Men’s senior basketball

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32893, 17 April 1972, Page 16

Men’s senior basketball

Fighting for form after a crippling series of transfers, University, the champion Canterbury A-grade men’s basketball team for the last four seasons, demonstrated that not all its teeth had been drawn when it scrambled home to a 6865 victory over High School Old Boys in the second round on Saturday.

After losing their captaincoach, W. E. Smith, on five fouls with llmin still to go, the students appeared to be in trouble. But they hung on grimly and never allowed Old Boys to gain control. Deep Freeze was again a big disappointment, the general standard of its play being far below what is normally accepted for a grade competition. Y.M.CLA. ran the Americans off their feet to win with the first

century score of the season, 101-38.

Checkers comfortably defeated < Mairehau, 93-61, to confirm their 1 favouritism for the season’s : championship. However, with i deafening support from their 1 followers, the Mairehau High i School pupils gave a rousing dis- i play and prevented their more experienced opponents from play- 1 ing constructive team basketball, normally a feature of their play. . Points after two rounds are: Checkers 4. Y.M.C.A. 4, Old Boys 2, University 2, Mairehau 0. Deep Freeze 0. TENSE GAME ,a°s! ,V F? S,TY 48: ’• Robertson 19, C. Johnson 15. H. Bier 10, S. Gardiner 10, W. Smith 6, D. Sheehan 2, D. Barry 2. C. Potton 2, S. Johnson 1. OLD BOYS 65: S. Ferguson 23, T. Guthrie 19, R. Smith 10, K. Luxton 9, I. Simson 4. Although this was a game in which few players enhanced their reputations, it was also one which provided some exceptional entertainment for those who stayed to watch. The teams were very evenly matched, and although they struggled mightily, neither gained any ascendancy over the other at any time. The greatest margin between the totals throughout the game was only four points. University led, 29-27, at half, time, but Old Boys had their share of time In front, too, and it was anybody’s game right up to the final whistle. In the last 2mm the lead changed six times before one of University’s tall men, Bier, put his side in front with seconds remaining. In the short time left, Old Boys were presented with two opportunities to score and win the match. R. Smith, who had covered a lot of ground during the match and was obviously tired, missed two free throws, and then the tail 6ft 4in centre, S. Ferguson, failed with a simple lay-up. ReSeining possession. University sent Bier back in to score the deciding two points right on time. The two outstanding men in the University side were Robertson and C. Johnson, an American, Robertson was always a danger close to the basket, and Johnson scored freely from elose in with jump shots. Bier also played well, using his height to advantage. Old Boys had their attack blunted considerably when several of their top players collected early foul calls. Ferguson, the most potentially prolific scorer in the side, was called three times early In the game, and this severely restricted his defence. He also had to be rested so that he would be available for the vital finishing spurt. For all this, he still played well on attack. Guthrie also showed up prominently in the guard line, sinking some fine set shots. The rest of the team, although their general play was sound, were sadly off the mark with their shooting. This will have to improve considerably if It to to finish in the first three. CHECKERS WIN CHECKERS 93: J. Fairweather 43. G. Nobbs 14, B. Goodwin 14. K. Baker 10, L. Hayson 9. L. Muncaster 4. MAIREHAU 61: Pierre Dalgneault 16, D. Green 12, Pau! Dalgneault 9, D. Vincent 8. Al. Seaward 8. D. Mclver 6, J. McDowell 2. Although well beaten, the Mairehau team again demonstrated that it was A grade material. Checker* were forced to make more use of individual Play by the hustle and bustle of Malrehau’s pressure basketball, and there were a number of flaws exposed in their defence. However, there never appeared any likelihood of Mairehau winning the gam*, although It will not have to improve greatly to defeat some of those it will meet lower down the scale. The chief stumbling block in th* path of Malrehau’s bid for victory was the 1971 New Zealand representative, Fairweather who was quite superb in the centre. His shooting under pressure was exceptional and the schoolboys had nobody with th* skill or experience to contain him.

Goodwin, another strong player also played well and Nobbs, who had some bad moments last season, looked much mor* confident in th* mid court. Hto leadership of th* team and ball control was excellent. Mairehau’* outstanding player

was undoubtedly Pierre Daigenault. He shot well and moved quickly. Green set up play well from the mid court position and, although his own shooting was not as accurate as it might have been, he provided many opportunities for his team-mates to score. Checkers led. 54-30, at halftime. FIRST CENTURY Y.M.C.A. 101: R. Millard 37, M. Clements .15, P. Carpinter 14, D. Symonds 11, B. Shipley 10, H. Dimock 8, R. Manthei 6. DEEP FREEZE 38: K. Westfall 12, A. Patrick 10, S. Quarles 6, G. Spence 5, G. Phillips 2, A. Nelson 2, R. Winfrey 1. The honour of scoring the first century of the season went to Y.M.C.A. In this game, but it was a rather hollow victory because the opposition was extremely weak. The American servicemen were clearly not fit, they were slow, and their skills were very rudimentary. The game was hardly a test for YJM.C-A.. which promises to be one of the two top contenders for the Inter-club championship this season. Millard had a field day in the centre, scoring almost at will, and other members of his team also collected big totals.

Westfall and Quarles, who played A grade for city clubs last season, were the only two players tn the Deep Freeze lineup to show consistent good form, although Patrick, making his first appearance In the side, looked promising.

Lower grades Rex A, one of the contenders for A grade this season, was heavily beaten, 44-82, by Creckers In its first appearance in the A reserve. Checkers’s total stood as a record for the grade until Y.M.C.A. defeated Rangiora, 101-50, to become the first A reserve team to reach a century of points. Results were:— A reserve.—H.S.O.B. B 55, Taxes 28; Checkers B 82. Rex A 44; Y.M.C.A. B 101, Rangiora A B reserve.—Bumsco 36, Deaf Boys 27; Orients C 19, 1.8. M. 19; Checkers H 26, Orient B 9; Cashmere B 37 Rex B 12. C grade.—Mairehau B 39, Checkers E 37. C reserve.—Orients D 24, Orients F 14; Orient* E 18, Rangiora B 16; Y.M.C-A. E 11, Teacher’s College 11; Burnseo B beat Lincoln College by default. D grade.—Checkers F 25, Y.M.C.A. D 24; St Bede’s College 32, Christchurch B.H.S. C 6; N.A.C. 52, H.SOB. D 28; Checkers G 27. Toe H 26.