Deserved success for St Kilda

Press, 5 April 1983, Page 44

Deserved success for St Kilda

By

FRANK DUGGAN

Two men in contrasting age brackets enlightened St Kilda (Dunedin) to a stunning 62-56 win over Admiral Lodge Checkers (Christchurch) in the final of the South Island senior men’s Easter basketball tournament at Cowles Stadium yesterday afternoon. “J. C.” Conrad, aged 35, and 18-year-old Glen Denham, led St Kilda’s charge, and their combination was the deciding factor in Otago’s success. Conrad scored 30 points, and Denham 20. For the first three days of the tournament, Clyde Huntley, and to a lesser extent John Fairweather had been the pivots of Checkers’ attack, but yesterday afternoon they were put in the shade by the Otago team. At times Checkers’ offensive was sound in build-up, but the defence was invariably in position to counter the moves. Under the boards, Checkers would have been lucky to take three rebounds: in comparison St Kilda snatched what “crumbs’’came their way. Yesterdfay was the first time a Don-Canterbury team

has won the championship since Nelson Old Boys took out the title in 1976.

Tennis (Nelson), after so many years attempting to win the senior women’s section, gained reward when defeating Mairehau (Christchurch) 41-36. Tennis last won the final in 1978, against Maurehau High School in 1978, and were runners-up to Checkers in 1980 and 1982. Pete Gillan, the coach of the St Kilda men’s team, had every reason to smile after yesterday’s men’s final. “We had to open up the game for our big fellows because Checkers are not that tall,” he said after the match. “Our pre-match plans worked,” said Mr Gillan. “We attempted to play our own game, not to allow Huntley and Fairweather to get into a groove and shoot us out.” Mr Gillan was playercoach last season, but decided to drop down tb B grade this year. “Three days before the Christchurch tournament, I was asked to come north with the A side,” he explained. “We had two training sessions, and it’s certainly worked.” ’ Despite his age, Conrad

was the outstanding player of the tournament. Huntley was the top player in the initial rounds, and deservedly so, but when the “heat” was on. yesterday afternoon, he appeared unable to handle the offensive moves of St Kilda. Still, the blame for Huntley’s predicament must lie with his fellow players. Combination was sadly lacking, and Huntley had to play dual roles, stemming fast outside attacking probes, and then quickly running back to defend. However, many times the defensive gaps were even too much for him to shut out. On occasions he was like a “one-man” band. Denham is one of New Zealand’s most promising players. He is a New Zealand Colt, a Teachers’ College (Dunedin) student, and a young man with potential to reach the top. Cowles Stadium was packed for the finals yesterday. St Kilda held a tentative 32-27 lead at half-time, but after nine minutes, Checkers went to 40-38. That was the first and last time the Christchurch team had the lead.

Senior men’s results: St Kilda, 62.— Conrad 30, Denham 20, Todd Marshall 8, Allan Griffiths 2, Tim Dunn 2. Checkers, 56.— Huntley 26, Peter McGrath 13, Steve Edwards 6, Fairweather 5, Mark Burnside 4, Jacki Piket 2 (half-time St Kilda 32 — Checkers 27). The dominating figure of the American-born, John Conrad, played a big part in St Kilda’s progress. Something of a veteran at the age of 35, Conrad is a commanding figure on the court and appeared to lift the Dunedin side. On Saturday evening, after his second game of the day, he was almost exhausted. ‘Tve only played about 10 full games in the last year,” he sighed. He first came to New Zealand in 1976 to play in Napier and then transferred to Hutt Valley for the next two years. Conrad, then returned to the United States and became a social worker. A couple of years ago he was back in New Zealand under contract with the Otago Basketball Association where lie trains the province’s women’s teams.

He still has a year to go with Otago and is undecided about whether to remain in New Zealand. A native of New Jersey, and a graduate of George Washington State University, he is still thinking about what to do. “At my age I’ve got to think about options,” he said on Saturday evening. “I might go back home, but, then again, I’d like to get a place in a senior club side like these in Christchurch where I could fill in — that is, play for 20 or 30 minutes, depending on what the coach wanted,” Conrad said. After yesterday’s final, “J.C.” was hedging his “bets” about his future. “Maybe, I’ll have a rethink,” he said. Tennis carried. off the women’s A grade, beating Mairehau 41-36 in a keenly fought encounter. The defending champion over the last four years, Admiral Lodge Checkers had to settle for fourth place when it lost the play-off to University, 51-40. Other results were: MEN’S A grade (for seventh place).— Continental Caterers Rangiora 67, Mairehau 50; (for

ninth place). Aranui 87, Victoria/University (Wellington) 74. B grade semi finals — Wainoni-University 31, Grenadier 24; Burnside A 31, Logan Park HS 30; play-off for third.— Logan Park HS 31, Grenadier 22. Final.— Burnside A 53, Wainoni-University 42. C grade Semi-finals— Marist (Greymouth) 31, Neumans—Nomads (Ashburton) 29; Pirates (Waimate) 20, Cardinals (Waimate) 17. Play-off for third.— Neu-mans-Nomads 45, Cardinals 26. Final.— Marist 31, Pirates 23. Women i A grade (for ninth place).— Burnham 47, Y.M.C.A. 41; (for seventh place).— .Air N.Z. (Nelson) 37, Halswell A 23; (for third place).— Canterbury University 51, Admiral Lodge Checkers 40. Semi-finals.— Tennis (Nelson) 40, University 16; Mairehau 63, Admiral Lodge Checkers 45. B grade: Semi-finals.— Electricity (Dunedin) 35, Aranui B 23; Flyers (Chch) 41, Timaru T and C, 15; play-off (for third).— Timaru T and C 18, Aranui B 16; final.— Flyers 66, Electricity 47. C grade Semi-finals.— Brighton 26, Checkers B 12; Marist (Greymouth) 23, Weston (Oamaru) 21; play-off (for third).— Weston 32, Checkers B 14; final.— Marist 44, Brighton 15.