Canty rallies after slow basketball start

Press, 9 May 1983, Page 23

Canty rallies after slow basketball start

Canterbury beat Otago 40-33 in a tentative opening match of the women’s southern division basketball league played in Cowles Stadium on Saturday evening.

Canterbury, Nelson, and Otago meet each other on a home and away basis and will also meet Palmerston North, Porirua, Wellington, and Hutt Valley once in the ingural women’s league, being played in two divisions. Papakura, Whangarei, Hamilton, Tauranga and Rotorua comprise the Northern Division. Both sides took a long time to settle down, watching each other’s, play intently. Otago overcame a nervous opening and edged ahead with more accurate shooting, especially by Donna Solomon. She was ably supported by the captain, Heather Fleming, while Jan Milne was a tower of strength, dominating Otago’s play. She received Otago’s “Best Player” award.

Although Canterbury’s defence was sound, with Megan Cassidy and Angela Pule rebounding strongly, it was unable to capitalise on a feast of ball it won. Shot after shot failed to find the basket. Adrianna Beukenholdt snatched a couple of baskets in the first spell but lacked concentration with some close attention from the Otago guards. Otago’s better teamwork enabled it to lead 19-15 by halftime.

Canterbury began to put its game together in the second spell, forcing Otago to shoot wider while at the other end it penetrated Otago’s defence

more easily. It took the lead 27-25 after 10 minutes and used its superior ability to maintain its dominance in the second spell.

Patsy Barry, who deservedly won Canterbury’s “Best Player” award, marshalled her team well, but an injury late in the game caused some concern.

Angela Pule was one of the new representatives to impress, Diane Woodhouse worked intently as usual, with Sue Bennie (formerly Mid-Can-terbury) showing much promise.

Canterbury, last year’s

national champion, has the potential to improve as the league progresses, once player combinations are found. Several notable players, such as Jacky Cook and Donna Broughton are unavailable and have weakened the side, but under the astute coaching of Phil Whiteside it is expected to finish wellup the league.

Scorers were: Canterbury 40 (A. Beukenholdt 10, P. Barry 9, A. Pule 6, M. Cassidy 6, D. Woodhouse 4, D. Galloway 4. S. Bennett 3), Otago 33 (D. Solomon 8, P. McMeekan 5, M. Fleming 5, R. Drake 4, J. Milne 4, K. Palmer 4, S. O’Brien 3).