Eight added to b’ball trials

Press, 9 June 1978, Page 24

Eight added to b’ball trials

By

ROD DEW

Two Canterbury players, Dave Usmar (Jaks-High School Old Boys) and Dennis Barry (Checkers), are among eight late additions to the squad for the final New Zealand men’s basketball trial in Hutt Valley on June 14 and 15. Both men get their chance after splendid performances in the South Island club championship at Dunedin last week-end. Usmar is a 1.98 m (6ft 6in) forwardcentre and Barry a fast-mov-ing mid-court player. For Barry, it represents a return to favour after being selected for the New Zealand team to play Australia earlier this year and later dropped before even playing a match. He will undoubtedly be out to prove that this was unjustified. At the end of the trial, the New Zealand coach, Mr Steve McKean, of Auckland, will name his team to compete in the Commonwealth championships in Britain later this year. The team will have its first build-up match against the touring Yavapai university side, from the United States in Wanganui on June 18. Yavapai will meet Canterbury in Cowles Stadium on June 22 and the New Zealand team at the same venue three days later. The inclusion of Barry and Usmar brings to five the number of Canterbury players taking part in the final trial. John Hill, Stewart Ferguson (both Jaks), and John Fairweather (Checkers), who were key members of the New Zealand team which played against Australia, gained automatic inclusion, along with all other members of the last national side. However, some doubt has

arisen about the future of Fairweather. He has gained an educational scholarship to attend a university ir Missouri and has beei. asked to take up his studies or August 24 — the day th< national side is scheduled tc leave for the Commonwealth championship. "We should know within a few days whether it is possible to delay this sc Fairweather can play in the championship,” the New Zealand Basketball Federation’s executive officer, Mr Joe McLeod, said yesterday. If Fairweather is not available for the Commonwealth tournament, he will not be considered for the matches against visiting American university sides in New Zealand this winter. The New Zealand captain, John MacDonald, is also a doubtful starter for the first match between New Zealand and Yavapai. His wife is expecting a baby about that time. However, he will certainly be available for all later matches. The full squad for the final trial, announced yesterday by Mr McLeod, is:— Dave Usmar, Dennis Barry, Stewart Ferguson, John Hill, John Fairweather (all Canterbury); David McCallman (Wellington); Wayne Tuki (New Plymouth); Peter Mildenhall, Jack Maere, (both Napier); Dennis Toe, Tony Smith, Warwick Meehl, John van Uden, Stan Hill, Gordon Reardon, Paul Barrett (all Auckland); John MacDonald (New Plymouth), John Rademakers (Otago). The eight who did not play for New Zealand against Australia are: Usmar, Barry, McCallman. Tuki. Mildenhall, Maere, Toe and Smith.