National basketball colts team beaten

Press, 18 July 1977, Page 17

National basketball colts team beaten

An inexperienced Canterbury colts basketball squad recovered from a seemingly hopeless position to not only head off. but decisively beat, the New Zealand colts team. 64-46. at Cowles Stadium yesterday. When the national side raced to a 16-1 advantage after six minutes, it seemed that two methods of keeping tabs on the respective totals would be needed—an adding machine for the visitors and the fingers of one hand for Canterbury.

But a fine goal by John Hill, whose omission from the New Zealand colts tour had prompted more than a little criticism in the south, halted the lop-sided trend oi the game. From that point. Hill dominated the match and he fully deserved his indicidual return of 24 points.

The transition was remarkable. In the early stages New Zealand had been so much quicker of mind and foot against a side that might have been somewhat over-awed. Yet Canterbury had caught up to 24-26 by the interval. and had drawn level just a few seconds after the resumption.

Canterbury had had no answer to the well-positioned New Zealand defence until Hill proved to his team-mates that they need not be as Inferior as the scoreline indicated. Vital

points were wasted by the inaccuracy of the Canterbury players from their many free throws and the fast breaks of Warwick Meehl greatly assisted New Zealand to build up what should have been a winning lead.

However. Hill gave Canterbury a momentary lead just before half-time, and then regained the initiative as hesitancy became all the more evident in the New Zealand colts line-up during the second spell. His example was followed by Jonathan Lowen, especially, and Kelvin Duff and Doug Bonner joined in the scoring to assure Canterbury of victory.

When Canterbury went clear at 50-38. Hill was spelled, but his coach (Mr Carl Dickel) could afford to give him little respite and two quick goals by Meehl persuaded Mr Dickel to send Hill back into the fray. Any chance that New Zealand had of mounting its own revival disappeared when Meehl was fouled off with his side still 10 points in arrears. Hill and Lowen continued to keep the pressure on New Zealand. and even the most ardent of the home supporters must have been surprised at the manner in which the New Zealand defence crumbled. Only Meehl and Peter Corlett performed

prominently for New Zealand throughout. The pattern of the afte. noon’s play had been established in the curtain-raiser when the Canterbury junior women’s team conceded the first 10 points before responding to the challenge and drawing. 73-73. with the provincial senior A side.

Jeanette Howard was by far the most impressive player scoring 29 points. Her ability to pierce the opposing defence instilled confidence in the juniors and they were behind by only two points at the interval; the match was even from that stage, as might be gauged by the fact that the totals were tied on 16 occasions. Scorers:—

Canerburv Colts 64 (J. Hill 24. J. Lowen 14. K. Duff 8, B. Wall croft 7. P. Ward 4. P. Stevenson 3 R. Saker 2, D. Bonner 2) beat New Zealand Colts 46 (W. Meehl 19. B. Corlett 10. G. Hare 6. J. van Uden 6. S. Agnew 2. P. Campbell 2. G. Dunning 1). Canterbury senior A women 73 (P. Hinkley 16. K. Adamson 15, H. Morrison 13. A. Wright 11, S. Constable 6. D. Stringer 4. K. Smith 4. N. Hall 4) drew with Canterbury junior women 73 (J. Howard 29, B. McLeod 16. D. Broughton 10. R. North 6, J. Cook 4. D. Woodhouse 4. V. Howard 2, B. Palmer 2).