Accent On Experience In N.Z. Basketball Team

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31333, 1 April 1967, Page 11

Accent On Experience In N.Z. Basketball Team

TF experience in represen--1 tative basketball counts for anything, the 10 players in the New Zealand women’s team should give a creditable performance in the world tournament in Perth in August Among the 10 are three former New Zealand representatives, J. Blair and J. Harnett (both Canterbury), and M. Solomon (Rotorua), one former South Island representative, A. Boelee (Canterbury), and two North Island representatives, S. James (Northland) and T. Vercoe (Rotorua). The other four members of the team have all represented their provinces. The team, which will be managed by Miss E. Yates (Canterbury), and coached by Mrs T. Jamison (Rotorua), was picked from 22

trialists after two-day trials over Easter. It will leave New Zealand for Australia in July. J. Blair is the most experienced of the Canterbury contingent She is 25 years old and has represented Canterbury from 1955-66, with the exception of 1965. She was a member of the New Zealand teams of 1960 and 1963, and has also played for the South Island for six years. Another former New Zealand representative from Canterbury, J. Harnett, represented Canterbury for five yean, and also held South Island honoun for five years. She played for New Zealand in 1963. Mrs Harnett has badminton as her second sport, and represented Canterbury in a B grade team in 1965. A former school teacher, A. Boelee, the other Canterbury member of the side, has played representative basketball for five years, appearing for both Canterbury and Otago. She was a

South Island representative in 1961-63-66. All the Canterbury team members are married and each has a small child. The three women should provide a strong nucleus for the touring team, having played together in Canterbury teams for a number of years. The other Canterbury trialist, C. Holland, was among the 16 finalists. Rotorua has also three women in the team, and this should provide excellent incentive for strong play. Rotorua is noted for its fast and aggressive style. M. Solomon, a physical education teacher, is a former New Zealand representative (1963), and a highly accomplished sportswoman. As well as playing for Thames Valley, Auckland,

Rotorua and the North Island in basketball, she has represented Rotorua in indoor basketball, softball and tennis. Miss Solomon was an executive member of the Rotorua basketball association for three years, and has coached schools’ teams since 1961. T. Vercoe is also a member of the- Rotorua association, and has played for ■ Rotorua for seven years. She has been a selectorcoach for the Rotorua third grade side since 1964. Miss Vercoe has also played representative tennis for Rotorua. Miss Vercoe’s twin sister, Edie, was also a trialist. She missed a place, but made the final 16. A school teacher and former representative swimmer, B. J. Irwin, has also wide basketball experience. She has played for Rotorua for five years and has been an international for four. She was vice-captain of the 1966 New Zealand team.

Miss Irwin is a third grade selector and a referee. The only Northland member of the team, S. James, is also a school teacher. At 21, she is one of the younger members of the team, and this is only her second year in representative play. Miss James represented Auckland in. swimming from 1958 to 1963. M. Gardiner, from Southland, is also among the younger members. She is 20 and has represented the South Island for five years. The other Southland member, E. Rowley, is the youngest, in the team. She is 18, and has been playing for-Southland since she was 16. P, Hamilton, the only player from Auckland in the side, is in her second year

of representative matches. She captains the Auckland Bank of New Zealand team, and has greatability In defensive interceptions. As yet the positions the players will take have not been decided,' and these, with the captain and the vice-captain, will be announced later by the New Zealand Association. All the players are .well qualified to play internationally, but the problem still to be faced is moulding the players into an efficient unit This should be achieved in the 10 days of intensive practice the team will have before it leaves New Zealand, and by the preliminary games in Australia, leading up to the world tournament in August.