Basketball to Napier side

Press, 3 July 1978, Page 22

Basketball to Napier side

Hadleigh Homes from Napier, won the 1978 Hanes national women’s club basketball championships which ended in Christchurch this week-end.

After five days competition, which produced some high quality basketball, the Napier team and Boystown Levis (Auckland) fought a battle of tactics ending in a 53-49 win for Hadleigh Homes, the depending champions. The closeness of much of the play was evident in the fact that Tennis, which finished seventh, needed only tc have beaten Boystown Levis earlier in the tournament by one more goal and Tennis would have been in the main semi-finals.

Hadleigh Homes seized an early advantage, leading 12-6 after 10 minutes, 20-10 after 16 minutes, and 26-16 at the interval. Boystown Levis, guided by the American All Star coach, Don Orndoff, went into the second half determined to close the gap. They did so, trailing 36-35 after 11 minutes. Excitement rose as Boystown took the lead 45-44 in the fifteenth minute.

A battle of tactics was then played out. New Zealand’s new national coach, Posey Rhoads, who is also American, put a very effective full-court press on Boystown.

The Hadleigh girls applied this full-court press well and Boystown Levis could find no answer. Boystown ran into foul trouble, collecting four fouls in the seventeenth and eighteenth minute enabling Hadleigh to capitalise and regain the lead, 50-48, when two minutes play remained. In this final period Hadleigh stole the ball several times and made good use of well won possession.

Lynn Gillies (Hadleigh) and Te Te Hira (Boystown) won the player-of-the-match award in the final. Earlier in the tournament Boystown beat Hadleigh 39-26. Boystown win at that stage was essential to finding a place in Friday’s semi-final. . Boystown Levis beat Otago U, 46-34, in their semi-final match on Friday. Boystown Levis settled down quickly and Margaret Johns scored several quick baskets for an early lead, using her height to great advantage. However, in a late rally, Otago came back to trail, 16-21, at halftime. The second half was very even. Boystown held a six-point advantage. For four minutes near the* end, great defence by both sides denied all scoring. But, when four minutes were left for play, Boystown Levis got the break and their three quick goals put the match safely into their hands.

In the other semi-final Hadleigh Homes beat Club 77, 53-36. Both these teams practised hardest of all teams in the championship and both teams went out with a strong will to win. Hadleigh stole a march on Club 77 when Hadleigh’s Captain, Jenny Mather, scored 10 quick points in succession.

Hadleigh Homes showed the advantage or having three national representatives in the side (Lynn Gillies, Maree Brunton, and Cheryl Fleet), and made Club 77 work hard for any possession.

An emotion-packed ending saw a thoroughly exhausted Club 77 leave the court with about a minute remaining, and showing the frustrations of five hard games during the tournament. Tennis has been four

times the winner of the Eas« ter Club Tournament in Christchurch and was originally seeded aecond in the championship. But Tennis lost the right to compete in the Friday’s main semi-finals after Boystown Levis, Hadleigh Homes and Tennis were in a three-way tie. Tennis had to drop out with the lowest points differential.

Club 77 quickly established superiority over Otago U and had a 25-19 lead at half time. Twice in the second half Otago U came back, closing the score to 27-25 (third minute) and 39/38 (fifteenth minute). In doing so, Otago U spent its energy. Club 77, guided by the New Zealand representative, Madonna Gilchrist, scored a clear victory in the last four minutes.

One more goal in Tennis’s match against Boystown Levis would have put Tennis in; instead, Tennis played off for seventh and eighth places on Saturday. Y.M.C.A.-Akarana, winner in 1975 and 1976, was seeded first; but its effort was a little disappointing, and they also failed to make main semi-finals. Centrals’ determination enabled them to carry off fifth place. Club 77 really tried hard to overcome the disappointment of Friday’s upset loss and set about the l play-off for third place with a will.

The Puma tracksuits for the most valuable players went to Margaret Johns (Boystown Levis), for best forward, and to Jenny Mather (Hadleigh Homes) for best guard. This week Christchurch’S' Jaks Old Boys will travel to Hamilton to contest the final of the Old Crow men’s club

champions but have dropped to fourth seed behind Mount Wellington, Otago University, and Hadleigh Homes. The final will be on Saturday. Main semi-final Bovstown Levis (Auckland) 46 <M. Johns 14, T. Te Hira 14. S. Newlands 10, J. Rosenbrook 4, A. Robertson 4) beat Otago University 34 (H. Grayburn 12, R. Dornan 9, J. McMeekan 4, F. Harrison 4, T. Russell 3, S. Denness I, C. Ross 1). Hadleigh Homes (Napier) 53 (J. Mather 14, L. Gillies 14, C. Cook 6. C. Fleet 4, M. Brunton 4, J. Hood 2, C. Rhoads 2, D. Robertson 2) beat Club 77 (Hamilton) 36 (M. Forsythe 15, B. Smith 8, C. Nouwens 6, M. Gilchrist 3, R. Hampstead 2, B, Lim 2). Lower semi-final Centrals (Wellington) 57 (S. McKee 17, B. Gilkison 10, L. Houston 10, A. McLaughlan 9, J. Green 8, J. Farrall 2, C. Griffin 1) beat Tennis (Nelson) 54 (K. Hoddy 23, L. Wright 12, D. Woodhouse 7, T. Wright 6, L. Hannen 4, A. Baylis 2). Y.M.C.A.-Akarana (Auckland) 49 (L. Millsteed 12, B. Tanior 10, B. Williams 10, C. Heremai 8, TPuia 7, A. Kose 2) beat Greenbay Steelers (Hamilton) 41 (R. Smith 15, S. Munroe 6, M. Cleverly 6, J. Cornes 6, L. Parkes 4, H. Amohanga 4).

Hadleigh Homes 53 (L. Gillies 15, M. Brunton 14. R. Andrews 7, D. Robertson 6, C. Fleet 5, J. Mather 4, C. Cook 2) beat Boystown Levis 49 (M. Johns 18, T. Te Hira 13, S. Newlands 12, J. Rosenbrook 6).

Play-off for third and fourth: Club 77 50 (M. Gilchrist 15. R. Hampstead 12, C. Nouwens 10, B. Lim 8, M. Forsythe 5) beat Otago University 40 <H. Grayburn 13, R. Dornan 12, C. Ross 7, J. McMeekan 6, S. Denness 2),

Plav-off for fifth and sixth: Centrals 56 (L. Houston 14, S. McKee 11, B. Gilkison 7, C. Griffin 7, J. Green 5, J. Farrell 4, G. McLauchlan 4, G. Rapson 2, J. Sharp 2) beat Y.M.C.A.-Akarana 51 (B. Williams 14, B. Taniora 14, L. Millsteed 13, T. Puia 6, C. Heremia 3. A. Kose 1, T. Webster

1). Play-off for seventh and eighth

Tennis 66 (K. Hoddv 22, L. Wright 18. A. Bayliss 13, D. Woodhouse 7, T. Wright 4, L. Hannen 2) beat Green Bay Steelers 34 (L. Parkes 12, J. Cornes 6. R. Smith 5. M. Clevely 4, S. Munroe 3, R. Doyle 2, J. Sutherland 2).