Basketball team strong

Press, 17 September 1976, Page 4

Basketball team strong

Canterbury B preserved its unbeaten record in the New Zealand second division men’s basketball championship with resounding victories over Porirua and Southland in Cowles Stadium yesterday.

Although it has one match remaining in the round robin section of the tournament, against Hawera, the young home side is already assured of a place in the final this evening. But its opponent will not be decided until later today. Marlborough, strongly favoured as a finalist, yesterday went down to South Auckland, 64-60. This left three teams—Marlborough, South Auckland, and Hawera —level in second position. Marlborough will meet Buller in its final match today and South Auckland is drawn against South Canterbury. Both are expected to win. But Hawera plays Canterbury for the first time and it will require a mighty effort to topple the home players, who have been improving with every game.

A rather complicated tiebreaking system involving winning margins will put Marl-

borough in the final if all three teams win their last matches today. However, If Hawera loses to Canterbury, South Auckland will almost certainly become the other finalist because of its defeat oi Marlborough yesterday. Regardless of the outcome of this triple tie for the remaining final position, none have the depth of ability or fundamental skill to match Canterbury, the only provincial “B” team in the tournament. It is now strongly favoured to add the second division title to the first division championship the Canterbury A side won earlier this season. “J am confident we can win.” the Canterbury coach (Mr Murray Mackay) said after his big win over Southland, a team which a decade ago was one of the top 10 in the country. “The players are combining much better than they were at the start.”

In its first match yesterday against Porirua, Canterbury made its usual modest start before applying a press and all but demolishing the Porirua defence. Canterbury led. 43-29, at halftime, and in the second .spell, kept the pressure up to gain an overwhelming 93-43 win. In one period, it scored 14 consecutive baskets.

John Wright (17) and Mike Seaward (14) were the leading Canterbury scorers but honours were well spread. John Hill was outstanding under the defensive basket, although he did not score well.

Last evening Canterbury was in command from the opening whistle against Southland, winig 89-37 after leading 42-19 at half-time. The effort was again

a team one, with the home side having far too much depth on the bench for Southland to stand any chance at all. Seaward was the leading Canterbury scorer this time, compiling 27 with some strong driving and sound positional play. Peter Howell and John Hill both scored 14, Southland’s leading performer was its 6ft 3in captain, Jamie Campbell. He top-scored with nine.

In the other late game, Hawera defeated Porirua. 77-51. hut it leaned heavily on its 6ft 3in centre, Brian Davidson, who finished the game with a persona) tally of 47 points. Earlier in the day, Hawera beat Southland by a point. But the best game was undoubtedly that between South Auckland and Marlborough. Marlborough led 36-34 at halftime before losing a little momentum and finally going down. 64-60. South Auckland’s big rebounder. Paul Tuora. was in great form, scoring 25 points. John Walsh (18) and Steve 4 Ricketts (13) were top for Marlborough. Results were:—

South Auckland 73, Porirua 56; Marlborough 47, South Canterbury 46; South Auckland 40. Buller 38: Hawera 57. Southland 56; Canterbury B 93. Porirua 43; South Canterbury 60, Buller 42; South Auckland 64, Marlborough 60; Canterbury B 89. Southland 37; Hawera 77. Porirua 51. Points: Canterbury 12, Marlborough 8, Hawera 8. South Auckland 8, Southland 4. South Canterbury 4, Buller 2, Porirua