‘Super leaper’ for basketball

Press, 10 June 1977, Page 24

‘Super leaper’ for basketball

By

ROD DEW

A former All-American junior college selection, Jack Maher, promises to be the star of the New Zealand resident South Pacific American All Stars men’s basketball team which will play the touring Utah State [University side at Cowles Stadium next Thursday. Maher, who arrived ,in New Zealand just two months ago, is among the nine players named yesterday for the team by the se-lector-coach, Mr Lloyd Sanders. of Christchurch. Now based in Palmerston North,! the 23-year-old American is one of "the most aggressive guards to play in this country.

He has been described as a “super leaper” by those who have seen him and in spite of his modest basketball height of I.BBm (6ft 2in) is an outstanding goaltender. Two other relative newcomers to New Zealand, Bob Craven (Panmure) and Mike Good (Hamilton), have also been included. Goode, ■who is 23 and stands 1.97 m

(6ft sin), comes from New Jersey, where he established a reputation as an outstanding shooter and rebounder. Craven, who at 2.03 m (6ft Bin) is the second-tallest player in the side, is an accomplished outside shooter, although he might have to take his turn in the centre. However, he badly bruised his ribs in a recent game and is subject to a fitness test. He is rated as one of the best sideline shooters in the world. The biggest man in the side i; John Conrad at 2.08 m (6ft lOin). Living in Hutt Valley, he was named the [outstanding player at the last national tournament. Steve McKean (Auckland), the New Zealand coach, has been included as a player. A superb scorer at his best, he has the dubious honour of being the oldest in the side at 32. Bill Eldred, the 1.95 m (6ft sin) forward who played much of his basketball in Nelson before moving to Wellington this season, has been chosen and is almost certain to be among the starting five. > The match will mark the

■ New Zealand swan song of 1 the 1.93 m (6ft 4in) Napier - resident, Ed Donohue. He re- . turns to his homeland on June 27. t Sanders, the national - director of coaching, will ' guide the team from the bench but might yet play. [ This will depend on whether Craven is fully fit and i whether Pete Mathesius, an , American player expected to ; arrive in New Zealand any I day, plays' up to ex- ' pectations. Mathesius is 1 joining the Waitemata club i in Auckland. The team will not assemble in Christchurch ; until the morning of the [ match because two of its ' members, Conrad and Dave Leslie (Hutt Valley), will be [ playing for New Zealand ’ against Utgh in Hamilton ’ the previous night. “ Fortunately, five members ' of the team have played toHgether in previous resident [American teams and there '■ [should be little trouble in' I [absorbing the others into a I l ! sound unit. “It has got some; Hsuper individual talent,” the] i national basketball executive; ; officer, Mr Joe McLeod, said! j yesterday. The team is:-— : W, Eldred, McKean. D.

’ Leslie, J. Conrad, R. Craven, ■ E. Donohue, J. Maher, M. • Goode, L. Sanders. One of the tallest players in Canterbury basketball, ■ Geoff Longley', has withdrawn from the New Zea- ! land men’s basketball trials being held in Auckland to; ' find a team to play Utah; State University’ next Tues-| ; day and Wednesday. 1 Longley, who is 2.05 m (6ft 9in) and" played for Canter- ' bury B in the South Island tournament last week-end, decided that his physical condition was not good enough for him to take part in the trials. Eight other triallists withdrew before the first prac- ; tice under the national coach (Mr Steve McKean) yesterday. Among the absentees were Mike Tait (Auckland) and the New Zealand Combined Services representative, Tip Authur. Authur decided there w’as no point in 1 carrying on after an unsatis-, !factory performance in the; [South Island tournament and; [Tait, considered a certainty [for the national side, has! ibeen forced out with a knee; [injury. The New Zealand team is 'expected to be named: ■tonight by Mr McKean,