First century score to Y.M.C.A. in basketball

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33520, 29 April 1974, Page 18

First century score to Y.M.C.A. in basketball

The New Zealand champion club side. Y.M.C.A., scored the first century of the season when it completely demolished Rex-Burnside in the second round of the Canterbury A grade championship at Cowles Stadium on Saturday.

Y.M.C.A., seeking its fourth successive win in rhe competition. never gave its rivals a chance. It led 50-14 at halftime and when the game ended was ahead, 100-24. This was a great disappointment for Rex-Burnside, which had displayed promising form in the opening round a week earlier.

Y.M.C.A. and High School ■Old Boys are now the only two unbeaten teams. Old Boys, who will clearly provide Y.M.C.A. with its big|gest threat, took a major [step towards their first championship honours when [they defeated last season’s i runner-up, Checkers, 59-52, ! after a titanic struggle. [ In the other A grade game. iMgirehau claimed its first competition points by comfortably beating University, 85-52. '

For the second successive week, the aggressive Old Boys guard, C. R. Dickel, beaded the scoring in the grade. But this time he had to share top position with the Y.M.C.A. forward, S. Ferguson. Both scored 22 points. The only other player to reach 20 points was the experienced University player, W. E. Smith.

Points after two rounds are: Y.M.C.A. 4. Old Boys 4, Checkers 2. Mairehau 2, Rex-Burnside 0, University 0. DISAPPOINTING YA4.C.A. 100: S. Ferguson 22, P, Carpinter 16, R. Allen 15, R. Millard 14, B. Shipley 14, R. Manthei 10, W. Larsen 6, R. Stocks 3. BURNSIDE 24: R. Cullicutt 6, M. McKay 4, G. McKay 4, T. Green 4, N. Costina 2, B. Young 2, S. Fifteld 2.

After showing promising form against Checkers in the previous round, much was expected of Burnside. However, its coach (Mr P Ward) must have been very disappointed bv his players in this game. Burnside was never expected to win but its resist-

ance was so small that the future must now look very bleak. From the start. Y.M.C.A, dominated proceedings. Burnside never looked like penetrating the Y.M.C.A. defence in the opening minutes and Bmin had passed before M. McKay opened its scoring. By that time. Y.M.C.A. had 21 points on the board.

Y.M.C.A. kgpt iip the defensive pressure and continued to score almost at will to reach 50 by half-time. Burnside scored 14 points in the same period In the second half, Burnside was even less effective and could add only a further 10 points to its total as Y.M.C.A. netted another 50 to score the first century of the season. CLOSE GAME

OLD BOYS 59: C. R. Dickel 22. T. Guthrie 12, D Green 8, A. Ward 6. J. Uttley 4, R

Smith 4, S. Guthrie 3, CHECKERS 52: B. Goodwin 14. R. Cooke 14. D. Barry 6, P. Trass 6. R. McCormack 6, T. Y’ingst 4, M. Johnson 2.

This game was undoubtedly the spectacle of the day. The outcome hung in the balance until the elosing minutes and if Old Boys were the victors, the spoils could just as easily have gone to their rivals. The teams were evenly matched and they played the same style of basketball.

But at the end. neither coach was satisfied that his team had achieved its full potential. The Checkers coach (Mr G. N. Davey), felt that his team had wasted too many scoring opportunities and the man who guided Old Boys’ fortunes from the bench (Mr R S. Thomson!, felt lus team could have done better, too. '‘The shooting was foul,” he said “At one stage we should have been 14 points up instead of only three.”

The offensive play of both teams certainly left something to be desired hut it was entertaining basketball. nevertheless. The lead constantly see-sawed in the early stages and the teams were level at 10-all after smin. Old Boys then failed to capitalise on the fouling of their rivals by missing seven free throws in succession with a display of shooting which would have been bad’v out of place in the lowes* grade in the inter-club competi tions.

Dickel was again a commanding figure in the Old Boys side, especially in the first half, with his contribution of 22 points. T. Guthrie led the team well, giving his side great strength in midcourt play. Goodwin and the New Zealand trialist, Cooke, were both prominent for Checkers. Barry, an unexpected gain from University, showed promise in his first game for the team. FINE WIN MAIREHAU 85: Paul Daigneault 18, M. Seaward 18. D. Vincent 12, Pierre Daigneault 10, G. Jamison 8, J. Piket 8. J. McDowell 7, G. Phillips 4. UNIVERSITY 52: IV. E. Smith 20, B. Searle 8. M. Langford 8. A. Freeman 4. G. Clancey 4, N. Daniel 4. ,1. Edyvean 2, H. Bier 2. In the opening stages of the! match, there was little between the two teams but more efficient distribution of the ball and a better shooting average enabled Mairehau to edge ahead. At halftime, Mairehau led, 41-31. In the second spell, Mairehau increased its measure of control over the game and what chances 1 the students had left of saving the game rapidly disappeared. Mairehau displayed a much greater depth of ability and outplayed University in all departments. LOWER GRADES Lower grade results were:— B grade.—H.S.O.B. B 87, Taxes A 33; Christchurch B.H.S. 76, Burnside 47; Checkers B 65. Y.M.C.A. 45. B reserve. —Y.M.C.A. 26, Rangiora A 25; Orients A 26, 1.8. M. 22; Zaga 60, Orients C 14; Orients B 41, Taxes 28; Teachers’ College 36. Y.M.C.A. H 8; C grade.—Riecarton 38. Y.M.C.A. E 26; Checkers D 2, Wigram 0; University C 42, H. 5.0.8. C 39; Checkers C 44, Mairehau C 20; Burnside 38, N.A.C. 29.

C reserve—Orients D 28. Rangiora C 10; Christchurch Star 18, United A 13; United B 8. H. 5.0.8. 2; Rex-Burnside 14. Rangiora 13.

D grade.—Y.M.C.A. F 20, Christchurch B.H.S. C 11: Toe H 34, Christchurch B.H.S. B 9; H. 5.08. D 26. Burnside C 22; Checkers F 30, Mairehau D 36.