Upset when Jaks beats University

Press, 28 April 1980, Page 19

Upset when Jaks beats University

A revitalised Jaks-High- School Old Boys combination threw the Gut'hrey Travel Canterbury first division men’s basketball championship into turmoil when it convincingly defeated Inns of the Pacific-University, 73-65, in Cowles Stadium on Saturday.

Firm favourite for the 1980 title before the game, University ■was no match for the constant defensive pressure and brilliant shooting of the Old, Boys players. Old Boys, earlier given no chance of retaining the provincial championship after losing key members of last season’s successful team will now be regarded in a new light by other title contenders.

“We did the simple things right,” the Old Boys coach, Mr Kim Luxton, said later. “We cut down our error rate from previous games and put up some sound defensive pressure for a change.” This was the first win of the season for Old Boys, but it is unlikely to be the last. The team lost its first two games by extremely small margins and, it can now look with confidence to its next matches, against Mairehau on Wednesday and against Y.M.C.A. next Saturday. One unsatisfactory aspect of the match between University

and Old Boys was that it was relegated to the No. 2 court ini the stadium, and scheduled for the. same time as another first division match between Checkers! and Continental Caterers-Rangi-i ora. To have two such matcnes drawn at the same time, and then to place the encounter between the two top teams of last season on a secondary court, is something to puzzle over. The manner in which the stadium emptied during the women’s first division match, scheduled for the prime afternoon time on the main court, should tell Canterbury administrators something. The Checkers-Rangiora match was an anti-climax. Checkers were never in any danger of defeat, winning 51-36. The third game built up to a splendid climax, the lead changing twice in the final 2min. Y.M.C.A. managed to scramble home. 67-62. Points are: Aranui 4. Checkers 4, Rangiora 4 (bye to come). Old Boys 2, University 2, Y.M.C.A. 2, Mairehau 0. The next round, to be played on Wednesday evening, should help crystalise championship prospects. Several teams will be severely weakened by the absence of their New Zealand players: the national team to com-

ipete in Taiwan assembles in Auckland today. On Wednesday, Rangiora will meet University and Old Boys will meet Mairehau, both at 7 p.m. United Service Aranui will play Checkers at 8-30 p.m. UPSET WIN JAKS-H.5.0.8. 78: K. Duff 22, M. Searle 16. D. Barry 10, J. Wnelan 10. 11. Thomson 7. A. Manco 6, T. Guthrie 4, C. Cowie 1.0. P.-UNIVERSITY 65: M. Ruscoe 22. M. Stokes 9. M. Herriot 3, J. Wright 8. G. Gordon 6. J. Caldwell 6. .G Hare 4, R. Parkinson 2. The return to the winner’s circle of Jaks-High School Old Boys caught many followers of the sport by surprise. However, University’s American coach, Mr Bob Bishop said: “I wouldn’t call it an upset, Jaks would have beaten Rangiora easily if they had had John Whelan last week. I knew they were going to be hard.” He predicted that the team that wins the championship will have been beaten three times.

Old Boys used their 2-1-2 zone defence effectively, allowing University little room in which to move. The students were in constant trouble with their inside shots and inside game.

The accuracy of Old Boys' shooting was also superior. '! -ie success rate must have been close to 70 per cent, which L. :c -i markably high, even for a first l division team. “They were throwing up shots from 20 to 25ft out and they were going in.” Mr Bishop said in disbelief afterwards. Old Boys were ahead. 14-4, after 6min and at half-time led,. 46-25. After 7min in the second: spell, the margin had increased to 26 points. Then it was a matter of coasting to the finish. The star of the match was the Old Boys’ forward. Kelvin Duff. He collected 12 points in the first half with an outstanding display of outside shooting, and then added 10 more points to his tallv in the first smin of the second spell. He was fouled out of the game after only Bmin, which could be considered a blessing for University. Marty Searle also was in great form, and the returnl of Whelan made all the difference when play was loose. Matt Rttscoe, a former New Zealand player, kept the University scoring respectable, but lie was one of the few who seemed able to cope with the solid Old Boys defence. Gareth Hare, another former national representative returned to the side for tne first time this season after

covering from a leg injury. He showed some cf his old flair, bu; his scoring was restricted. RANGIORA CHECKED

CHECKERS 72: S. Hill 24, A. Miller IS, W. Marsh 17. P. J. Ward 7. P. Daigneault 2. R. Ruwhiu 2. G. Thomson 2. RANGIORA 51: J. Hill 12, A. Robson 10, B . Cummack 8. R. Scarhil! 6. J. London 6. S. Nuku 3, L. Nichol's 2, L. Dixon 2. J. Birch 2. Billed as the first clash between the two big New Zealand representatives. Stan Hill and his, younger brother. John the match did not come up to expectations. The two brothers dominated their respective defensive boards, but Stan had the edge on offense and his team had much greater depth of ability. Checkers led 30-13. after 15min, and 36-25 at half-time. Ten minutes into the second spell. Check ers were ahead, 59-42, and it was apparent that there could be only one outcome. Both teams relied heavily on their New Zealand players. Rangiora might have a hard time justifying its dace in the first division without John Hill in the games ahead.

Stan Hill. Andy Miller and Wavr.e Marsh all played well for Checkers, but, of this trio, only

Miller will be on ’.he score.-heet for the next game. CLOSE FINISH Y.M.C.A. 67: T. Neuman 12. M. Turner 11. G. Stvars 11. P. Ku:. per= 8. S. Eves 3, C. Green S, C. Dobbs 5. K. Jones 4. MAIREHAU 62: M. Seaward 20. M. Hall 13. G. Phillips 11, B. Hall 8, B. Fifield 6. S. Pickles 4. A late rally by Mairehau previded an unexpectedly close finish. With just 4m:n remaining, Y.M.C.A. had a 10-point lead (59491 and appeared to have the game under control. It under, estimated the fighting qualities of Mairehau, which took ash tage cf a slackening in th» Y.M.C.A. defence to scote points in a row. Mairehau hit the front. 60-59. 2min from the end. Y.M.C.A. regained its composure just in! time anti, thanks to fine work by Tom Neuman, scraped home in. front to claim its first com- 1 petition points. Y.M.C.A.’s effort was nicely balanced. The two most experienced players, Neuman and, Murray Turner. were com-i plemented by the enthusiasm' and determination of younger players. Mike Seaward was again outstanding for Mairehau, play-, ing a key role in the side’s sec-! □nd half recovery.