Queensland Men's Basketball Tourists Face Strong Combination Tonight

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30820, 4 August 1965, Page 15

Queensland Men's Basketball Tourists Face Strong Combination Tonight

TF Queensland is expecting x an easy win in the third game of its New Zealand tour against a Canterbury invitation line-up in

Cowles Stadium this evening then it might be surprised.

For the team which challenges the might of the wiry Queenslanders is no ordinary Canterbury side. With the inclusion of two of the game’s most prolific scorers, D. Charlett (Nelson) and L. Pearson (Otago), as well as the New Zealand representative, D. C. Sharp (Otago), it will be as strong as any the tourists will meet outside of test matches. It is a team of enormous potential and under the capable guidance of the Canterbury coach (Mr P. Doogue) it could rise magnificently to the occasion. There is no doubt that if the Canterbury team fails to topple the visitors, it will not be for lack of trying. The teams are:—

CANTERBURY.— M. Askew, D. Charlett, R. Entwistle, C. Morris, L. Pearson. D. Sharp, J. Smith, R. Zachariassen. QUEENSLAND.— F. Edwards (captain and coach), B. Flynn, D. MacKereth. K. Sugars, D. Wilkins, R. Birkett, G. Pollock, I. Birkett, N. de Zolt, R. Griggs.

It is obvious that Canterbury will start as the underdog. It is equally obvious that the home team will suffer from a considerable height disadvantage. The Queenslanders have an average height of Mt lin with three players 6ft 4in or taller. In contrast, the tallest member of the Canterbury invitation team would be about 6ft lin. But the Canterbury team long ago mastered the .-.rt of attacking the basket from below. If the individual players can beat their opponents by speed, then the home side may find M only real disadvantage will be in rebound play. All but one of the invitation team, Askew, have won South Island honours this season. The first line-up, Entwistle, Charlett, Pearson, Morris and Zachariassen, is identical to that which first took the court for the South Island against the South Australians earlier this season. '

Much of Canterbury’s fortune will depend on the form displayed by Entwistle in the vital centre position. I’ he can repeat his performance of scoring 23 points for

the South Island against South Australia, Canterbury will be well on the way to obtaining its first victory over an international touring side. The Queensland team is not considered to be quite as strong as South Australia, which was unbeaten on tour, but it is still a very fine combination. Its captain and coach, Edwards, has no peer as a tactician while Sugars has the reputation of being one of the most prolific scorers in the country. One of the oldest tourists, 29-year-old R. Birkett, has a remarkably long set shot making him a potential scoring danger from the halfway mark. The tallest

player is de Zolt, who is 6ft sin and weighs more than 14st. He has a very accurate jump shot, effective from within 20ft of the basket. However, the visitor on whom Canterbury’s chances might rise or fall is 25-year-old I. Birkett. A centre or forward, he was the top scorer at the last Austradian championships and a surprise omission from the Olympic team. A brother of R. Birkett, he is an exceptionally aggressive player and a brilliant rebounder. His height, 6ft 4in, gives him a great advantage in this department and he has the ability to make best use of it.