Y.M.C.A. struggles to victory in basketball

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32958, 3 July 1972, Page 11

Y.M.C.A. struggles to victory in basketball

Y.M.C.A. is now the undisputed leader of the Canterbury A grade men’s basketball championship competition but it had to work hard for victory over its closest rival. Checkers, in Cowles Stadium on Saturday.

Playing beautifully controlled basketball, Checkers set the scoring pace in the early stages. Although giving away a lot of height, their team-work was excellent—a tribute to their coach (Mr R. Entwistle—and looked a winning team. Unfortunately, a ragged patch Smin from the interval ate into their handsome lead. Although there was rarely much between the two teams from that point, when the final whistle went Y.M.C.A. was ahead, 68-60. University, after a slow start, comfortably defeated Deep Freeze, 48-56. The third game of the day went into extra time when Mairebau and High School Old Boys finished with 64 points

each. In the smin of extra time. Mairehau made too many fundamental mistakes and Old Boys, whose play earlier had been disapointing, won in relative comfort, 77-72. Points are: Y.M.C.A., 20, Checkers 16, Old Boys 8, University 8, Deep Freeze 6, Mairehau 2. STIMULATING BATTLE

Checkers had to win this match to stand a chance of winning the title and they went into the game looking as if they would do just that. After lOmin they were ahead, 30-21, and appeared to have the situation well under control.

Y.M.C.A. was without its New Zealand representative, R. Millard, and for a long time it failed to make the best use of the considerable height remaining. Its 6ft Bin centre, H. Dimock, collected four fouls early in the game and this restricted his defensive work.

But before half-time arrived. Checkers had allowed their play, to deteriorate for a few minutes' and by the time they got control of the situation again Y.M. C.A. was challenging for the lead. Checkers led, 34-31, at half-time but both teams were in trouble. Checkers’ brilliant forward centre. J. R. Fairweather, and two of Y.M.C.A/s key men, Dimock and M. Clements, were one foul away from leaving the game. Dimock lasted 6min into the second spell and Clements followed him to the bench shortly afterwards. Fairweather managed to last out the game and with his outstanding play, inspired his team to great efforts. However, the height superiority again proved too much and Y.M.C.A. inched into the lead and held It to the finish. There were moments of extreme tension as Checkers rallied

,j strongly in the closing minutes iand the Y.M.C.A. coach (Mr G. ID. Dempsey) was penalised with a technical foul on two occasions for telling the crowd in a loud voice that calls- against his men were unjustified. But even with this assistance. ; Checkers could not quite overtake their opponents and will ; now have to settle for second place in the competition. For Y.M.C.A., Clements and B. Shipley played well and the American newcomer. K McMaster. showed promise although he was unfamiliar with the team’s pattern. In rebounding, he i was particularly useful. STUDENTS WIN , University scored a rousing. 98-56, win over Deep Freeze, in ! the early part of the game the servicemen held their own but by half-time University was ahead, 46-26. University continued ! to forge ahead in the second

s spell to win handsomeb and I. retain its third placing, equal h with Old Boys. i- Previously. Deep Freeze had a shared thin! place with I niveris sity and Old Boys. Against the young Mairehau ?.:side, High School Old Boys r- looked anything but a match--11 winning combination Their d shooting was poor—c\ en the 'simplest shots refused to go d through the hoop—and the Maieirehau players. led by D Green. > I used their speed to good advanhl tage. ej At half-time. Mairehau was e{leading, 32-27, and an upset win 'seemed well within its reach Even in the closing minute?', it , had enough points in hand to ’.lwin had it played the game with n greater control. e Seeing his team down it {points with 2min to go. the Old is I Boys coach i.Mr R. S. Thomson) d said: *‘\Ve need a miracle to win d this now.’

11 But the tone of the game I changed drastically In the doe ling seconds. Old Box a drew to 1160-63 and then 62-63 At thi* -1 stage there was 12»ec to go Pierre Daigneault was fouled b\ i M Searle (Old Boys) but wa* s> | only successful with one of his -’free throws. Searle replied with r a lovely jump shot only to have •it ruled out because of pro jlgress. Mairehau again lost po* - session and with 3sec remain . jing. K. I.uxton drove in He wa« -fouled and then showed h>« great match temperament b\ » sinking both and equalling the II scores at 64-all. In the smin extra time. Old t Boys proved too good for their > less experienced rivals. The> i (drove on them and collected a string of fouls which won them • the match. R. Smith was the 1 hero of this vital period, scoring J | four points from free throws l and sinking a field goal for good measure.