Jaks look strong in basketball

Press, 22 April 1977, Page 28

Jaks look strong in basketball

By

ROD DEW

Fresh from their success in the Easter tournament, Jaks - High School Old Boys will be seeking their third successive inter-club title when the Mount Cook Airlines Canterbury A grade men’s basketball championjship begins in Cowles Stadium on Saturday.

■ And on the evidence of 'their performances so far it seems unlikely that their winning streak will be halted this season.

If anything, the team is even stronger than it was last season. Two newcomers, Gareth Hare (from Nelson) and Matt Ruscoe (from Dunedin). give it increased depth. A New Zealand Universities and former Otago representative, Ruscoe is a particularly important gain. Tim Guthrie and Carl Dickel, two of the most knowledgeable mid-court men in the sport, will be largely responsible for preparing the side, with the valued assistance of Mr Ray Thomson as bench coach. AH the key men from last season are' back i again, including the very I promising big men, John Hill (6ft 6?n) and David Usmar I(6ft Sin). The former New 'Zealand junior captain, Ed

Manco, can be expected to strengthen his claims for a place in the national senior side later in the season.

With other such capable players as Allan Smith, John Wright and Simon Guthrie to call on, Jaks-H.5.0.8. could be in for . its best season yet. Their path to victory in the local championship has been made easier by the apparent decline in strength of Y.M.C.A., the team which preceded them as provincial champions. Y.M.C.A. is without its New Zealand representative, Stuart Ferguson, who is in Australia, and its former New Zealand centre, Rodger Millard, who has moved to Haast. Its gains have been modest ones and it will be relying heavily on the experience and skill of last season’s Canterbury captain, Bob Manthei, the Czechoslovakian mid-court player, Tom Nuemann, and the former New Zealand centre, Hugh Dimock. The one team which looks capable of challenging JaksH. 5.0.8. is Checkers. It will again be led by the outstanding New Zealand representative forward, John Fairweather. Robert Cooke, a top man last season, has left Christchurch but the side has gained th< services of the young

centre, Geoff Longley, from Burnside.

Longley has played for three clubs in as many seasons but might now be ready to realise the tremendous potential he displayed in his first A grade season as a member of the H. 5.0.8. side.

Checkers’s hopes of upsetting the established order, however, will rest on whether the national director of coaching, Lloyd Sanders, turns out for the side. An American player of great ability as well as an outstanding coach, he earlier indicated that he would play when he was free from his national coaching commitments. But this created a

storm of controversy from a wide range of players and administrators who feel that his knowledge should be available for all clubs.

The outcry would not have been as’ great if Sanders had elected to assist one of the weaker teams. His decision could well affect the outcome of the local championship and also have an influence on the national club championship. At the same time, basketballers have to ask themselves if it is fair to prevent him playing basketball in his own time, just because he is a paid servant of the national organisation. None of the other teams appear capable of challenging the top two, although University, which was promoted from B grade this season, looks promising. In Rowen Saker and the former Otago representatives, Arnie Pawrini and Marty Searle, it has a solid core of ability.

There will be interest in the progress of the other team new to the grade, Teachers’ College. Basically it has been together for three years, working up from C grade in impressive fashion. Phil Osvenek, Dennis Ferguson end Steve

Girvan, the driving force behind the team, are among its most promising performers. Carl Stent has returned to Mairehau after a season in the North Island and he is certain to help its prospects immensely. Gordon Phillips will again be the guiding hand and Mike Seaward, the highest points scorer in the grade last season, will be hoping for another good season.

Having lost Longley and another capable rebounder in Noel Daniel (who is prevented from playing seriously by personal commitments), Bumside appears weaker than last season and might find itself struggling to stay clear of the bottom of the ladder. Brent Cummack and Peter Ward are expected to be the mainstays.

The moment of truth for Bumside will not be long in coming. It has been drawn to meet Checkers in the last game on Saturday. Y.M.C.A. will play Teachers’ College and Jaks-H.5.0.8. will play University in the other games. Mairehau has the bye. 1