University B Top Basketball

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30814, 28 July 1965, Page 18

University B Top Basketball

The final round of the Canter bury A grade men’s basketball competition last evening produced several entertaining games but none contained more interest than the magnificent struggle between Y-Boys and Rangiora.

For the first time this season, Y-Boys maintained its match temperament while under pressure in the closing minutes to win narrowly. 35-31. It was only its second win of the season, the worst the club has ever experienced. The previous lowest placing in the competition for Y-Boys was fourth. By defeating its A team. 33-17, University B won the competition by five points from Y.M.C.A. In the other games. Y.M.C.A. defeated Old Boys, 41-35, and Rex beat Orients. 47-40.

Final points are: University B 31, Y.M.C.A. 26. University A 21, Old Boys 17. Rex 16, Burnham *6, Rangiora 6. Orients 6, Y-Bovs 5.

Grasped All Chances Although the standard of basketball played was not always as high as it might have been, the match between Y-Boys and Rangiora was played in a very tense atmosphere. Like the drowning man clutching at a straw, Y-Boys desperately

grasped all their chance and were Anally rewarded with their second win of the season.

In the early stages. Y Boys had almost complete control and at half-time led. 17-10. How ever, the side struck a sticky patch early in the second spell and it was not long before Rangiora was within a point of levelling the score. In the vital final 5 minutes, Bangiora's K Spark suddenly began sinking his long Jump shots and his side moved into a two-point lead. At this stage the game seemed ail over for Y-Boys but they desperately applied more pressure and with barely a minute to go regained their lead. In attempting to apply a full court press, Ranglora's defence suffered. allowing A. Wilson to sink a set shot from the top of the keyhole to put the issue beyond doubt. C. Harley accomplished the difficult task of guarding the Canterbury representative, R Spark, well. If his scoring rate iwas below usual, it was only | because of the constant attention he gave to Spark. Y-Boys played the entire game with only five players but all con|trlbuted towards the win. K. Baker, in particular, showed a

welcome return to form with his shooting. Spark and M. Callaghan were the two most prominent Rangiora performers, but it was the very defensively-minded K. Davidson who thwarted many a promising Y-Boys move. Y-Boys 35 (K. Baker 12. R Dew 9. A. Wilson 8. C. Harley 6). Rangiora 31 (R. Spark 12. M. Callaghan 10. G. Norris 6, D. I Greig 2, K. Henderson 1). Result in Doubt Old Boys provided unexpectedly strong opposition to Y.M.C.A.’s attempts to score from set moves and refused to be run oft its feet by full court presses. The first half was played at a furious pace, but Old Boys grimly hung on. The pace was slower in the second spell, and the final result was in doubt until very near the end. Y.M.C.A. 41 (R. Entwistle 14. J. Smith 10, N. Saunders 8. J. Snencer 8. P Ross 3, R. Hignett 2). Old Boys 35 (K. Milligan 10. G. Orchard 6t R. Milligan 16, A. Hounsell 5. J. Francis 4. R Thomson 2, P. Bell 2).

University A managed to hold its more experienced B team in the first spell, although it was well beaten in the second. University B tightened its de

fence in the second half, allowing University A to score onlysix points to its 19. A feature of the game was the 14 points scored by University B from fouls. University B 33 (R Zachariassen 15, W. E Smith 10, D Young 4. P. Jack 3. L. Anderson 1). University A 17 (C. Morris 6. J. Stead 3. B. Strong 2. R. Allan 2. G. Williams 2 M. Askew 2). After trailing, 14-18, at halftime, Rex gained the upper hand against Orients. Rex 47 (P. Lund-Jackson 20. G. Jones 8, B. Woolford 6. M. Harley 5. D. Very 4. R. Pfenniger 2 J. McEvoy 2), Orients 40 (B. Whittaker 20, d. Hil 12. C. Chee 4, B. Lee 2, P. Kim 2). The A grade teams will begin a knock-out tournament next Tuesday. Lower grade results Under 20.—Shirley H.S. A 14, Riccarton A 11: Christ’s College A 36. Y-Boys F 12; Christchurch B.H.S. A 18. St. Andrew's College 18: St. Andrew’s B 23, Christ’s College B 17; West II S. 24. Christchurch B.H.S. B 20; Shirley H.S. B 13. Rex E 5. Senior Reserve.—Y.M.C.A. B 44, Y-Boys B 31; Orients B 36. Rex B 26; Wigram 48. Rangiora B 24; YMC A. C 37. H. 5.0.8 C 32.