Checkers on top in women’s basketball

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33230, 21 May 1973, Page 17

Checkers on top in women’s basketball

Checkers seemed little affected by the loss of their key players to the representative side and were untroubled to beat University, 56-24, in the sixth round of the women's A grade basketball competition on Saturday.

They were slow to settle down in the first spell and at the break were led only' 18-13. But in the second half they penetrated the University defence with ease and very quickly put themselves in a commanding position. The former Canterbury and Nelson representative, J. Watts, produced easily her best form of the season to score 22 points for Checkers. K. Harley and D. Huata, who both scored 11, also contributed towards University’s downfall with some fine play. Most of University’s play was without real purpose. No one player stood out above the others, although L. Bryant, with eight points was the top scorer. Y.M.C.A. provided some spirited opposition for Mairehau before going down. 47-33. It tried to capitalise on the absence of Mairehau’s two New Zealand junior representatives, J. Armstrong and L. Brooker, and it was not until the game was well advanced that their hopes of victory vanished. P. Hinkley who has been out of action for two weeks with an ankle injury, returned to the Mairehau team and showed that her enforced rest had done no harm. She scored a useful 10 points. The top scorer was K. Adamson with 14, with N. Phillips scoring only two less. Y.M.C.A.'s big problem was in its shooting. It made its scoring opportunities with considerable flair only to have them wasted by weak shooting. Only .1. Harliwich, who scored 10 points, showed real consistency in this facet of the game. The match between Rex and Rangiora came to a premature end a few minutes before full

time when Rex emulated the senior men’s side by losing five players on five fouls. This left only L. Carswell and J. Sloper on the court and under the rules the game had to be abandoned. At the time, Rangiora was leading. 45-33. Until Rex began to feel the effects of its dwindling numbers, the game was in the melting pot. Rangiora led, 26-16, at half-time but Rex made a super second-half challenge to draw level and for a few moments held the lead.

D. Whitwell was most impressive for Rex until she was fouled off mid-way through the second half. She top scored with 16 points. But the scoring depth was very limited. The only other scorers were K. Ray, with six, and Sloper, 11. Ranglora’s scoresheet was a much more balanced document. Honours in the side were well spread. The top scorer was M. Alabaster, with 11, but five other players scored six or more. Points: Checkers 12 Rangiora 10, Mairehau 8, University 4, Rex 2, Y.M.C.A. 0. Results were:—

Rangiora 45 (M. Alabaster 11, L. Rollinson 8, K. Tau 7. A. Pitima 7, C. Winter 6, S. Kearney 4. J. Borrell 2) beat Rex 33 ID. Whitwell 16, J. Sloper 11, K. Ray 6>. Checkers 56 (J. Watts 22, K. Harley 11, D. Huata 11, B. Satherley 9, D. Entwistle 2, A. Matterly 2) beat University 26 (L. Bryant 8, S. Johannson 5, M. Jenkins 4, J. Wotton 2, B. Connolly 2). Mairehau 49 (K. Adamson 14, N. Phillips 12, P. Hinkley 10, B. Miller 4, M. Clark 4. S. Thompson 2, L. Elliot 1) beat Y.M.C.A. 33 (J. Harliwich 10, J. Bracewell 9. K. Harliwich 5 K. Luxton 5, S. South 2, A. Robinson 2).