Fresh Approach By Canterbury At Basketball Tournament

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30838, 25 August 1965, Page 13

Fresh Approach By Canterbury At Basketball Tournament

CANTERBURY'S preparation for the 1965 New Zealand basketball tournament which began at South Hagley Park yesterday has been painstaking and thorough and Canterbury supporters were most heartened to observe the determination and endurance displayed by this year's team during the South Island quadrangular tournament held in Dunedin recently. That the 1964 team failed to achieve the high standard set by previous Canterbury sides is now history and the Canterbury selectors (Miss H. Yates. Mrs O. Shannahan and Mrs A. Nichol) have derived considerable benefit from the lessons learned on the windy and often rain-swept courts at Memorial Park, Dunedin.

First and foremost and probably the factor which is most vital in tournament Play, this year’s Canterbury team is superbly fit. Mr A. S. Lewis, physical education officer at Canterbury University. has been in charge of this aspect of the team's Preparation. It was most apparent during the South island tournament when key players were fie’ded in all three games that their preparation had been painstaking and thorough. During the New Zealand tournament. Mr Lewis and the Physical Education Branch of the University of Canterbury. with the co-operation of the Canterbury Sports Medicine Association, will conduct a survey of certain physical factors which might influence basketbail playing ability in all first grade teams taking part in the tournament. This survey, initiated by the Canterbury selectors, is just one of the decisive steps taken to combat the apparent inertia which affected Canterbury last year. Although North Island Critics asserted that Can-

terbury’s performance last vear reflected a decline, Canterbury players and administrators are confident that the two-goal deficit which cost the team victory against Rotorua last year will be easily overcome. But it is an undeniable fact that Rotorua, last year’s premier team, will prove again a most difficult team to beat. Almost unchanged from last year's side and recently

returned from a most successful Australian tour, Rotorua, a predominantly Maori side, is a team which basketball enthusiasts enjoy watching in action. Unlike Canterbury, it favours the fast, attacking game, but observers at Dunedin last year noticed that in key games it frequently relied on the more deliberate type of play which used to be Canterbury’s trademark, but which has not been much in evidence since the New Zealand tour of Britain. Most sound in defence, full of thrust in the centre and formidable in the forward area where M. Solomon's shooting enjoyed almost total freedom from interception by opposing defence, Rotorua is a team

which can be relied upon again to give the tournament colour and zest. Last year’s runner-up, Southland, served notice in Dunedin that it will prove a worthy opponent. Under the coaching of Miss D. Baird, surely one of the Dominion’s great basketball tacticians. Southland is a well-drilled side and has mastered the art of guarding. The side’s ability in

the forward area is slightly suspect; at Dunedin its 15 missed shots in the first half of the game against Canterbury proved costly. Again in the afternoon game against Otago, its shooting under pressure was often faulty. But it could be that Southland did not display all its wares at Dunedin; last year’s impassive goal attack, D. Fahey, was not used in this position, and it would be surprising if a player of her calibre was permanently relegated to wing-attack or wing-defence.

Although sideline coaching is not permitted in basketball, Miss Baird is definitely one of the tournament personalities, as she entreats and urges her team throughout every minute of play.

Her familiar cry “Come away, Red” often contains the hint of a threat, but it certainly gives Southland the impetus it needs to win. There was little disparity between Canterbury, Otago and Southland in the South Island tournament, but Otago on that occasion was not at full strength; its captain, the accomplished M. Gardiner was unable to

play because of injury, and Otago, even without this capable forward, thoroughly tested both Southland and Canterbury. Providing Miss Gardiner is fit and able to play in Christchurch, Otago can be counted on to cause some upsets. The form of North Island teams is difficult to forecast but Wellington, Auckland, Matamata and Northland, particularly the latter, will all field experienced teams capable of achieving championship honours.

This year’s Canterbury team appears to have thrown off the lethargy which it succumbed to last year. With C. McMaster, J. Kimber and the versatile J. Martin dis-

playing a pleasing degree of attacking competence, much will depend on the soundness of Canterbury’s centre and defence thirds. For without doubt, Canterbury was plagued last year by the lack of uniformity in referees’ interpretations of the ruling which permits defence players to attempt to intercept shots at goal. The Canterbury defence only infrequently enjoyed the freedom its opponents did. Therefore much will depend on Canterbury’s ability to eliminate defence mistakes and at the same time check its opponents’ attacks. In C. Brown, Canterbury’s astute captain, K, Price. S. Jones and C. Holland, Canterbury has very determined defensive players; whether they will also develop and improve during the hard tournament games ahead remains to be seen. The centre third poses few problems. S. Langrope, M. Hansen and H. Hutton, particularly the latter, are flexible and competent players, particularly in defensive play; more thrust on attack and better use of hard won interceptions could make them outstanding. Canterbury has won the national title 13 times since 1945 and if enthusiasm and keenness were the only factors needed to prove that the team’s overthrow at Dunedin last year was not the forerunner of a general decline, then Canterbury supporters could relax. But there is nothing more testing and gruelling than five' days of New Zealand tournament basketball, where results are so unpredictable and where basketball-is seen at its brilliant best.