Basketball record

Press, 18 June 1979, Page 4

Basketball record

I PA Napier Crichton Ford (Napier) set a national record when it won its third successive title at the New Zealand women’s club basketball championships which ended in Napier on Saturday evening. Crichton, xvhich xvon the two previous titles at Hadleigh Homes, came back from 11-161 midway in the first half to beat Kotuku (Hamilton). 49-46, in the final. But ('richton had to survive) a desperate last minute of play , in which Kotuku scored five points in four seconds, all from free throws. before it could claim the title again. There xvere emotional scenes from Crichton when the final whistle xvent and Carolx ne Grey, the Kotuku captain, was almost in tears when she led her team off the court. i "I don’t know where we xvent i xvrong,” Miss Grex said. “We led 16-11 half-way through the

• first half and then failed to hold our position.” i A brilliant display of outside ; shooting bx Denice Norton vxas what gave Crichton the break I thex needed in the second half i Norton, named as the piaxer of the match, scored 14 of her . 19 points during the second half i and assumed the scoring role i I after Jennx Mather and Lyn Pugh were marked out of the 1 I game. I Results: — , . ■J Final: Crichton Ford (Napier) ■49 Kotuku (Hamilton* 46. Third. J fourth: Boystown (Auckland) 61, i Centrals (Wellington* 49. Fifth. I sixth: Otago University .>4, Naenae 39. Seventh. i Don Rovers (Auckland) 7J, [ Checkers (Christchurch) 72. , Ninth, tenth: Comrades ; (Counties) 67. Mairehau (Cnristi church) 54. Eleventh, twelfth: Rotorua G.H.S.O.P. J 7, Ufa a : (New Plymouth) 37. Thirteenth. • fourteenth: Macleay Duff s land* 42. Akarana (Auckland* 40.