Champions lose basketball

Press, 1 May 1978, Page 14

Champions lose basketball

Mairehau A proxided the upset of the season when it beat last year s champions. Mairehau High School, 60-26 in the women s A grade basketball competitions at Cowles Stadium oh Saturday.

The high school team was obviously missing its talented New Zealand trialist. Jeanette Howard, but the Mairehau A team played with polish and deservedly enjoyed a 30-11 half-time lead.

Mairehau High played some tight defensive work, but a combination of a slight height advantage and more accurate shooting from the A team paved the way for the w'in. As well, the school team seemed to lack the force and drive that has characterised its play this season, and Howard's absence was felt in this department. The A team also had a player away at the national trials. Jackie Cook, whose experience and assurance on the court has netted her a number of goals, was not altogether needed on Saturday as her team performed admirably without her. University 73, Rangiora 59. Despite holding a half-time lead of 32-30. Rangiora could not contain its more agressixe rival and University eventually won by 14 points. The teams fought out a close first half, with Rangiora shining on defence and the University team making most of the play. In the second half however the students stepped up their attack, taking the lead shortly after the interval and continuing to widen the gap. Andrea Mac Kay was in top form for University and scored 17 points, but her teammates

missed a number of ihota that could have meant an even b:*gej win Kim Smith was the sta* plaver for Rangiora. and she f:n« ished the game with a personal tallv of 21 points. Rebels 72, Christchurch United 41. Rebels scored a good win oves United but did very little te apply the pressure until the sec. ond half. A poor start by ;h» Rebels team allowed United la skip into a 17-12 lead by the ninth minute, but by half time Rebels had hit the front, 33-26 Shirlev Le Warne topped Rebels’ scoring once again with . well-earned 22 points. Heather Carr replied with 22 points for United, but her effort was not supported by her team. She the only United plajor to reach double figures. Mairehau A 60 (M. Fastier 16, K Adamson 14. P. Barry 12. W. Timu 8. N. Phillips 4, .1. Armstrong 2, V. Howard 2, C. PwtTy 2i beat Mairehau High School 2d iB. Palmer 7. D. Broughton 5, D. Goodland 4, A. Birmingham 4. S. Wood 3, V. Cassidy 2. R. Cassidy’ 73 (A. Mac Kay 17, A. Wright 16. A. Beukenholdt. 14, D. Mac Kay 11. J Douglas 8. A Brockenlisire 4. Z. West 3i beat Rangiora 59 (K. Smith 21, S. Blackadder 12. R. King 12. K Atchison 6, C. Winter 3. B. Fortune 2, A. Smith 2, L. Kearney 1). Rebels 72 (S. Le Warne 22. .D. Shanks 12. Z. Meads 9, E. Young 8. A. Taie 8, G. Chin 6. M Williams 4, K. Woodgate 2, V. Young 1) beat Christchurch United 41 (H. Carr 22, D. Wilson 5. L. Clarke 4, L. Bowler 3, C. Jones 3, B. Carr 2, L. Murphy 2u