N.Z. takes basketball series

Press, 26 June 1978, Page 3

N.Z. takes basketball series

An arduous two-week tour of New Zealand came to a disappointing end for the Arizona college basketball team, Yavapai, when it lost I the fourth and final match ! against New Zealand, 52-57, at Cowles Stadium yesterday.

After losing the first two matches by three and 10 points, the young college side kept alive its hopes of drawing the series by scoring its most decisive win, 54-42, in Dunedin on Saturday.

However, Yavapai, after ibeing level, 52-52, with 3min [ remaining, could not score again. New Zealand, through [two free throws by Stan Hill jand a good long shot by (John van Uden, was ahead, 57-52,'with Imin left. I The New Zealand team I held possession for the last [minute and played the right tactics, moving the ball around and not attempting any shot until time was almost up. There was just time for a desperate and unsuccessful long throw at 'goal by one of the Yavapai ■players before the buzzer [sounded New Zealand’s victory and an over-all 3-1 series win.

The Yavapai coach (Mr ;Dave Brown) said that his (team was suffering from fatigue after playing 12 matches in 14 nights throughout New' Zealand. He blamed goal shooting as the main reason for the team’s defeat but was nevertheless pleased with the consistent standard of his playlers.

The match was played in good spirit and was remarkably free of fouls. There | were only 12 fouls in the [first half and no player was [fouled off the court.

! Apart from the closeness of the scores there was little Ito be enthusiastic about. [Both teams passed poorly at 'times and made too many i errors, especially with shots at goal.

• Both defences worked hard and there were few I clean breaks into the keyI hole. The low scoring [reflected the shooting inaccuracies and defensive caipabilities of the teams.

As a forerunner for the Commonwealth tournament in Britain in August, the New Zealand performance was not too convincing. The senior coach (Mr Steve

| McKean) said that the [squad, without several of its Heading players and without [proper preparation for the series, had played well. However possession had too often been wasted, with senseless cross-court passes when hort passes or bounce passes through the legs should have been used. Throughout the match the teams were never more than four points apart. New Zealand held an early lead but Yavapai was ahead by two points after lOmin and one point after 15min. It was 26-26 2min before half time when New Zealand, with several key players on the bench, lapsed badly with its passing. Van Uden was the main culprit, with three mistakes in succession, and the college team led, 30-26, at the interval. The teams kept level pegging for most of the second half. It was 36-36 with 13min remaining and 50-50 with smin left. New Zealand had its top line-up on the court for the final period and Stan Hill converted two free throws to put his team ahead, 55-52, with 90s remaining. Calm, controlled play in the dying stages kept New Zealand safely clear. Stan Hill, with nine of his 17 points coming from free throw's, Warwick Meehl,

[who scored some brilliant ilong goals, and John Hill, with strong rebounding in the second half, enhanced their reputations for New Zealand.

; Randolph Carroll had an 1 outstanding first half for Ya- ■ vapai, scoring 16 of the 30 > points. But he was well con- •. tained in the second spell > and added only two more points. ; Marty Peterson, who star- ■ red against Canterbury, was , not such an effective force , and the best offensive work ' for the visitors, in the second half came from Joe Kraznarich. Jerome Hender1 son and Dale Brackins were 7 subdued. Scores: New Zealand 57 ; (Stan Hill 17, Warwick ■ Meehl 12, John van Uden 10, Stewart Ferguson 8. John Hill 8, J. Rademakers 2) • beat Yavapai 52 (Randolph ; Carrol! 18, Joe Kraznarich! 12, Marty Peterson 6, Keith! Ballinger 4. David Duggan 4,1 Jerome Henderson 4, Kevin 1 Gilbert 2, Dale Brackins 2. ,