Top basketbailers seeking higher honours in important S.I. trial

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32304, 23 May 1970, Page 9

Top basketbailers seeking higher honours in important S.I. trial

(By

R. O. DEW)

■VINETEEN of the South ’ Island’s most outstanding men's basketball players will endeavour to display their finest skills in a highly competitive battle for recognition before the New Zealand selector-coach (Mr T. Wright, of Nelson), today and tomorrow at Cowles Stadium. Termed a regional coaching clinic but in reality a trial, the activities over, the two days are designed to assist Mr Wright in the selection of the New Zealand team to play Czechoslovakia later in the season. The third of three regional trials, it provides those with aspirations of wearing the silver fern with their most important hurdle so farone which no more than 10 are likely to clear. The target for all this week-end will be to win a place in the final trial, to be held in Wellington on June 13 and 14. This will take the form of a North Island-South Island encounter and the indications are that 10 from each island will be chosen. It is possible that some North Island players will be included in the South Island team, although this would obviously detract from the interest of the match. But this will only be done if the players in this weekend’s trial fail to reach the required standards. Mr Wright will coach the South Island team and the national junior coach, Mr C. P. Dyson, will coach the North Island

In the trial which begins this morning Canterbury is well represented by eight players and the provincial selector-coach (Mr G. D. Dempsey), is hopeful that a high percentage of these will move on to the final trial. “Impressions made this week-end will be very important,” he said yesterday.

The eight are T. Guthrie, A. Hounsell, M. Clements, P. Stigley, K. Hessell, J. Fairweather, R. Millard and J. Culliford. All deserve their chance, although Clements was rather fortunate to be chosen considering he is not playing for his province this season.

Last year Stigley was the only Canterbury player to be chosen for the New Zealand tournament team. With his now considerable experience and his height of 6ft 4in, he seems to stand the best chance of winning a place in the national team. For a tall player he is very mobile and there is no

doubt that Mr Wright is already impressed by his ability. But the other Canterbury trialists are not playns who will be discarded easily. All of them are probably good enough for a place in the South Island team for the final trial, although it is fairly obvious that no more than five or six will be chosen. T. Guthrie is one player who should enhance his reputation. Although not yet a starter for the Canterbury team, he has probably developed into the outstanding guard in the province

this season. His ability to fight his way up the court with the ball through a full court press has never been in question and this year he has displayed hitherto unsuspected attacking qualities as well. On several occasions already this season, he has been the outstanding figure in representative matches. Mr Wright is believed to be looking for determined speedsters, players who can work a full court press for an entire game without their own standards falling away. In this respect, Hessell could be the type he is looking for. He probably still has room to sharpen up slightly but there is no doubt that he has the ability to reach the highest levels. Culliford, Canterbury’s captain for the last two years, lacks a little fine: although his great determination to succeed and hard driving play are bound to catch Mr Wright’s attention. In certain situations, a man of Culliford’s type can be invaluable and this point is unlikely to be missed by Mr Wright, an astute judge of basketball ability!

For some years now, Hounsell has obviously been on the verge of national selection. He went close as a centre three years ago but his comparative lack of height—he is 6ft 2in—went against him. Since then he has played as a forward and the progress he has made as a long distance shooter has been amazing. He was the highest seorer at club level in the province last season and might repeat this achievement this season. Unfortunately, Hounsell appears to lack speed but in actual fact he can move deceptively fast. He was only a late addition to the trial (with Guthrie and Clements) but today could put himself back in favour with a sound performance.

Although only 18 and with his best years still In front, Fairweather might well find himself in the national team as a form of insurance for the future. At 6ft 4in he has sufficient height to give him an advantage over many of his rivals, he is well co-ordinated and is one of the highest scoring young players in the country at present. He might have to switch from the centre to a forward position but this should present no problem to him. He was named as the outstanding colt in New Zealand last season and toured Australia with the national colts side. Since his arrival in Christchurch from Otago, he has matured considerably under the guidance of the former South Island centre, R. Entwhistle. A very hard worker, Clements has served Canterbury well in recent seasons and no doubt will again when he makes himself available, probably next year. He has an accurate set shot and at club level has this season displayed qualities of leadership which were previously missing from his play. Millard, at 6ft 6in, has already represented New Zealand as a colt but his career in the police force has made it difficult for him to train on the regular basis he would like and his progress has not been as rapid as it once promised to be. However, he can be invaluable under offensive and defensive backboards. Players from outside Christchurch who will be watched carefully include the brilliant young Otago representative guard, J. McDonald, who scored 30 points against Canterbury a

few weeks ago, his 6ft 3in team-mate, L. Armstrong, who has impressed with his ability in the rebound department, D. Taylor, a veteran New Zealand representative from Nelson, and M. Taylor, also of Nelson. Another player who is unlikely to go unnoticed is R. Grubb (Southland). He is 6ft lOin, the tallest player In the country. This morning the trialists will attend a coaching clinic conducted by the outstanding American coach (Mr A. Auerbach) and the captain

of the Boston Celtics, J. Havlicek. This evening a team of trialists will play a Canterbury invitation team at 6.45. This will be followed by a film and a match between another group of trialists and another invitation team. Havlicek is expected to play in one of the invitation teams. Tomorrow the trialists will take part in another coaching clinic which will be followed at 3 p.m. by a match between two teams of trialists.