MINOR ASSNS BASKETBALL

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33001, 22 August 1972, Page 18

MINOR ASSNS BASKETBALL

Two wins for Canterbury B Canterbury B and South Canterbury appeared to be the teams to beat at the end of the first day’s competition in the New Zealand Minor Association's men’s basketball championship in Ashburton yesterday. After comfortably beating MidCanterbury, 73-42. in the morning, Canterbury B displayed unsuspected reserves of stamina to defeat Eastern Otago 71-45. South Canterbury, coached by the 1972 New Zealand trialist. R. Murdoch, achieved the highest standard of the day in its match against Eastern Southland. Playing with deliberate control, it was ahead, 64-27. at half-time and was able to use its second-string players most of the second half and still win, 88-67. Murdoch, P. Ross, who is a former Canterbury captain, and a former Otago representative, and K. Murray, gave their side a maturity which some of the others lacked. Howecver, the top scorer of the match was the little guard, F Filia, who scored 22 points with some outstanding set shooting.

South Canterbury and Canterbury B meet this afternoon in a game which promises to have an important bearing on the outcome of the tournament. In its early game yesterday, Canterbury B got off to a slow start against Mid-Canterbury. It led by only four points at halftime and was struggling. However, Canterbury B adopted a much more aggressive attitude when play resumed and soon had the game well under control. It lost three men on five fouls but the depth of ability on its bench made this no handicap. A. Hamilton proved the most effective of the big men under the boards and seemed to have a better appreciation of how to play against a zone than some of the others. S. Heal was a key figure in the guard line. The big Mid-Canterbury centre, T. Freeman, was outstanding in rebound play. Another of the team’s big men, R. Paterson, had the misfortune to crack a bone in his left arm. His withdrawal is a big blow to Mid-Canterbury. Against East Otago, Canterbury started much more strongly but allowed its play to deteriorate badly after establishing a comfortable lead. The final winning margin (71-45) was a little disappointing). Results were:—

Canterbury B 73 (R. Dew 14, A. Hamilton 13, S. Heal 12. V. Clarke 8, A. McCandish 6, K. Beach 6, H. Doggett 5, B. Paquin 4, N. Harrington 3, R. Moore 2), Mid-Canterbury 42 (T. Freeman 14, M. Gleason 14). Half-time: Canterbury 29, Mid-Canterbury 25.

Canterbury B 71 (Dew 17. Heal 17, Doggett 10, Hamilton 7. MeCandish 6, Paquin 5, M. King 4, Beach 2, Clarke 2, Moore 1), East Otago 45 (F. Ross 15). New Plymouth 66, Eastern Otago 49; South Canterbury 88, Eastern Southland 67; Otago B 72. Twizel 57; Mid-Canterbury 52, Eastern Southland 47.