Basketball National title to Canterbury

Press, 20 September 1982, Page 18

Basketball National title to Canterbury

A heroic fightback enabled the Canterbury women’s basketball team to win the Hertz national championship in extra time at Cowles Stadium on Saturday evening. Canterbury beat Porirua 56-48 in an enthralling final.

In the final five minutes Canterbury romped away after drawing level 46-all at full-time after a startling comeback The staunchest Canterbury supporters had given up hope of Canterbury winning the final when it trailed 31-44 in the seventeenth minute of the second half. Then Canterbury threw a solid full court press at Porirua. unsettling it. Three Canterbury players chased every pass, and the New Zealand representatives. Lesley Hannen. stole four or five vital balls and helped turn these into points.

and the voung Pene Hippolite. whose ball skills were a delight to watch. Hippolite showed great understanding in feeding off to Patterson and the quick-footed Adelaide Douglas. Patterson's fouling out with two minutes remaining was a blow for Porirua. Hannen finished the match with a worthy 20 points for Canterbury, a just reward for an excellent tournament. Stokes and Beukenholdt landed an equally vital 14 points apiece. Patsy Barry, handicapped by an arm injury. led her team diligently throughout the tournament and inspired her team with long accurate shooting.

Grey almost unstoppable under the basket. Grey scored another valuable 26 points, with support coming from Julie Manson and Ann Amaru. Carolyn Perry led Wellington's challenge' with Maree Brunton. Nina Nawalowalo and Cindy Wiki supporting well. Otago beat the unlucky Hutt Valley side 44-31 for seventh place. Otago led 2115 at half-time. Hutt Valley tried everything it could as it sensed relegation looming in the second spell, but Otago pulled away strongly in.the last five minutes.

Hannen scored nine consecutive points to narrow the gap to 42-44 with 80 seconds left Denise McKay, who replaced the Canterbury captain. Patsy Barry, who had fouled but. was twice penalised under pressure. Porirua's Pene Hippolitc and Lynette Bradnam could onlyscore one free throw each but Porirua still led 46-42.

Heather Fleming led by example for Otago while Jan Milne and Jenny Baron supported well. Hull Valley now drops to division two next season and will be replaced by Nelson, which beat Auckland B 59-52 on Friday evening at the National division two tournament in Blenheim. Two periods of extra time were needed to find the winner of that tournament.

Canterbury's win. after only a month's training together. was a tribute to the spirit of the side after a decade of coaching problems. Support from the team bench also played a vital role.

The new coach. Darryll Todd, a quiet, patient man. used his own unique technique to fire up the Canterbury team. The strenuous training showed in the fitness and fighting qualities of the team.

Canterbury's sharp shooter. Adrianna Beukenholdt scored with a long outside shot with 30 seconds left. Hippolite missed another two vital free throws and Beukenholdt. cool under pressure slotted another of her favoured long shots to force extra time.

Other tournaments awards presented at the end of the tournament were -

Canterbury's win gave it the Zina Gay Trophy and a $5OO sponsor's cheque. Porirua had to settle for the Wallace Trophy and $3OO prizemoney.

Tournament team: M. Purnell (Auckland); L. Pugh (Napier); C. Grey (Hamilton): L. Bradnam. I. Patterson. P. Hippolite (Porirua) L. Hannen. P. Barry. D. Broughton. A. Beukenholdt (Canterburv).

Megan Stokes sealed the championship for Canterbury. its first win since 1966. with a scintillating display in the extra five minutes. She scored six of Canterbury’s well-earned 10 points while a bewildered Porirua could only score one basket.

Most of Saturday's final games were close. Auckland edged out Napier for third place 42-40 with a more consistent effort. Auckland dominated the early stages, with Mandy Purnell shooting sharply, but her national teammate, Lynn Pugh, put Napier back in the game with some accurate shooting. Charlene Otene fired up Napier a second time as the game slipped away from it. but Auckland's defence was too tight to penetrate. Brenda Ellison. Sue Dominkovich and Nancy Horsnell all had strong games for Auckland.

Mackay Cup (best centre-for-ward): L. Patterson. Trass Cup (best guard): A. Beukenholdt. Most valuable player: L. Patterson.

Kendall Trophy (best free throw percentage): Napier. Results and scoring details were:

The Porirua side, which has been together all season as the Olympic team, had the final under control, leading 22-12 well into the first half, but a Canterbury resurgence allowed it to sneak ahead 2524 by half-time.

Play-off for seventh: Otago 44 (H. Fleming 11. J. Milne 8. J. Baron 8). Hutt Valley 31 (K. Domican 12. P. Robertson 6. R. Ormond 6). Play-off for fifth: Hamilton 54 (C. Grey 26. J. Manson 10. R. Pellow ’ 6). Wellington 53 (C. Perry 12. C. Wiki 8. B. Bliss 7). Play-off for third: Auckland 42 (N. Horsnell 9. B. Ellison 8. M. Purnell 8. J. Parker 8). Napier 40 (L. Pugh 19. C. Otene 13).

Porirua's precision team work continually moved the ball about quickly and effectively. Leone Patterson was on hand repeatedly to send Canterbury reeling as she scored a creditable 25 points from all parts of the court. Other Porirua girls to stand out were Cheryl Fleet with her long driving runs.

Wellington allowed last year's champion. Hamilton, to take fifth place when it failed to catch Hamilton after another second half fightback. Hamilton won 5453. with the tall Carolyn

Final: Canterbury 56 (L. Hannen 20. M. Stokes 14. A. Beukenholdt 14. D. Broughton 4. J. McMeekan 4). Porirua 48 iL Patterson 25. L. Bradnam 9. C. Fleet 6. P. Hippolite 6. A. Douglas 2). Half-time Canterburv 2524.