BASKETBALL TEAM HAS STRENGTH, EXPERIENCE

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30499, 22 July 1964, Page 15

BASKETBALL TEAM HAS STRENGTH, EXPERIENCE

JUDGING by the high calibre of some of the players who failed to gain selection, the Canterbury women’s basketball team for this season’s big matches should be a formidable one. With so many well-qualified players available the selectors (Mrs A. Nichol, Mrs O. Shannahan and Miss H. Yates) were faced With a difficult task. Five players well up to representative standard who were unlucky to be left out were E. Hook (St. Nicholas), J. Kimbar (Technical), M. Neiman (New Brighton), C. Price (West), and N. Gilligan (Sacred Heart). The chosen players should make a well-balanced side. There will be no fears on the

score of experience. The only player who has not previously represented Canterbury is the Sacred Heart goal-keeper, K. O’Reilly, but

she has played for South Canterbury. She is a sound defence, excels in tight marking and gives away few penalties. The side will be captained by C. Brown (Technical), a hard-workir" defence who intercepts well. B. Winter (Technical), who first represented Canterbury while still at school three years ago, has shown great improvement this season, S. Langrope (Teachers’ College), a wing defence, has not been prominent in club games but earned her place on trial form. She is not afraid to try for interceptions and is quick to seize on a missed pass.

Another player. who earned her place through sound performances in the trials was H. Hutton (West). A good handler and very fit, she can play centre, wing attack or defence. The Canterbury forward line is also the New Zealand forward line—P. Edmonds (Technical), J. Blair (New Brighton), J. Martin (Sacred Heart) and C. McMaster (West). The Canterbury selectors prefer Martin as goal attack and Blair as wing attack, Martin being more accurate with her goal shooting this season. McMaster continues to shoot well and Edmonds is reliable in the centre. Miss H. Yates will again coach the team. Its first matches will be at the South Island tournament at Invercargill on August 1.