Jaks and Checkers jump higher in basketball

Press, 22 May 1978, Page 20

Jaks and Checkers jump higher in basketball

Jikt-Hifh Scheol Old Boys »tr«ngth«ue<l their grip on the canterbury' first division mens basketball championship with a convincing 67-49 win against an old rival, Y.M.C.A.. in Cowles Stadium on Saturday. Y.M.C.A.. one of the finest club, sides in New Zealand in tbe ! early 19705. has been unable to; recapture its former glory, it made a very poor start and, although it did recover, it had no hope of regaining the lost ground It seems that it will now hat e to reconcile itself to a place in the bottom half of the competition and a period of teambuilding. Checkers maintained their posttion as the main challengers to Jaks. Their 74-48 win against the lowly University confirmed their second position on the points ladder, and left the students still seeking their first win this sea son. Mairehau gamed the upper hand only in the closing stages; of its match against the rapidly improving Aranui. finally winning 67 36. The outstanding figure in the side was again the Canterbury representative forward. Silke Seaward, who added a, further 25 points to his steadily ' growing individual total this sea-: son. His tally was matched only by the New Zealand representative. John Fairweather. Points after seven rounds are:— Jaks-High School Old Bovs 12. Checkers 10. Mairehau 8. Y.M.C.A. 6. Aranui 4, Burnside 4. University 0. BEST MATCH The encounter between Mairehau and Aranui wh undoubtedly the highlight of the afternoon. Mairehau, skilfully led by Gordon Phillips, was clearly the better aide, but it had to call on ail its resources to contain several splendid recoveries bv Aranui. In the early stages, there wasi

a keen struggle. Mairehau led 10-8 after omln. and the scores were level at 14-all 2min later. Then Mairehau started to pull away, and led 23-16 after lOmin. But Aranui halted the decline' and at half-time was trailing by! , only four points i36-32>. When play resumed, Mairehau again started to forge ahead. In the first 9min. it scored 19 points ‘to Aranui's sis. But once again Aranui rallied splendidlv and as the game entered the final 2mln.i there was a mere seven points between the teams <56-491. Unfortunatly for Aranui, this was as close as it was to get to Mairehau. which dominated the closing stages and increased its advantage. Seaward was in excellent form and Phillips, too, had a good j game. His shooting was of a high, order and his play in the mid-; court was controlled. Andy Campbell and Auburn: Aitchison gave Aranui useful I ] strength under the boards. GUTHRIE ON SIDE-LINE Jaks, well on the wav to re-] gaining the title they lost so nar-l rowly to Checkers last season,! were without the playing services l ; of their coach, Tim Guthrie, who] is also one of the finest play-1 ■ makers in New Zealand. Guthrie] ■ was suffering from a back injury and contented himself with guiding the team against Y.M.C.A., from the bench. If he had any moments of con-] cern over possible weaknesses in I the mid-court, these were quickly; dispelled. Jaks swept to a com- j manding 15-3 lead after lOmin! and after 14min were ahead. 21-5.| Only then did Y.M.C.A. begin, to make progress but at half-; time Jaks were leading very! comfortably. 32-19. To its credit. Y.M.C.A. refused, to give up what appeared to be; an uneven struggle and in the second half began to chip awavl

I at Jak’s lead Remarkably, it ; managed to reduce the margin to seven points <52-431 with Bmin to go. This shook Jaks out of their complacency and a more pur- | poseful approach soon had its score mounting again. Y.M.C.A., tried hard to mount another; rally but was never again a threat. Jaks ran out comfortable! winners. S 7-49 The outstanding figures in the] ; Jaks line-up were the two New] I Zealand representatives, John ] Hill and Stewart Ferguson, who! scored 19 and 17 points respectively. Both were outstanding! under the boards, where David! Usmar also made a big contribution Tom Neumann provided ] Y.M.C.A. with its strongest shoot- ] ing, scoring 18 points in a great• ] solo effort. Andy Miller, Lance I Dixon, and Hugh Dimock worked ] hard in rebounding but did not I ] manage to get the amount of [Control their height should have i given them. UNIVERSITY CAUGHT SHORT ] Checkers had the measure of I University from the outset. The ] students displayed promising co- ! ordination and purpose in the : ]early stages and finished well.! ] But their lack of height gave I them little chance against the much better prepared Checkers players. I Checkers led, 38-18, at half- ] time. At one stage in-the sec- ] ond half they were ahead by 30 I ] points, although University man- ] aged to reduce the margin to 26 ] j by the final hooter. I Fairweather was at his best ] I for Checkers, shooting well and | i always looking for the rebound.] ] Dennis Barry was also a key ! figure in mid-court, displaying i some of the ability which won ] him a place in the final New I Zealand trial this year. Therel must have been satisfaction, too, I for Peter Ward in a job well

done. This was his final appearance for Checkers for at least three months. He begins a training course for the Ministry of Tiansport in Wellington today. Alan Monro directed operations well lor University in the mid- ,! court. Paul Stevenson, playing - against his former team-mates, ] produced probably his best offensive game this winter. Steve ; Eves also played well. But their ] combined talents were not nearly enough to threaten Checkers. Scoring details:— Checkers 74 (J. Fairweather I 25, D. Barry 21, P. Daigneault ] 10, D. Ruha 8, G. Ottmann 4. P. Ward 4, P. Rundle 2) beat University 48 (P. Stevenson 14, S. ] Eves 10. A. Monro 8, A. Web- ] ster 6, M. McLeod 6, B. Hoben i 2, A. Guillen 2). ] Jaks-H.5.0.8. 67 (J. Hill 19, S. I Ferguson 17, D. Usmar 10, M. Ruseoe 8, J. Whelan 8, J. Wright 4, M. Searle 1) beat Y.M.C.A. 49 (T. Neumann 18, A. Miller 9, M. Turner 6, L. Dixon 6, P. Kuipers 4, R. Manthie 4, H. Dimock 2). Mairehau 67 <M. Seaward 25, G. Phillips 15, M. Belcehr 8, J. Caldwell 6, P. van Hout 5, B. Searle 4, M. Stokes 2, J. Pickles 2) beat Aranui 56 (A. Campbell ]l2, A. Aitchison 10, G. Harrison ] 10, T. Costain 8, K. Ritsma 8, R. | Costain 6, P. Hill 2). ] Lower grade results:— Men | Second division.—Y.M.C.A. B 157, Rangiora A 31; Teachers Col- ] lege A 54, Checkers C 47; ■ Y.M.C.A. C 55, University B 48; ■ Aranui D.B. 45, Hagley 31; Burnside U.S. 66, Mairehau H.S. 55; Mairehau B 67, Jaks-H.5.0.8. C 44; Checkers B 81. Riccarton B 21; C.M.S. 56, Taxes 50; Riccarton A 60, Burnside B 44. Third division.—Linwood H.S. 26, Wanderers 22; Wigram 29. G. Phillips 15. M. Belcher 8. J. N.A.C. 25; Seekers 41, East Shirley 18; Deaf Boys A 54. Deaf ]

Boys B 9; Hagley 14, Checkers F 14.. Fourth division.—Mairehau H.s. 33, Y.M.C.A. E 31; Teachers i College B 13. Burnside C 8; I Y.M.C.A. D 37, Checkers E 19; j Checkers D 39, Christchurch !B.H.S. C 3. I Fifth division.—Riccarton C 40. I Rangiora 20; Orient 25, C.T.C. 11; ] Toe H 33, Media Allstars 29; ] Southern 7 38, IBM 20; Sunny;side 25, Rebels A 19; Hillmorton ] staff 26, Rebels B 15. Women Second division.—University B 33. Burnside A 32; Aranui H.S. 35, Sockburn 21; Mairehau B 67, B 21 l Hagley 52, Burnside H.S. 27; Checkers B 60, Teachers College A 33. Third division.—Checkers C 18, Brighton A 11; Wanderers 23, Burnside B 12; Halswell A 45, Hagley B 8; Pathology 28. Riccarton A 14; Linwood H.S. 63, Lincoln 13. Fourth division.—Rebels B 12, Halswell B 8; Brighton B 36, Avonside. B 4; Albion 17, Rangiora C 16; Mairehau C 15, Avon?s> de r,. A , 10; Taxes 22 - Sockburn Ivj, Ultdokers D 28, Burnside C 10. r. 5?S h division.—Brighton D 27. c?' E rJ L > 16 ’ SHI.C.A. 18, Aorangi 9; Checkers E 11. Teachers’ College, B 10; D.S.W. 28, Halswell o , S r*s. th „ division.— Deans 30, 2; „ S HC - B 20, Halswell D rw C ; 22, Teach ers’ College D2; Checkers F 29, Seekers 14. Seventh division.—Temnleton 14, Burnside 6; Sunnyside 29. Checkers G 12; Checkers H 16. N.Z.I.G. 10; Halswell E 14, Brighton E 14.