Many new faces in mens basketball

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31645, 3 April 1968, Page 13

Many new faces in mens basketball

'THERE will be many new 1 faces in the Canterbury A grade men’s basketball competition which begins at Cowles Stadium on Saturday afternoon, but it seems unlikely that there will be any great change in the balance of power from previous seasons.

Y.M.C.A. won the championship last season after a tremendous struggle with University A, and it is probable that these two will again be the main contenders. High School Old Boys. Old Maroons, which was formerly University B, and YBoys are likely to have a three-way struggle for third place, with Burnham and Rex filling the last two positions. Most teams have lost players and Y.M.C.A. is no exception. R. Entwistle, undoubtedly the most talented centre in Canterbury in recent years, has retired. He was the highest scorer in the A grade club competitions last season and his calm guiding hand will be greatly missed by Y.M.C.A. However, the team has been fortunate to gain the services of the young 6ft 7in giant, R. Millard, who toured Australia with the New Zealand junior team last season. He still has a lot to learn but obviously has a great future. The first line-up will probably be M. Busch, the “Player of the Year” last season, D. Rattray, M. Clements, the New Zealand invitation player, P. Ross, and Millard. Five others are in the running for the last two places. This season the team will be coached by Mr A. Riley,

a member of the team and a Canterbury B representative last season.

University A has not yet selected its team but the first five are likely to be J. Stead, P. Stigley, J. Culliford, J. Uttley and D. de Lisle. Uttley and Culliford were chosen for the New Zealand junior team last season and the other three all played for New Zealand Universities. G. Williams and M. Askew are two notable absentees from the team. Both have left Christchurch. Mr A. Forrester will coach the team once again but he has indicated that it will be his last season. For the first time University’s second A grade team will be known as Old Maroons. It consists mainly of players not eligible for the university’s tournament team. W. Smith, a former New Zealand trialist, will lead the side which will have a distinct Otago flavour. Three of its players, J. Edyvean, A. Fricker and A. Haulston, played for Otago last season. J. Riley is one of the few remaining from last year’s team. Others in line for selection are E. Retter, who played for Hamilton last season, and G. Landels, a Nelson representative in 1967. J. Lorentz is also under consideration.

Y-Boys have been strengthened considerably by the outstanding New Zealand guard, C. Morris, who has switched from University. K. Baker, a former Canterbury representative, is also playing seriously after two seasons of social basketball

and could be an asset. Otherwise the team will be the same as last year. K. E. Williams, a former Nelson and Otago representative, will be player-coach and R. Dew will again be captain.

K. Ewings will fill the centre position again. Others in the team are N. Vincent and an American, D. Toeliner.

Old Boys will be about he same strength as last season, although its high scoring forward, G. Orchard, has moved to Auckland. The coach, Mr R. Milligan, does not expect to select his team finally before the first two games but will have five of last year’s players— A. Hounsell, K. Milligan, K. Luxton, M. Gleason and P. Bell—to choose from. Several schoolboys, including, T. Guthrie, R. Skurr, I. Simpson and S. Taggart, are also under serious consideration. Whatever the final selections are, Old Boys should have no difficulty in reaching the same high standard it set last season.

In recent years Burnham has not been strong but better things could be in store. It has a large number of new young players and its new coach, Mr D. A. de Felice, has the ability to bring out the best in them. G. Costello and B. Watson, two of the key members of last season’s team, should fit in well with the new men. Rex had a wretched season last year and could be struggling to improve its position this year. It has had a few minor gains but J. McEvoy and G. Jones should still provide the core of the attack. P. Ward, a former Canterbury representative, and D. Verey, have also been named in the first team. Jones will coach the team.

In the first round on Saturday Y-Boys will play Old Boys, University A will play Old Maroons and Burnham will meet Rex. Y.M.C.A. has the bye.