Club basketball

Press, 31 May 1982, Page 3

Club basketball

Three teams share the lead in the Cooper Henderson senior mens basketball championship after Vistalite High School Old Boys scored an upset win over Aranui at Cowles Stadium yesterday afternoon. The game, the curtainraiser to the national league game, saw Old Boys come from a one-point deficit at half-time to win 77-66. Three teams, Y.M.C.A., Rangiora, and H. 5.0.8., are at the top of the table with three wins, Aranui and Timaru have two each, while Mairehau recorded its first win on Saturday and Checkers has so far failed to win a game. The styles of the teams in the first half was in contrast yesterday. Where Aranui tried to run H. 5.0.8. off its feet, led by John Rademaker,

with fast breaks. Old Boys was content to play controlled basketball. Aranui lost 10 points very early in the first half and never really recovered. Its play was untidy, and Old Boys began to increase its dominance. Denis Barry, a guard, had a good second half. When Viranui put on full-court pressure in this spell, Barry brought the ball up with confidence, displaying excellent ball handling. Hugh Thompson and Al Manco also had good games both ends. Rademaker displayed the form which has made him a New Zealand representative and Korry Ritsma and Bert Knops were not far behindMain scorers: H.5.0.8./77: H. Thompson 23, D. Barry 15. Aranui, 67: K. Ritsma 22, J. Rademaker 19.