Shot From Half-way Gives Y-Boys Victory

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31677, 13 May 1968, Page 15

Shot From Half-way Gives Y-Boys Victory

A tremendous two-handed shot from almost half way by K. E. Williams gave Y-Boys a narrow onepoint win over Y.M.C.A. in the fifth round of the Canterbury A grade men’s basketball competition on Saturday afternoon. This left Y-Boys, the only unbeaten team in the competition, with a clear lead of two points. Before the game Y-Boys and the defending champion side, Y.M.C.A., were level on six points. The clash between these two fine teams was a tense, tight affair with both defending superbly and all but cancelling each other out The low final score of 25 points to 24 in favour of Y-Boys was a direct result of this, but the unexpectedly large crowd fully appreciated the importance of this match to both teams.

So enthralled with the struggle were they that when Williams sank his match winning long shot in the last second of the game they eould hold themselves back no longer. They streamed onto the court and unprecedented scenes of congratulation—something normally reserved for the winning team in a Rugby test match—took place. Williams was lifted in the air and Y-Boys players were completely swamped. However, the match could have so easily gone the other way. In fact, when Y.M.CA. was one point ahead with half a minute to go and when P. Ross was fouled by R. Dew the game seemed well and truly over. Ross was given two free throws and could have quite easily taken up the full halfminute without bother. Instead, be sportingly took them without wasting time and missed both. In the ensuing melee Williams goth the ball and from an impossible position shot the winning goal. It was a finish which will long remain in the memories of all who saw it

The other two games went much as expected, although Old Maroons took a long while to subdue a much improved Rex team. Old Maroons finally won 37-26 but not before a few anxious moments in both spells. University A comfortably beat Burnham, 52-30. Points after five rounds are: —Y-Boy 8, Y.M.C.A. 6, Old Maroons 6, University 4, Old Boys 4, Burnham 2, Rex 0. tram effort V-BOYS 23: C. Morris 6. K. Williams 4, N. Vincent 4. K. Ewings 4. B. Dew 3. K. Baker 2, W. Morgan 2. Y.M.C.A. 34: M. Clements 6, D. Rattray 5, R. Millard 4. J. I McNaught 3. P. Ross 3. D. Symonds 2. M. Busch 1. Those who expected a torrid nruggle in this battle for the competition lead could hardly have been disappointed. Every player on the court was closely marked. In the early stages Y.M.C.A. looked the better team on attack and with a lead of 13-1 at half time seemed set for victory. Bowever. Y-Boys rallied well tn the second spell and with a semi-full court press on most of the time boat Y.M.C.A. at Its own game. The shots started to come and with five minutes to go scores were level at 17-all. Y.M.C-A. fought back brilliantly and took the lead again. They held it narrowly until the final second when K Williams sank his match winning goal for Y-Boys. On their second-half showing. Y-Boys deserved to win. The game rarely flowed but every member of the team pulled his weight. Points were very evenly

spread and nobody really stood out more than anybody else. N. Vincent played one of his best games this season and C. Morris was a tower of strength in mid* court. Williams was virtually marked out of the game but when the chips were down he came through in wonderful fashion.

Y.M.C ju’s game was evary bit as much a team effort. There were no stars. It was perhaps rather disturbing to note the large number of free shots missed—l2 out of 20—and the majority of these were taken by representative players. R. Millard. Y.M.C.A.’s Oft 7in centre, had a very bad day. D. Rattray and M. Clements were the most productive members and P. Ross deserved greater reward for the amount of work he accomplished REX IMPROVES OLD MAROONS ST: J. Edyvean 12; W. Smith 10. K. Pricker 8, J. Riley 5. A. McCombs 2. REX 2b: G. Jones 9, P. LundJackson 7, D. Danielson 4, J. McEvoy 2, D. Verey 2. G. Daly 2. Although comfortably beaten, Rex had no need to feel disheartened about this game. It had the Old Maroons players very worried for a long time and was never out-classed. It was, nevertheless, a pity that it persevered with a zone defence rather than use the more entertaining man-to-man system. Its zone was effective enough but it encouraged a negative form of play which neither players nor spectators enjoyed. Other aspects of Rex’s play were quite impressive. In the first half scores were level at 8-all with five minutes to go, although in the remaining minutes a slight lapse enabled Old Maroons to shoot ahead to a 21-8 lead at half-time. Rex challenged again in the second half but towards the end Old Maroons once more began scoring freely. J. Edyvean and

W. Smith were the outstanding players for Old Maroons. G. Jones was Rex's most impressive player. He set up play well and showed ability to score baskets which the others lacked. TDD STRONG UNIVERSITY A S 3: G. Nock 12. A. P. Taylor 11, P. Sharp 9. R. Thompson 8, R. J. Utley 8, H. Kawaguchi 4. BURNHAM 30: B. D. Watson 11, P. Trass S, J. Pederson 4, A. Morgan 4, B. G. Rose 3, M. Simons 2, Both teanU were without key players but University proved too strong tn all departments. It led 26-7 at half-time. Burnham came to light well In the second spell. Unfortunately, it was too late and the Students were able to hold on to thetr first-half lead without difficulty. A lower grade player, G. Nock, played well for University and P. Sharp, in his first A grade game of the season, was also impressive. However, it was A. P. Taylor who stole the limelight in the team. The standard of his play was excellent. B D. Watson was Burnham’s chief attacking force and he did his job well. P. Trass also played well. LOWER GRADES

A Reserve: Y-Boys E 22. Orients B 20; 1.8. M. A 19. University B 14; Ranglora A 56. Orients A 20. B Grade: Old Boys B 44. Christchurch B.H.S. A 22: Taxes A 42, Y.M.C.A. C 29; Y-Boys B SO, Cashmere H.S. 31. B Reserve: University G 30, Taxes B 9; Burnham A 19. Bex C 18; University F 20. Ranglora B 12. C Grade: Wigram-Police 32, Burnham B 25; University D 45, Stars A 32: Y-Boys C 28, N.A.C. A 21. C Reserve: Y-Boys D 16. Burnsco B 13: Orients C 20. Ranglora D 14; Lincoln College and St Andrew’s College' both defaulted. D Grade; N.A.C. B 36, Stars B 10: Christchurch B.H.S. B beat Mairehau H.B. B by default; University E 58. Old Boys D 51. Under 20: Christ's College 17, Shirley B.H.S. 16: Hagley H.S. 27, Y.M.C.A. D 14: St Andrew's A 37. Mairehau A 20; St Andrew’s B 20, Shirley B.H.S. A 10.