Victoria’s strength tells

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33817, 14 April 1975, Page 3

Victoria’s strength tells

(From ROD DEW)

GREYMOUTH, ) 1 Victoria University I (Wellington) easily beat ; Nelson College Old Boys. J 72-54. in (he final of the I Old Crow New Zealand I men’s basketball club ’ championship qualifying round at Greymouth yes- ’ terday afternoon.

It was in marked contrast to earlier games, in which I Victoria—the winner of the national title last year—looked very vulnerable. In the final its all-round strength and tactical approach gave i Nelson no chance. Victoria was 10 points ahead at halftime and held even greater control in the second spell. The Victoria captain-coach, iJohn Zohrab, was deservedly 'voted the “player of the tournament.’’ A former New 'Zealand representative, he [was in great form in the final,' [scoring 25 points. John’ Saker. one of the most mobile 6ft 7in centres in the country, also played a vital ' role. But it was once again■ the New Zealand director of [coaching, Lloyd Sanders, who was the architecfof victory. An American, his influ.'ence over the Victoria playiers was very marked,

1 The Nelson players had obviously played themselvesi out in their testing semi-final 'earlier in. the day. They' 'looked lethargic and even the talented 6ft sin American, Bill Eldred, was unusually subdped. The play-off for third was: won by the very promising! young Christchurch High School Old Boys team. It recovered magnificently from an apparently impossible position to beat another Christchurch team. Checkers, 5.3-52 after five minutes of extra time. At one stage Old Boys were 17 points down and at half-time Checkers led. 34-22. When the game should have ended, the scores were tied 49-all. Ed Lanco, who rested the entire second half because of a thigh injury, took the court for the extra time and scored the winning goal with seconds remaining. The two Old Boys midcourt men, Tim Guthrie and Garl Dickel, both controlled play well, saving their main effort for the second half. Dickel top-scored with 21.. but the man of the match was Noel Daniel. His rebounding under both baskets was quite superb. Although playing with 'great assurance early in the

game, Checkers’s depth of ■ scoring ability was disappointing. The New Zealand representative, John Fairweather, was always the danger but with the exception of lan Sheerin the others were short of their marks. Fairweather top-scored with . 16 points. The two Christchurch clubs failed by only narrow margins in the semi-finals [yesterday morning. Old Boys lacked their usual aggression against Nelson and after a dreadful patch in the first spell were trailing 12-30. They recovered splendidly, closing to within seven points. But that was as close as they were to get. Nelson went on to win, 66-56. Checkers’s game against Victoria University was also ian extremely close encounter. Checkers eventually went down 65-75, but only six minutes from the end the scores had been tied at 59all. Robert Cooke was the top-scorer for Checkers with 16 points. Results: — Section play.—Nelson Athletic • 72. Greymonth Wreds 42: Nelson College Old Boys 56. Checkers 47; Victoria 71. H. 5.0.8. 60: Nelson C. 0.8. 103, Greymouth Marist 34: Victoria 99. Wreds 51: H. 5.0.8 55. Athletic 49 Semi-finals. — Victoria 75. Checkers 65; Nelson CO B. 66. H. 5.0.8. 56.