Mairehau women into basketball titles . . .

Press, 23 August 1976, Page 11

Mairehau women into basketball titles . . .

Mairehau comfortably, qualified for the national women’s club basketball championships by remaining unbeaten in the zone tournament at Cowles Stadium during the week-end.

The Christchurch club champion was never really extended although the Dunedin side. Ajax, managed to get within 10 points when Mairehau visibly relaxed in the second half. Mairehau is the only side to qualify from this tournament, but the others will have another chance in an invitation tournament at Dunedin, before the nationals at New Plymouth, from September 27 to October 1.

Apart from Mairehau, the sides who impressed most were Ajax and Checkers fChristchutch). These two had a great battle for second, place, with Ajax finally taking the contest 61-60, after j extra time. Checkers led 2723 at half-time. Checkers put up a reasonable fight against Mairehau in the first half of Saturday’s game, but was never in the hunt from then on and lost 33-59.

Electricity (Dunedin), the other outsider in the competition. managed only one win — 43-38 over Christchurch United, after trailing 20-21 at half-time. The Ajax forward, Carla I Hebenstreet, was one of the outstanding players of the; tournament — from three of the games she totalled 65 points. Her captain, Adie Stephens, was also in great form, and shot 66 points, including 24 in one game. Mary Fastier was the most consistent of the Mairehau players, finishing with a 56 point total, and never scoring less than 12 in a

game, but Kay Adamson, Sally South, jenny Armstrong and Patsy Hinkley also had their moments. Jane McMeekan shone for Electricity and Sharon Rennel (66 points), Cath Stanley and Judy Baker excelled in the Checkers line-up. A feature of the last game of the tournament, between Ajax and Electricity, was the last two minutes. ElecI tricity had only four players ■ — the others had rushed off

to change for the long trip - home. / Results: Thursday.— Mairehau 65, r United 18. Saturday. — Mairehau 59, f Checkers 33; Electricity i (Dunedin) 48, United 43; Ajax (Dunedin) 61, Checkers e 60; Mairehau 66, Electricity n 32; Ajax 81, United 41. s Sunday.— Checkers 64, ■ Electricity 54: Mairehau 57, s Ajax 47; Checkers 67, United f 31; Ajax 58, Electricity 41.