Napier, Otago in basketball final

Press, 6 September 1980, Page 6

Napier, Otago in basketball final

Napier and Otago will meet in the final of the New Zealand junior (under 20) men’s basketball championship In- Cowles Stadium today. Canterbury, the top seed and firm favourite, crashed to an unexpected 44-56 defeat in the first semi-final against Otago last evening. The home side failed to capitalise on. a promising start, allowing Otago to dictate its own terms. Otago was ahead 30-20. at half-time. Canterbury , rallied well in the middle of the second half, drawing to within three points Of Otago’s total. But that wag as close as it got. Otago . recovered strongly to gain Its first win over Canterbury in three encounters this season. Displaying superior defence, more accurate shdoting and stronger rebounding, Otago undoubtedly deserved jtj place in the final. ■/■ ■j: ■ ■' The New Zealand junior representative. Euan LOckhart, gave the southern side Outstanding mid-court control and his jumpshooting under pressure from th* top of the keyhole was alge of a high order. . , /’.

Jud Arthur, in the centre, and a tall 16-year-old, Glen Denham, provided much of Otago’s rebounding strength. Canterbury’s earlier. 61-59 win over Wellington clearly took the edge off its performance. Its outside shooting ■ was poor' and its defence, apart from one period in ‘the second half, was not nearly aggressive enough. Chyis Green was the only play-

ler to score freely. He also gave igood service as a rebounder. Hugh Thomson picked up some valuable rebounds in the first spell. Honours in mid-court went to Matt Hall. His departure on five fouls after only Bmin of the second half was a heavy blow. I Napier had to work hard to stay ahead of Wellington in the | first half of the second semi- ; final. It led, 29-28, at half-time. 1 However, it gained a greater i measure of control when plav •• resumed. Wellington’s chances I received a further reversal when ; one of its three New Zealand | juniors. Frank Mulvihill, col- : looted his fifth foul early in the second half. ! At the finish, Napier was domi- I nating all aspects of play with ] such efficiency that it must start ■ tl(e final today as the team to beat. The final score was 71-52. The star of the game was the little Napier guard, Adam Ren. ata, who scored 28 feints. Shane Cbckerlll was also outstanding. In spite of his early departure, Section play.—Auckland 99, New Plymouth 55; Napier 70. Rotorua 28; Canterbury 61. Wellington 59; North Shore 68, Nelson 51. Semi-finals.—Otago 56 (E. Lockhart 19. J. Arthur 12, G. Pettigrew 11), Canterbury 44 (C. Green 21, M. Hill 8. K. Agar 6); Nilpier 71 (A. Renata 23, S. Cockerill 22. G. Johansson 8. B. Tasker 8), Wellington 52 (F. Mulvihill 15, R. Larkin 12, M. Siannon 11).