Longley back in team

Press, 24 August 1977, Page 42

Longley back in team

The 2.06 m (6ft 9in) Checkers centre, Geoff Longley, has been named in the Canterbury A men’s basketball team for the New Zea- 1 land championship touma-; ment in Hamilton from September 6 to 10.

Longley, who has not been available for the Canterbury team for the last two seasons, agreed to step into the gap left by the 18-year-old New Zealand centre, John Hill, who has decided to take a well-earned rest after a very demanding season.

The return of Longley, who made his Canterbury debut in his first senior season in 1975, will be welcomed. He has been playing with greater fire and purpose than ever before in recent weeks and will be a decided asset for Canterbury under the boards. Unfortunately, Hill is not the only key player not available for the championship, which Canterbury won last year. His Jaks-High School Old Boys team-mate, Matt Ruscoe, has also pulled out, and the New Zealand junior representative, Gareth Hare (also Jaks), has decided that he cannot afford the time and expense of another basketball trip either.

The team is:— T. Guthrie. S. Guthrie, A. Smith, E. Manco, D. Usmar (Jaks); C. Stent, M. Seaward (Mairehau); D. Barry, G. Longley (Checkers). The 2.08 m (6ft lOin) American, Bill Kinchen, who made his debut for Checkers last week-end, could not be considered because he did not meet a residential qualification.