Y.M.C.A. Has Win In Men’s Basketball

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31340, 10 April 1967, Page 15

Y.M.C.A. Has Win In Men’s Basketball

A well balanced playing pattern gave Y.M.C.A. a fine 37-31 win over University B in the opening round of the A grade men’s basketball competition on Saturday. This marked it as a serious contender for the title it narrowly missed last year.

In the main game, University A and Y-Boys, the top and bottom teams, respectively, last season produced basketball that had its moments but was rather patchy over-all. Y-Boys began with great promise, and for a while held the lead, but by half-time the outcome was practically beyond doubt. University A finally won 44-24. The third A grade game between Burnham and Rex was undoubtedly the spectacle of the afternoon. There was never much betwen them, although Rex generally held a slight lead. Right on time Rex was leading 34-33, but a silly foul a split second before the final whistle gave Burnham two free throws.

The Canterbury representative, G. I. Costello, missed one but made no mistake with the other to draw the game, 34all.

Y.M.C.A. 37: R. Entwistle 14, M. Busch 6, P. Rose 6. M. Clements 4, D. Rattray 4, C. Walton 2, D. Symonds 1. University B 31: W. E. Smith 14, C. Morris 8, I. Kawagushi 4, J. Riley 2, B. Strong 2, J. Utley 1.

Under the direction of its capable American player-coach, M. Busch, Y.M.C.A. gave a display which any team could have been proud of. The Uni* versify players showed consider* able individual ability but on the day they were unable to match the co-ordination of Y.M.C.A. Y.M.C.A. never had a very substantial lead at any stage, however, and it would only have required a couple of passing lapses at a vital moment to change the balance of power. Its control in a tense game, one which could well have a bearing on the final outcome of the competition, was admirable. The outstanding player in the Y.M.C.A. side was undoubtedly the multiple Canterbury representative, Entwistle. But the rest of his team, especially Busch and Ross, all did their part, too. As expected it was the two experienced players, Smith and Morris, who made the deepest impression in the University side. They scored 22 points between them and often did more than their share of work on defence. The rest of the students did not score freely, mainly because a sound defence prevented them getting their shots away cleanly. Fundamental Univarsity A M: M. Askew 10. P. Stlgley 9, J. Culliford 9, J. Stead 5, D. de Lisle 5, G. Williams 4, B. Hepenstall 2. Y-Boys 24: K. E. Williams 9, R. Dew 7, K. Ewings 4, T. Reece 2. As this game progressed It became increasingly obvious that Y-Boys had a fundamental problem to clear up before they could become a serious threat in the top grade. Promising movements constantly broke down simply because a player progressed. Dew and Ewings were particularly bad. Had it not* been for this the

outcome would have been much closer, although University A was still the better team and made good use of its considerable height advantage. For a variety of reasons, Including influenza and injury, neither side played as well as it had the previous Saturday against the South Island colts.

University lacked co-ordina-tion and concentration and there was little team effort involved in their win. Y-Boys showed that they had a number of excellent moves but these rarely worked because of some silly mistake by a vital man.

Askew, Stigley and Culliford all showed flashes of brilliance for University. K. Williams was most prominent in the Y-Boys side, although most of his time was spent in mid court directing play. If the little problems at present stifling its progress are quickly eliminated, Y-Boys should win more games than they lose. University A led 21-10 at half time. Grandstand Burnham 34: G. J. Keelty. 10, G. Costello 7, B. D. Watson 6, J. W. Radford 3, L. D. Hornbrook 2. Rgx 34: J. Moosman 10, N. Saunders 6, G. Jones 5, D. Verey 5, M. Mackay 4, M. Allison 2, J. McEvoy 2. This was a game to excitp the most critical spectator, arid although there were some scrappy patches the standard was pleasingly high for this stage of the season. Neither side gave an inch throughout the game. Rex led 18-15 at half time and was just in front for most of the game, but in a grandstand finish Burnham pegged it back and drew the game with a free shot taken after the final whistle had gone. Keelty was in good form for Burnham, scoring almost half its points. Costello also played well. A new player to Christchurch basketball, J. Moosman, was the most prominent player in the Rex team. Lower Grades Other results were: Senior Reserve.—University C 25, Y-Boys B IS; B.H.S. A 45, H. B 18. B Grade.—H.S.O.B. D 43, YBoys C 38; University D 32, Toe H 18; N.A.C. 18, Rex 6; Stars A 37, B.H.S. B 17.