Basketball team hopes for repeat performance

Press, 2 July 1979, Page 30

Basketball team hopes for repeat performance

By

MURRAY OLDS

The Canterbury women’s basketball team will be hoping for a repeat of its splendid performance of last year when the 1979 Hertz national championships are held in Nelson early next month. Canterbury, under the able guidance of Kerry Williams, finished fourth in the 1978 tournament after being narrowly beaten in the semifinals by the eventual champion, Auckland. The close, 69-70, loss took a lot out of the team and it was beaten out of third place by Napier.

The effort was Canterbury’s best for many years, and the new coach, Roger Brouwer, of Auckland, will be hoping for another good showing in Nelson.

“The side has a lot of depth, a wealth of experience and a good team balance between the tall girls and the others. “The strength is there, and there’s a lot of individual talent, so all we have to do now is put it together for the championships,” said Mr Brouwer yesterday. Canterbury will certainly not want for depth on the bench — nine of the 11 women have represented

New Zealand at some level — and Mr Brouwer was quite confident his charges would give a good account of themselves next month. The Mairehau club has the biggest representation in the team with five club players selected. Patsy Barry, Jacky Cook and Andrea Taylor have all played for New Zealand at junior levels while Mary Fastier, the captain of the national women's volleyball team, is brilliant under the boards. Colleen McFarlin is a former national representative too, and played basketball for England in 1971 and 1972.

Leslie Hannen, one of three players to make the team from the Checkers club side, is the only present New Zealand basketbailer in the team. She too played at national junior level several seasons ago and is a strong and skilled basketbailer. Other Checkers women include Sharon Constable, a solid player who is a Canterbury softball representative, and the very experienced Sharon Rennell, who has represented Hutt Valley, Canterbury and New Zealand. Adrianna Beukenholdt (University) has played for

Canterbury, South Islanl and New Zealand junici teams and is a stronj player, while her club-matd Denise Mac Kay, makes ( welcome return to the prd vincial scene. Her accurate perimeter shooting an( sound skills make her 1 valuable member of th! team.

Perhaps the trump cart for the side, however, wil be the former Auckland anf New Zealand player, Chrfi Heremia. She is very tai and a decided asset undd the boards, and much can a expected of her in Nelson. “The way the girls art shaping up after only threl training runs is very encoui aging,” said Mr Brouwd yesterday. “The team is oil to prove a point, especiaiM since some of the girl should have gone a Id closer to national selectioj and the incentive is there."

Twenty-two application have been received by th New Zealand basketball fed eration for the 16 availabi places at the tournamenj The final selection will b made shortly, and Cantel bury B may be included. Beth McLeod and RobM North, both Canterbury ce| tainties for the champioa ships, were not available fa selection.