Mairehau women through

Press, 31 July 1978, Page 19

Mairehau women through

Mairehau High School, the defending champion, is through to the “best of three match” final of the women’s first division basketball championship after scoring a comfortable victory over Rangiora on Saturday. The other finalist will be the Mairehau club side, whose determined display at the Christchurch Boys High School gymnasium against University earned it the other berth.

Checkers, however, will have to be content with third placing for the moment. Earlier in the week the club lost its protest over the game with Mairehau High School for the second time, which effectively quashed its final-making hopes. But Checkers is not content with this decision, and will make a third protest to the New Zealand basketball federation.

Mairehau A 71, University A 50 Mairehau needed to win this match to ensure a place in the final of the women’s championships, and if there was to be anv upset on the day University was the only team capable of providing it. Mairehau realised this and set about its game with a barrage of team chatter, upsetting University and overcoming the usual slow start to take a 12-point lead after the first 10 minutes. Mary Fastier dominated the defensive rebounds in the first

spell while Jenny Armstrong controlled the midcourt play well for Mairehau. She frequently set up Kay Adamson and Patsy Barry to score, and by half-time Mairehau led 36 to 22. University picked its game up a little in the second spell, but could only match Mairehau basket for basket. Adrianna Beukenholdt, showing the benefits of playing with the Canterbury junior team, put together a creditable performance. She worked hard on defence and scored half of the University points. Denise McKay looked a little tired but along with Ann Brokenshire showed patches of form that had Mairehau’s defence worried. Mairehau tightened its defence in the final four or five minutes and Miss Armstrong scored freely to take the final tally to 71 points to 50. Mairehau High School 79, Rangiora 50 With Jeanette Howard away playing for New Zealand. Mairehau relied on Rayne Cassidv and Donna Broughton to set up play, but full marks went to the younger girls In the team who aquitted themselves well. They played with a good appreciation of teamwork and scored many baskets through good passing and cutting. On the other hand. Ranigora had three hard-working players

up front individually In Sandra Blackadder, Kongo King and Kim Smith, but as a team Rangiora was ineffectual against the taller Mairehau defence. Mairehau High led 29-10 after only 12 minutes, and 41-24 by half-time. Ann Bermingham, Debbie Goodland and Karen Richardson were the younger girls to play well for the school team, and Megan Stokes used her height to good advantage under both backboards to top score for Mairehau with 14 points. Miss Smith played her usual fast-running game for Ranigora to top her side’s scoring list with 21 points. Checkers A 75, Rebels A 42 Checkers had an uneasy first five minutes and allowed Rebels to take a 6-3 lead, but as the side gained in confidence so did the score, and a fast, open first half finished with Checkers deservedly ahead 45 points to 15. Checkers, without the highscoring forward. Robyn North, looked to the Canterbury captain, Sharon Rennell. to show them the way. This she did, setting up play from the centre court and scoring several delightful outside set shots. Sally Cox covered a lot of ground carrying the ball from the back court, while Colleen Taurima and Margo Dwane battled out the offensive rebounds against Rebel’s Vai Young.

Repels came back late In the game and scored six good baskets in the last five minutes, but by then Checkers had the match well sewn up and ran out the comfortable winner, 75-42. Individual scoring details , were-.— MAIREHAU 71 (J. Armstrong 18, K. Adamson 14, J. Cook 13, P. Barry 12, W. Tlmu 4, M. Fastier 2) beat UNIVERSITY A 50 (A. Beaukenholdt 25, D. McKav 11, A. Brokenshire 6, D. Atkins 4, A. Wright 2, E. Sprout 2). MAIREHAU HIGH SCHOOL 79 (M. Stokes 14, R. Cassidv 12, K. Richardson 11, D. Goodland 10 D. Broughton 9. I. Lee 8, A. Bermingham 8, V. Cassidv 5, B. Palmer 2) beat RANGIORA A 50 (K. Smith 21, R. King 15, S.i Blackadder 10, L. Rollinson 2, K Atchison 2). CHECKERS A 75 (S. Rennell 19, C. Taurima 14, H. Morrison 11, S. Constable 10. S. Cox 9. P. Roberts 8. M. Dwane 4) beat REBELS 42 (A. Tale 8, M. Williams 8, V. Young 7. Z. Meads 6, S. Le Warne 5, E. Young 4, K. Woodgate 2, C. Cook 2). Competition points at the end of the second round are:— Mairehau High School 20, Mairehau A 20. Checkers A 18, University A 12. Rebels A 8. Rangiora A 2, United A 2. Mairehau High School and Unli versify have one deferred game to play.