One-Point Win To Old Maroons In Basketball

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32359, 27 July 1970, Page 8

One-Point Win To Old Maroons In Basketball

Old Maroons entered the battle for the minor placings when they narrowly defeated Y.M.C.A., 58-57, in the tenth round of the Canterbury inter-club A grade men’s basketball competition in Cowles Stadium on Saturday.

Although the error rate was high and the scoring relatively slow, the game was a great spectacle, especially in the second half when the lead changed no less than 10 times.

Twice Y.M.C.A. edged out to what looked like a winning break, but on each occasion Old Maroons, inspired by the fine example set by their captain, J. Edyvean, fought back and in the end gained the two competition points needed to put them <>n the heels of the leading teams. The loss dropped Y.M.C.A. to fifth in the competition—its lowest position for manyyears—but it still has its ninth-round deferred match against Rangiora to play and

the teains in front of it cannot afford to rest easy. Checkers, which hold second place in the competition when the bye is taken into account, turned on a very poor display against the bottom team, Rangiora, and for three-quarters of the match struggled to stay level. It was only in the last five minutes that the team started to show any sparkle and raced ahead to win 75-60. In the third match, Old Boys had little difficulty accounting for Burnham, 73-53, although it was Burnham which set the initial scoring pace. University, the competition leader, had (he bye. Pointe after 10 rounds are: University 16, Checkers 16, Old Boys 10, Old Maroons 8, V.M.C.A. 6, Burnham i, Rangiora 0.

Close Contest OLD MAROONS SB: J Edyvean 21, I. Robertson 15, R. Syme 8, A; Freeman- 6, R Skurr 4. B. Lobb 4.

Y.M.C.A. ST: B. Hepenstall 16, R. Millard 15, D. Symonds 8, R. Joyce 7, M. Clements 7, H. Doggett 4.

With their most prolific scorer, W. Smith, sitting on the side-line with a badly split Anger, Old Maroons were not expected to beat Y.M.C.A. But Smith made good use of his many yeara of experience by taking over the coaching and under his guidance Old Maroons were able to match their opponents in every department. But the game could still have gone any way with the lead changing tn the Anal minutes almost with every shot. In the early stages, however. Y.M.C.A. looked the better team and at half-time it was ahead 23-18, and seemed set to improve on this in the second baif. Unfortunately, its play fell away badly when the game resumed and in less than three minutes Old Maroons were ahead, 24-23. In the middle stages Old Maroons' ball handling deteriorated and Y.M.C.A. edged to an eight-point lead but in three scrappy minutes it lost its chance and the two teams were back switching the lead with every basket. Edyvean played an outstanding game for Old Maroqns and with his solid driving Was the architect of victory. He scored at least three baskets in the last Ave minutes and seemed to have tbe measure of his Y.M.C.A. marker.

In the centre. Robertson also played one of bls best games. He rebounded well and although he had Y.M.C.A.’s 6ft 61n centre.

Millard, to contend with he managed to score 15 points. Heppenstall. who normally restrict* his scoring activities to long set shots, suddenly became a driving force in the Y.M.C.A. side and was rewarded with a steady Aow of goals. Clements, usually a steady scorer, was remarkably subdued. Y.M.C.A.’s most costly error was it* frequent collection of fouls. In the Anal stages of the game it lost both its centres, Millard and Joyce, with Ave fouls and this obviously weakened It. Until tbelr departure, both players were impressive. Late Rally CHRCKRR* Tl: G. Nobbs 22, J. Fairweather 22, L. Haysom 14, K. Baker 10, D. Lomax 6. R. Dew 1.

RANGIORA 60: R. Spark 15, G. Phillips 15, B. Borrell 12, A. Dyer 8. P. Rainey 6, I. Mlles 2, L. Rollinson 2. For a team Which is challenging for the championship, Checkers’ performance against bottom-placed Rangiora was extremely disappointing. Both teams scored freely at the start but Checkers’ defence was weak and it was not long before the starting line-up was changed. This appeared to aggravate the situation and Checkers' offensive play deteriorated rapidly. For much of the half It was trailing Rangiora and Just managed to level the scores at 38-all as the half-time horn blew. The second half was little different and it was not until the last Ave minutes, with the starting line-up together again, that the team began to look like a potential championship winner.

For most of the game. Checkers had little combination and shots were nearly always taken with three-quarters of the team out of position. Its present style of play, which relies heavily on the scoring ability of Nobbs and Fairweather, will have to change considerbly if it is to have any chance at all of beating University for the championship. One pleasing feature was the form of Baker, who showed some of the old driving force which won him his Canterbury singlet a few years ago. Rangiora had good reason to be pleased with its performance. It defended well and its three most proliAc scorers. Spark. Phillips.and Borrell. had no trouble getting their shots away in the face of lethargic man-to-man play bv their markers. It was unfortunate that Borrell and Rainey, who had also played well, were fouled off in the second half Otherwise. Checkers plight have had an even rougher path to victory. Comfortabla Win OLD ROYS Tl: A. Hounsell 21, K. Luxton 18. K. Milligan 10. M. Gleason 8. S. Taggart 8. M. Searle 6. M. King 2. BURNHAM 53: W. Pihema 14. G. Keelty 13. P. Trass 10. R. McCormack 6. G. Vercoe 6, W. Caldwell 2, J. Farquharson 2. It took Old Boys a few minutes to settle down and it was Burnham which set the early pace. However, this situation did not last for long. Old Boys soon had command of the situation and slowly but surely edged ahead. By half-time. Old Boys were leading 36-25. Both Sides maintained the same scoring tempo tn the second spell with Old Boys always in control. The game was not a particularly good one: there was much loose passing and more than a little scrappy play. Old Boys' main advantage was in the shooting department. Hounsell and Luxton. the side's two Canterbury representatives. were much too good for their apposition. Mtlligan guided the team well from midcourt and proved more of an individual threat on offence than usual as well.

Burnham's key player was Trass, who set up play well from the mid-court position. Pihema and Keelty put the finishing touches to many of bis efforts and they, too, were in fine form. Unfortunately, the rest of the team could not match their performances. McCormack worked hard under the boards but was rarely able to score from any possession he gained from this facet of play.