National Basketball Tournament Next Week

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28672, 23 August 1958, Page 5

National Basketball Tournament Next Week

rpHE Canterbury representative x basketball team and the Canterbury sub-association’s team will leave for Rotorua today to take part in the New Zealand Basketball Association’s tournament. This will be the first time, since 1945, that Canterbury will not go to the tournament as holder of either the New Zealand Cup or the Annie Brown Cup. Canterbury has a well-balanced side, but the team does not have a goal-thrower in the class of Azalea Sinclair or Joyce Wright. Against Otago for the Joan Yqung Cup, the forwards did not shoot well and they netted only 16 goals from 38 shots. If the for? wards are on form at the tournament, Canterbury has every. chance. The first game will be against Rotorua on Tuesday morning. Rotorua’s strength is not known, as it withdrew from last year’s tournament because of influenza. But the team does have four players who were at the 1956 tournament, including the North Island representative, I. Jamieson. On Tuesday afternoon, Canterbury will play Otago, which has five of last year’s team playing. Cahterbury will be out to reverse the result of the Joan Young Cup match. Strong Side On Wednesday afternoon, Canterbury will meet one of the strongest teams—Southland, run-ner-up at last year’s tournament. Southland will have eight of the last team, including the three Fahey sisters. Southland has beaten Otago this season, and hopes to win the New Zealand Cup this year. On Wednesday afternoon, Southland country will play Canterbury. Southland country is not as strong as last year and has been beaten by both- Southland and Otago. Thursday should be an easy day for Canterbury. It

will play Hutt Valley, which was last in 1957, and the promoted Wanganui team.

Canterbury will have had a hard day on Friday. In the morning it will play Wellington, a strong team with eight new players. In the afternoon it will play Hawke’s Bay, which has beaten Wellington, Wanganui, and Manawatu this season. Hawke’s Bay has been strengthened by the inclusion of P. Williams, a Southland defence last year, and N. Erceg, a North Island representative who is reported to be in excellent form with her goal shooting. On Saturday morning, Canterbury will meet the holder, Auckland. J. Waitit will again captain Auckland. During the tournament last year she was‘one of the outstanding field players. Auckland has eight new players and has beaten Wellington this season.

The draw for the Canterbury sub-association team is:. Tuesday, v. Manawatu, Wairarapa, and Waikato; Wednesday, v. Putaruru and Temuka; Thursday, v. Poverty Bay and South Auckland; Friday, v. Marlborough and Ashburton; Saturday, v. Hokitika.