BASKETBALL Recovery Too Late To Save St. Nicholas From Defeat

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30171, 1 July 1963, Page 17

BASKETBALL Recovery Too Late To Save St. Nicholas From Defeat

There were two upsets ta the eighth-round game* tn the Canterbury Basketbell Associations senior competition on Saturday. Teachers’ College acored its second win thia season when it defeated Community Centre, and Technical narrowly defeated St Nicholas. Kakatai continued on its uncertain winning way by beating Sacred Heart West Old Girls had the bye. Although conditions at South Hagley Park were pleasant play was hot of a high standard. Results:— Teacher's College 34, Community Ceutre 32. Kakatai 28. Sacred Heart 21. Teehaieal 37, St Nicholas 33. Competition points: Kakatai 12 St. Nicholas 10 West Old Girls and Technical 8, Sacred Heart, Teachers' College 4, Community Centre 2. C omni unity Centre v. Teachers’ College Teachers’ College maintained its improved form and its fast, attacking play in aU thirds found Community Centre quite unprepared. College controlled play skilfully to gain a six-goal lead before Community Centre’s play steadied.

Splendid shooting by Community Centre’s A. Wyatt enlivened the play of her side and regained some of the ground lost when College were penalised for defence infringements. Play became hard and willing as both teams struggled for supremacy, but College was not utilising its throw-off to much acivantanre and the slow service from centre to forwards enabled the Community Centre defence V* up many moves. Although the College forwa. d. L. King, shot impressively. Community Centre’s better use of the throw-off enabled it to hold a territorial advantage until half-time, when the score

was 17-all. Play was again even In this spell. Community Centre’s tall defence, D. Green and L. Macdonald. combined well and when the College forwards failed to regain possession of their missed shots. Community Centre took the lead for the first time. Some poor College passing aided Community Centre further and gained a three-goal lead. 26-23

Teachers' College reached Its best form in the closing stages and its determined counterattack. initiated by the centres. H. Hutton and A. Britton, with strong support from the defence. E. Martin, gained scoring chances for K. Martin and L. King. Their accurate shooting at this vital stage enabled College to level the score at 28all

As both teams fought for the Initiative, play was again hard and willing and infringements frequently affected the trend of play. Scores remained level until 31-all. when College goaled following a missed shot oy Community Centre. College scored again when Community Centre were penalised in the College goal. The final score was Teachers’ College 34. Community Centre 32. Referee.- Mrs 1,. Webb. Sacred Heart v. Kakatai

Frequent infringements, laborious passing, and poor ball handling prevented either team attaining combination, and although the presence of the TV cameras may be some excuse for the initial uncertainty, it soon became apparent that New Zealand's gain of four Canterbury players is acutely felt at club level. Both Kakatai and Sacred Heart, without J. Blair and J. Martin, are weakened. Kakatai gained a slight advantage in the early stages mainly through the superior shooting of its forward, L. Price, but defence infringements cost it possession and Sacred Heart’s new forward combination of P. Rea and C. Brady commenced to function with some semblance of assurance when their shots from penalties were netted and scores were levelled at 4-all. Although play from set moves

failed often, both teams were resourceful in defence, and Sacred Heart’s N. Morrow and J Ryall were able to restrain the Kakatai forwards for long periods in this half. Kakatai occasionally gave glimpses of its strength, but their faulty defence tactics were capably exploited by the Sacred Heart forwards, who goaled well from penalty shots to make the halftime score 12-all. Sacred Heart’s J. Ryall swiftly intercepted Kakatal’s throwoff to give Sacred Heart an early advantage, and C. Brady goaled skilfully to place Sacred Heart in the lead. Sacred Heart’s M. Hall. N. Fahey, and D. Evans were keeping Kakatai’s able centres most subdued, but hard-won scoring chances for their forwards were not netted and slowly Kakatai strengthened its hold on the game. The Kakatai forwards were given greater support in the closing stages, and In spite of the lively and tenacious defence offered by the youthful Sacred Heart pair, Kakatai won by 28 goals to 21. Referee: Miss C. Brown. Technical v. St. Nicholas

Technical's moves went smoothly in the opening stages of the game, and it moved into a 5-3 lead. But St. Nicholas netted four consecutive goals and took the lead by 7 goals to It was soon evident that play was going to be particularly even. as Technical’s attack strengthened, and St. Nicholas found its moves countered. St. Nicholas was not passirw with its customary skill, and Technical was quick to turn errors to advantage, with C. Brown and A Boelee dominating the centre court, with strong support from S. Langrope. The St. Nicholas forwards, J. Cusdin and K. French, were capable shots, but their positional play was often faulty and this enabled Technical to even the score at 15-all. Scoring continued even until half-time, when Technical led, 19-18. In the second spell, St. Nicholas. with grand defensive play by M. Croesen and B. Smith, managed to level scores at 22all and then gained a slight lead. B. Smith had to be replaced because of injury, and St. Nicholas seemed to grow indecisive in Its play, and Technical won back the lead.

A fine save by N. Blomquist, however, seemed to spur St. Nicholas on and for the first time in this game it began to show the teamwork which has eluded It in recent games. Technical’s lead of four goals was reduced, but tightening up play it was able to contain St. Nicholas’s late dash, and won by 37 goals to 33. Referee; Mrs F. Gough.

Sub-Associations’ Team

The following have been selected to represent Canterbury Sub-associations at the New Zealand basketball tournament to be held at Rotorua in August: N. Kingsbury, K. Butt (Banks Peninsula), B. Humm, F. Barclay, R. Pickering (Lincoln), M. Denton, A. Uren (Hurunul). P. Didham, M. Scoltock (North Canterbury).