Keen Contest Likely In Senior Basketball

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30128, 11 May 1963, Page 9

Keen Contest Likely In Senior Basketball

*T'HE senior women’s A basketball competition, which begins today, should prove to be one of the most interesting for a number of Sears. Four teams—Sacred eart, Kakatai, West Old Giris and Technical—will lose their key players after five rounds when the New Zealand team leaves for England and this could have a considerable bearing on the outcome of the competition.

However, all teams have had plenty of opportunity to try out new players in the annual and handicap tournaments.

as well as in the grading day matches, and they should be well prepared for the forthcoming exodus. Last season’s competition winner, Kakatai, again has a strong side, with only one

change. Margaret Neiman, a Canterbury and South Island representative, returns to the team, which won the Easter tournament and was runner-up in the annual tournament

There have been many changes made by Sacred Heart and only two of last year's A team remain. Two schoolgirls, H. Pooley and J. Ryall, former members of

the B team, M. Coulsen and J. Evan, and one player from last year’s senior reserve team, M. Hall, have been included in the side. They have shown considerable potential and last Saturday won their section of the handicap tournament. West Old Girls have four new players in their side— C. McMaster, a Canterbury, South Island and New Zealand representative, K. Reece, a Canterbury representative, P. Oldham and B. Barry, a promoted senior reserve player. McMaster, Reece and Oldham all played for Teachers' College last year. The team is improving with every game and was runner-up at the Easter tournament Being able to field the same side throughout the season, St. Nicholas is considered the favourite for the competition. The side won the senior grade at the annual tournament. The only newcomers to the side, B. Smith (goal-keeper) and N. Blomquist (goal defence), were senior reserve representatives last year. St. Nicholas have two very accurate goal throwers, J. Cusdin and K. French. Surprisingly good form for

so early in the season has been shown by Technical; it was runner-up in the handicap tournament. Technical has eight players in its side and this should prove its worth when P. Edwards leaves for England. A. Blair, a Canterbury, Otago and South Island representative, has returned to the side. J. Kimber, a Papanui High School player and senior reserve representative, is the goal attack. J. Allison, an Otago representative, and S. Landrope, of Banks Peninsula, are also in the team.

The Teachers' College side is well below the standard of last season, but should improve after a few games. There are five new players, all having their first season in the senior grade. They are A Britten, G. Cooper (Cashmere High School senior reserve players last year), K Martin (from the West Coast), H. Glover (who did not play last year), and K. Martin (a Sacred Heart second grade player last year and sister of the New Zealand representative, J. Martin). Community Centre, which has been promoted to the senior grade from the senior reserve grade, has been practising hard for many weeks and could develop into a good senior side. The only player with senior experience is D Green, who played for Sacred Heart last season. S. Yandall and J. Thompson, senior reserve representatives last year, and A. Wyatt, M. Phillips and L. McDonald, second grade representatives, will be in the side. S. McNeil, who played senior reserve for Community Centre last season, will also be turning out