S.I. basketball exciting

Press, 20 April 1981, Page 3

S.I. basketball exciting

Last evening's semi-finals in the men's A grade competition at the South Island Easter club basketball championships proved exciting. The defending champions, Chateau Regency-University, were defeated bv Vistalite High School Old Boys. 71-63, while Continental CaterersRangiora were defeated by United Service-Aranui 44-49. The latter match had its tense moments. Although Aranui maintained a slight lead throughout, a last-min-ute burst by Rangiora almost lost Aranui the game.

Last year's finalists made relatively easy work of their paths to the semi-finals. University defeated Checkers, 76-40, and Rangiora, 5844, to move into their quar-ter-final where they defeated Butlers Auto SparesYtM.C.A., 57-37.

Similarly Old Boys recorded good wins against Otago University. 72-52, and Y.M.C.A. 66-55. Old Boys had only slightly more difficulty in disposing of its quarter final opponents. Nelson Athletic. It beat Athletic by 7156. Aranui, tipped to take the title this year, struggled in its quarter-final before finally overcoming Rangiora, 47-40. In section play Aranui beat Athletic, 75-58, and St Kilda, 82-53. . The fourth semi-final spot went to Rangiora. which al-

though losing to University in section play and to Aranui in the quarter-finals, had the lowest points differential in the latter match. Rangiora's only win of the tournament up until the semi-final was against Checkers, beaten 7640. In the women's A grade semi-finals there was a surprise result when the Otago University side trounced, one of the pretournamnet favourites, Aranui, 36-27.

Otago University, which had lost to the strong Christchurch Checkers side, 23-47, in section play, had beaten Qantas. 56-29, and Rangiora, 53-26, to reach the play-off spot. Checkers, with two national representatives, Beth McLeod and Lesley Hannen, .beat Rangiora, 7541. and Qantas, 57-35, before disposing of Tennis of Nelson, 44-30 in the quarter final. Another Christchurch club doing well was Mairehau, headed by Megan Stokes and Patsy Barry. In section play the team beat Tennis, 78-38, University, 72-44, before squeaking past Aranui, 46-44. Mairehau qualified for a semi-final place by defeating Rangioray 53-44. Aranui' qualified as the fourth semi-finalist by having the lowest points'differential after its loss to Otago

University. In section play Aranui had defeated Tennis, 49-26, and University, 53-23. Semi-final results last evening, with leading scorers in brackets, were:— Men's A grade: Old Boys 71 (H. Thompson 18), University 63 (G. Gordon 21); Aranui 49 (J. Rademakers 17, B. Knops, 15), Rangiora 44 (L. Dixon 15). Women’s A grade: Checkers 41 (L. Hannen and D. Woodhouse 12), Otago University 27 (J. Allen 10); Mairehau 37 (K. Richardson 14).

Aranui 25 (A. Beukenholdt 8). Finalists today: Men’s B grade, University B and WinstoneY.M.C.A. Semi-finals: University 59. Taxes 37: Y.M.C.A. 82. Burnside 59. Women's B grade. Checkers B and Hagley. Semi-finals: Checkers 41, Halswe)l A 28: Hagley 97, Rebels (Ashburton) . 25. Men's ’ C grade: University C and Marist (Greymouth). Semi-finals: University 36, Pirates (Waimate) 17: Marist 24, Cardinals 22. Womens C grade: Marist and Rebels B. Semi-finals: Marist 20. Albion 19; Rebels 25, Burnside 21. •