Checkers has easy basketball win

Press, 9 August 1976, Page 18

Checkers has easy basketball win

Checkers gained a surprisingly comfortable 62-42 victory over Y.M.C.A. on tho first day of the A grade top three-bottom three round robin mens basketball championship play-off in Cowles Stadium on Saturday. Although two days of competition still remain, Checkers cannot now be beaten for second place and, because of the top three cut-off, Y.M.C.A. can finish no lower than third. High School Old Boys, who had an unbeatable lead in the championship even before the start of Saturday's matches, had a scoring field day in a nonchampionship match against lowly Aranui, winning by 80 points, 121-41. It was the kind of performance which suggests that Aranui’s stay in the A grade might be a short one. But the manner in which Old Boys set about demolishing the opposition also augers well for their national title bid which begins next Saturday in Blenheim. . _ In the bottom three play-off, Mairehau defeated Burnside, 65-57, after a match which was not without merit. Mairehau’s performance was all the more praiseworthy because it was without its captain, Gordon Phillips, who was away at a national N.A.C. tournament. Points are.—Top three: Old Boys 28, Checkers 24, Y.M.C.A. 18.’ Bottom three: Mairehau 18, Bumside 6, Aranui 0. POOR FINISH CHECKERS 62: J. Fairweather 22, D Barry 13, R. Cooke 12, A. Bigwood 5, I. Sheerin 4, P. Daigneault 4. G. Ottman 2. Y.M.C.A. 42: R. Millard 11, J. Bosch 11, T. Neumann 8, S. Ferguson 8, G. Magon 2, H. Dimock 2. Y.M.C.A.'s hopes of salvaging second position in the championship evaporated in the final 10 minutes of the game when it plunged to the depths of mediocrity — a disappointing finish after such a promising start. Nobody would have been prepared to predict a 20-point victory to Checkers before the match, and certainly not in one which scoring was at a premium. In the first half, there was little between the two teams. The lead changed a dozen times before half-time was reached with Y.M.C.A. leading, 24-22. The battle continued in the early stages of the second half with neither side gaining any lasting advantage over the other. With 5 minutes showing, Y.M.C.A. led 30-29. Then, with Checkers displaying greater fire and purpose, the pattern of the game began to change. Checkers inched ahead to lead by eight points after 10 minutes and with 5 minutes remaining were leading. 50-42. It was then that Y.M.C.A.’s offence broke down completely. In one of the most negative finishes by any Y.M.C.A. team for many years, it failed to score at all in the time remaining. It was very hard to appreciate that this was much the same team which won the national club championship four years ago. Checkers owed their success to a more positive attitude and superior ball handling and shooting under pressure. Y.M.C.A. had a decided height advantage but allowed Allan Bigwood and John Fairweather to gain a large share of possession from rebounds. Its blocking out was Ineffective.

Fairweather was at his best, shooting well, defending very ably and generally being in the thick of any action. Robert Cooke and Dennis Barry also impressed with their desire to win and mastery of the basic skills. Rodger Millard provided Y.M.C.A. with its greatest strength under the boards and Tom Neumann was the star of mid-court play. RECORD OLD BOYS 121: D. Usmer 30, J. Hill 27, J. Wright 17, J. Wiley 14, A. Smith 10, T. Guthrie 9, A. Maneo 8, S. Guthrie 6. ARANUI 41: P. Kennan 14, G. Harrison 10, N. Costain 6, R. Costain 4, P. Hill 3, R. Atchison 2, P. Hawker 2. Those who expected the nonchampionship encounter between the top and bottom A grade sides in Christchurch to be a one-sided affair were not disappointed. Old Boys dominated the match in a manner unequalled at this level in recent years. The 80-point margin at the end is thought to be a record. It was the first time this season that Old Boys had topped the century and highlighted the great depth of ability within the side.

Aranui was completely outclassed in all facets of play. When it scored its first goal. Old Boys already had 15 points on the board. After lOmin, Old Boys were ahead 34-2 and at half-time led 60-18. David Usmar and John Hill were outstanding close to the boards and both John Wright and John Wiley, who are not normally members of the starting five, achieved a level of performance which would be the envy of any other side in the grade. Phil Keenan and Graham Harrison were the only two Aranui players to breach the Old Boys defence with any reasonable degree of success. LATE RALLY MAIREHAU 65: M. Seaward 25, P. Howell 14. M. Belcher 12, B. Walcroft 6, J. McDowell 4. P. Daigneault 2, J. Caldwell 2. BURNSIDE 57: P. Ward 16. K. Currie 14, J. Mohi 9. G. Longley 8, R. Lee 4, A. Webster 4, G. Fairhurst 2. Lack of penetration and poor attention to second-phase play cost Burnside the win over Mairehau it wanted so badly. The Burnside team has been much Improved this season but this has not been reflected in its results.

Mairehau, perhaps more than any other team, has shown ability to lift its game when the occasion demands. This was not one of those times. Although the two sides were fairly well matched, Mairehau’s ability to put the ball through the hoop was superior. But it lost the Initiative badly towards the end. Mairehau led, 32-20. at halftime. strengthening Its hold in the middle stages before allowing its standard to deteriorate. As the match neared its close, Burnside rallied strongly but it was too late. The knowledge that it had reduced Mairehau’s 19point lead to eight points must have been poor consolation. Mike Seaward, the top scorer in club basketball this season, had a good game for Mairehau and Peter Howell was also in good form. Peter Ward and

Kevin Currie were the kev men in Burnside’s performance.

UPSET WIN Christchurch Boys’ High School provided a major surprise by defeating the New Zealand secondary schools champion. Mairehau High School. 5957, in the B grade. It was a very even struggle with the winning points coming in the final minute. Both teams produced some fine individuals. Allan Manco topscored for Christchurch with 25 points and his team mate, Kelvin Duff, scored 18. Stephen Paterson with 23 and John Caldwell with 18 were the outstanding scorers for Mairehau. Both Mairehau and Christchurch have qualified for the national final. Lower grades: Men’s B grade.—Christchurch B.H.S. A 59, Mairehau H.S. A 57; Y.M.C.A. B 50. Riccarton A 36; University A 60, H. 5.0.8. B 34; Y.M.C.A. 78, Burnside C 31. Men’s B reserve.—Christchurch Star 36. East Shirley 28; Burnside E 24. Checkers E 19; Aranui C 38, Chinese Youth 23; D.B. Gladstone 22. Linwood H.S. 22; Soulseekers 42. Aranui B 23; Wigram 32, Lincoln College 29

Women’s B grade—Y.M.C.A. 43. Sockburn 13; Brighton 51, Mairehau C 45; Checkers B 38, Burnside A 24; Mairehau H.S. 69, Rangiora B 20; Burnside B 66, United A 44; Aranui H.S. 44, University B 42.