basketball Default throws competition wide open

Press, 2 July 1979, Page 23

basketball Default throws competition wide open

Jaks-H.5.0.8.'s default to Inns; >t the Pacific University, on Saturday, has thrown tne Guthrey travel men's inter-clun oasketball competition wide open, at least in the scramble tor the minor placings. Old Boys desperately needed to win Saturday s game, the last of the second round, to Keep a margin of safety between it and the two sides in dost attendance. Y.M.C.A. and Mairehau. But the default — five firstchoice players were unavailable for one reason or another — gifted two points to the students to help them into an even more handsome position at the top of the table, while Old Boys’ stocks have slumped to a new low. Y.M.C.A.s win over a gritty, United Service Aranui has pushed the side up to be on level pegging with the defending club champion, . . while Mairenau cruised to a a comfortable win over Burnside to stay in the hunt, two points in arrears. Tim Guthrie, the Old Boys’ plaver-coach, said on Saturday night that the side had not wanted to default. “It is the first game I have defaulted in 12 years of A grade basketbail,’’ said Guthrie. Injuries to John Whelan and John Wright, and the loss of Bob Teitchied through work commitments, had stripped three players from the starting line-up. The Old Boys’ national representatives, John Hill and David Usmar, were on duty in Auckland with the New Zealand team, so Guthrie decided to default. Old Boys', which has suffered upset losses to Checkers and Y.M.C.A. earlier in the season, as w’ell as a couple of defeats at the hands of University, cannot afford to lose a game in the final round if it is to challenge the students in the best of the three-match final to decide the champion side. When the team plays well, it plays very well, but its patchy form so far suggests another loss to a less highly-ranked opponent could be on the cards. Y.M.C.A. and Mairehau have shown marked improvement as the season has progressed and both are within striking range of Old Boys’. But Jaks should beat Checkers when they meet in the first game of the final round this Saturday, while Mairehau comes up against University and Y.M.C.A. has the bye, so Old Boys' could edge into a clear second spot again. University has virtually secured its ticket to the final, as it is well clear of the field on 22 points. Old Boys’ and Y.M.C.A. are tied on 16. Mairehau is on 14. and Checkers is lying in fifth spot with eight.

i Aranui has won three game: I this season for six points, anc | Burnside s upset win over Check ! ers gave the side its two points Mike Seaward took five pointi in the Guthrey Travel player 01 the day award for a splendk performance for Mairehat against Burnside, and Murraj Turner picked up three ii Y.M.C.A.’s game against Aranui Al Robson, the tall Burnside for ward, scored one. Y.M.C.A. 67 (T. Neumann 18 P. Kuipers 14, C. Green 10. J Bosch 8. M. Turner 8, S. Evej 5, C. Dobbs 4), Aranui 63 i.B Knops 20, A. Campbell 17. P Hill 11, A. Atchison 5, R. Atchi son 4, N. Costain 2, T. Costair 12, M. Thoms 2). Aranui began strongly anc quickly took an early lead, Il

es uas short-lived, however, as id Y.M.C.A. wrested tne initiative k- from its opponent and took a s. 35-26 lead with a couple of minutes io go in tne fiist half. , But Aranui, resplendent in bright new uniforms, scored I, several quick baskets late in the “ spell to go into tne second half, i' only five points in arrears. ; Y.M.C.A. tightened its play; ‘ early in the second spell and asserted itself once again. Inspite of the absence of Dutchie Rademakers, on duty with the •J- national team in Auckland, the ■l s i side settled down, with Tom Neu-B-imann dictating play from the centre of the court. P"! After 12 minutes of the half. in Y.M.C.A. had established a comfortable 61-44 lead, but Aranui, id began to come back into the It 1 game. Al Campbell played a cap-i

s. tain’s role very veil, contesting e possession, rebounuing a vigorously and sinking some f( lovely set shots. With five . minutes remaining, the gap had i closed to 10 points. i Y.M.C.A. began to falter, and e:as its momentum slipped Aranui fl came right back into contention. In the last four minutes Y.M.C.A. H could sink only one basket as 1; Aranui piled on the points, but ilit was a little too late. Bert Knops played controlled ? basketball for Aranui and his j aggression under the boards and - accuracy from the wings netted j;him 20 points. Campbel! picked up 17 and Phil Hill scored 11. , ■ Neumann topped the list for - Y.M.C.A. with 18. Peter Kuipers i, notched 14 and Murrav Turner >!10. • I Mairehau 79 (M. Seaward 27.

g M. Stokes 14, G. Phillips 12, P. g van Hout 12. K. Ritsma 4. B e Hall 4. K. Currie 4 . Burnside 66 e ,B. CummacM 24. M. Hail lu. A. a Robson iU, J. London lu. R Lee 5, B. Fifield s>. d Burnside began brightly ii against its higher-ranked opponi.ient and for the first nine k. i minutes, basnet was traded for s basket. The score was 14-13 in i; Mairehau’s favour when Burniside faltered and could not score d for the next nine minutes, by s which time Mairehau had doubled its score to 28 d A flurry of points m the last a couple of minutes of the spell . enabled Mairehau to take a lead r of 37-18 into the second half. s Burnside battled back valiantly r in the second 20 minutes, determined to give Mairehau a good .run for its monex. but the

points conceded in the seconi quarter proved too large i hurdle. The young side actuailv out pointed Mairehau in the seconi halt through a combination o slackening uefeme b.v the muvh taller Mairehau side and belieoffence trom Burnside. But th< gallant effort was not enougn t< salvage the match. Brent Lummack. the Burnsidi captain, led by example H< scored 24 points. 18 of those It the second halt, and posed prob lems for the Mairehau detente Mike Seaward wag very nea and accurate once again toi Mairehau and he nabbed 2' points In the game Mike Stoke-1.-ad one of hls better days air he put in some good wor rebounding, and picked up 1 points.