Y.M.C.A. unimpressive in S.I. basketball

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33804, 29 March 1975, Page 16

Y.M.C.A. unimpressive in S.I. basketball

Y.M.C.A., the Christchurch club champion._made \ery hard work of beating Mairehau (Christchurch), 76-63. in its opening match of the South Island Easter club basketball tournament at Cowles Stadium vesterdav.

Without its Amercan: captain. Bob Manthei. Y.M.C.A. appeared to lack direction, and on several occasions it looked capable of losing the game.

Star of the Y.M.C.A. side was the New Zealand Games

representative, Stuart Fergu-j son, who top-scored with 24 points. The 6ft 9in Games) trialist and local policeman,) Roger Millard (12 points), also had a good game. Mike Seaward (16 points’), Carl Sten (13), and Gordon Phillips (12). the former Canterbury softball representa. five, did best for Mairehau. Wellington Marist, the winner last year and joint favourite with Y.M.C.A. for the tournament, sponsored bv Coruba Rum, had a much easier game against Ajaxi (Dunedin), winning 94-40. Of the three A grade teams [ that had two matches, Check-) ers A (Christchurch) was the: only one to remain unbeaten, having convincing victories) over Aranui (Christchurch) and the Nelson side. Athletic.' Another side to impress; was the Otago University.) which easily beat Lio" Tavern; (Timaru), 61-37, in spite of, the fact that it rested its' national trialist, John Whelan. High School Old Boys did not play yesterday and its all-: round talent will test. Y.M.C.A. in their early game this morning. Tennis A (Nelson), thechampion, and Rangiora (Canterbury) were the best per-! formers in the women’s sec-1

jtion, winning both their games, but Mairehau will be a very hard side to topple before these teams can make the final. Rangiora’s game with Otago University was one of the closest of the day and it was only a concentrated llpoint scoring burst in six minutes which gave Rangiora the game, 38-31. after the [scores were tied. 27-27. 13; [minutes into the second spell, j The heroines for Rangiorain its two games were Sandra [ Kearney, who scored 19 [ points against Canterbury; University, and the Canter-; bury women’s wicket-keeper, Margaret Alabaster. As expected, Helen Lucre.' a New Zealand reserve, and Elaine Hesson, the tall New! Zealand centre, shone for) Tennis A in its 50-40 win over the strong Checkers A side, and 65-39 win over) United (Christchurch). The game between! Y.M.C.A. Rebels (Christ-) church) and United was a ter- j ribly drawn-out affair and dragged on for 105 minutes because of the extraordinary) total of 71 fouls. United won the game.. 40-36. purely on its better ! success rate with free shots.) It scored from 12 out of 28. whereas United only found'

jthe basket with a miserable 10 out of 40. Results (Christchurch tran-.s unless otherwise specified':— MEN A grade Section A —Checkers 4 74. Aranui 42. Checkers A 75. At’rletic -Nelson) 53: Marist (Mellins ton' 94. Ajax > Dunedin) 40. Section B.—Mairehau 73. Lion ■ Tavern (Timaru) 50; Y.M.C.A. 76. Mairehau 63; Otago University 61. i Lion Tavern 37 B grade i Section A.—Finks (Westport [37 Youth Club (Hokitika) 21; j 11.5.0.8. 36. Riecarton 31. : Sect'on B.—Athletic 'Nelson) 30. Hot Shots I Hokitika) 26. ; Section C. — Cosmopolitan (Westport) 32. St Patrick's (TiItnarui 11. Section D — Nelson College Old ,Bovs 62. N AC. 11. | Section E.—Marist (Grey. I mouth) 3a. Matai (Westport) 16, j Y.M.C.A. 32. United 23. WOMEN A grade Section A.—Tennis A (Nelson > '65. United A 39; Checkers A 69 Y.M.C.A. Rebels 24; Y.M.C.A. ; Rebels 40. United A 36; Tennis | A 50 Checkers A 40 I Section B.—Rangiora 38 Otaco ; University 31; Mairehau A 90. | University 40: Rangiora 68 Int versltv 54. B grade ! Section A.—St Patrick’s (TiImaru) 27. Tennis B (Nelson) 14: I Checkers B 21. Bumside 13. i Section 8.--J.B.Y.C. (Westport 18, Ajax B (Dunedin) 13; United IA 30. Haiswel! 22. Section C— Ajax A (Dunedin [2B, Matai (Westport) 19: Orients i 42. Checkers C 14. i Section D.—Star (Greymouth. 41. Tennis C (Nelson) 13.