Stent added to trialists

Press, 1 June 1977, Page 34

Stent added to trialists

A young Canterbury player, Carl Stent (Mairehau), has been invited to compete in the New Zealand men’s basketball trials at Auckland on July 9 and 10 by the national selector (Mr Steve McKean).

Stent, who is only 19 and made his representative debut for Canterbury in the recent Canadian Goodwill Tournament at Blenheim, was not among the original five Canterbury players nominated by the provincial selector-coach (Mr Th . Guthrie). However, in his first season after leaving school last year he travelled north and played in the Panmure club side. Mr McKean is also the playercoach of this side, and was clearly impressed by Stent’s potential.

Very aggressive under the basket, Stent spends a lot of time in the centre for Mairehau, and he has scored a lot of points this season, but at 6ft 3in tall he is not big enough to hold down this position at any higher level, and if he is to win a place in the New Zealand side to play the American Utah State University in Auckland on July 14 and Hamilton the following day then it must be as a forward.

Mr McKean is known to be searching for a replacement for the two 6ft 4in New Zealand forwards, Stuart Ferguson and John Saker, who are at present pursuing independent careers overseas. The two resident Americans who will be included in the New Zealand team for the Utah matches were named yesterday by the national basketball association’s executive officer (Mr Joe McLeod). They are Dave Leslie (Lower Hutt) and the 6ft sin forward. Bill Eldred (Wellington). Eldred, who has lived in New Zealand for several years, has already won his black singlet — against China two seasons ago.

Golf.—Results from the Blank Cup and Simon Cup inter-club golf championships on Sunday were: Blank Cup: Harewood 71, Templeton J; Russley SJ, Avondale 21; Waitikiri 5. Corlnga 3; Waimairi Beach 4, Christchurch 4. Simon Cup: Kaiapoi 6, Templeton 2; Rawhiti SJ, Hagley 2j; Harewood 5, Waitikiri 3; Russley 5, Windsor 3.