and Otago at night Canterbury, last year’s winner, has yet to win a game, but it went down today by the narrowest of margins to Wellington, in the highest scoring match of the tournament. Results were;—Otago B 68, Centra) Otago 22, Hawera 71, Buller 26; Southland 47. Hamilton 34; Motueka 43. Marlborough 27; Wellington 60. Canterbury 59; Auckland 71, Palmerston North 49; Hawera 55, Motueka 25; Wellington 56. Nelson 36; Mid-Canterbury 51, South Canterbury 19; Otago C 46, Wairarapa 41; Hutt Valley 34. Otago B 29; South Canterbury 46. West Coast 35; Auckland 58, Otago 34; Palmerston North 62, Hamilton

CANTERBURY’S THIRD LOSS "The Press’ 1 Special Service DUNEDIN, August 21. Canterbury was again beaten, by one goal, in the last half-minute of its game against Wellington at the national basketball championships this afternoon. The Canterbury team—D. Sabistan. R. Burnby. A. Mcßae. R. Salt, and R. Entwhistle—played unchanged throughout. This was surprising, as K. Davidson and H. Fox. the Canterbury captain, are playing very well. Canterbury used a pressing zone defence for the whole game, and this appeared to upset Wellington’s main scorers, A. Bruce and K. Ledbrook, who until this game had not struck form. It was generally conceded that this game was the best of the tournament so far. both teams playing basketball of a very high standard. Canterbury, by losing its third game, is now in a position where it is almost impossible for it to get a place among the top three. Burnby, Salt, and Mcßae scored 40 of Canterbury's points against Wellington from the fast, sure feeding and rebounding of Entwhistle and Sabistan. All of Canterbury’s games have been lost on penalty shooting, at which other teams appear more proficient. For Wellington. Bruce (25 points) and Ledbrook (16), who have recently returned from England, were on form, and seem almost certain to regain New Zealand honours