Turn-around wins mark men’s games

Press, 7 May 1984, Page 28

Turn-around wins mark men’s games

Three teams overcame halftime deficits to win secondround Alan Hoben Trophy Agrade Christchurch men’s basketball matches at Cowles Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Businessworld ComputersUniversity trailed Butler Auto Spares-Y.M.C.A., 20-24, at the interval and then tied the game up, 50-50, at full time. University won the extra period, 12-6, and 62-56 over all. Edgeware Service StationMairehau had a five-point (3429) advantage at half-time, only to go down in the last couple of minutes, 61-60, to a persistent and better-con-trolled Admiral Lodge-Check-ers.

Continental Caterers-Rangi-ora looked in for an easy season debut when leading Aranui, 33-26, at the break. But the picture changed completely in the second half with Aranui scoring a staggering 51 points to Rangiora’s 20 to win, 77-53. The defending champions, Vistalite High School Old Boys, had a bye on Saturday and this has left University and Checkers sharing the lead after the second round.

For both University and Y.M.C.A. it was the second week in succession that they were forced into extra time. University won, 71-69, over Mairehau the previous week, while Y.M. eventually went down to Checkers, 52-49, after two extra periods. The Y.M.-University clash on Saturday ended amid controversy. University’s guardforward, Colin Crampton, shot what appeared to be winning points as the clock was showing full-time. However, because of a hooter malfunction, the basket was ruled out and extra time called.

An outstanding individual display by Mairehau’s Peter Kuipers was not quite good enough to carry his team through against Checkers. Kuipers’ 28 points was a competition high, but it was the better discipline, in addition to a polished second-half performance by “P.J." Ward, that swung the game Checkers’ way. Richard Evans (University) continued his good effort of last week by scoring 21 points against Y.M. and provincial squad members, Korry Ritsma (Aranui) added 22 points to the 25 he got against Old Boys in the first round. Results: University 62, Y.M.C.A. 56; Checkers 61, Mairehau 60; Aranui 77, Rangiora 53; H. 5.0.8. a bye. COMPETITION POINTS:

University 62 Y.M.C.A. 56 University: R. Evans 21, J. Dahl 9, J. Caldwell, C. Crampton, T. Thodey 8 each, K. Eriksen 6, B. Alexander 2). Y.M.C.A.: B. Duggan, K. Jones both 14, P. Scott 11, J. Bosch 10, M. Turner 7). Half-time: 24-20 (Y.M.C.A.). University had to go to extra time before beating Y.M.C.A., and up until then the result could have gone either way. The deciding factor was University’s greater bench strength and the ability to convert outside shots better than Y.M.C.A.

For most of the game both teams stuck religiously to a zone defence and this kept scoring to a minimum. Points were difficult to get inside and it was an afternoon for outside shooters.

In this area University was superior. In the first few minutes University looked like running away with the game, moving out to a 10-1 lead before Y.M. tightened its defence. Y.M.’s slow start was in contrast to its usual initial bustle, but the tactics paid off and it had gained a 24-20 advantage at the interval. The second half saw the lead alternate regularly, but Y.M.’s cause was not helped by team fouls. After University’s Colin Crampton was thwarted by a last-second victory when the game was tied at 50-50, the extra time period was something of an anti-climax. Y.M.C.A. turned over the ball regularly to give away possession; Y.M.’s top-scoring guardforward, Bill Duggan, was fouled out; and the last couple of minutes were virtually an armchair ride for the students. The Univerity plaver-coach, John Caldwell, used his tactics wisely and the success was deserved. Richard Evans was an ever-present danger to Y.M. and led the scoring with 21 points. Jim Dahl (nine points) was astute outside the keyhole, and Caldwell combined well with Crampton and Tim Thodey in each getting eight points and unsettling Y.M. YMC.A.’s scoring ratio would have been lucky to have been 30 per cent Too many opportunities were missed and the guards, for the most part, were ineffective. The usually reliable John Bosch (10 points) had an indifferent afternoon. Ken Jones and Duggan shared

the top scoring: with 14 points each, while Phil Scott got 11 in a mixed display. Checkers 61 Mairehau 60 Checkers: M. Shaw 15, P. J. Ward 12, P. McGrath 10, S. Butler, M. Eder both 6, S. Edwards 4, B. Ashworth, T. Grunel, M. Corkery, P. Martin each 2. Mairehau: P. Kuipers 28, B. Fifield 14, M. Weir 8, S. Paterson -6, B. Hall 4. Half-time: 34-29 (Mairehau). Mairehau had Checkers beaten everywhere but in the last three minutes. After leading, 34-29, at the interval, Checkers’ persistency gradually eased them back into the game in the second half and the Checkers’ coach, Tony McFarlin, kept the momentum going with constant bench changes which brought in fresh players. Mairehau did not help its cause by changing its successful programme of working in close and scoring by switching to outside shooting, most of which was astray and gave away possession. Then in the last 90 seconds, with Mairehau ahead by 61-60, one or two of its most reliable inside shooters “froze” and threw, away possible success. Checkers is a relatively young side and Mairehau showed up a decided lack of experience in the first half. However, Checkers matured under fire in the second half, helped immeasurably by the skill and steady influence of “P.J.” (Peter) Ward.

Ward’s on-court appearance was rather belated but he made an immediate impact, building on Mairehau’s tiring defensive weaknesses and laying up the ball with precision. His 14 points were well taken, three less than the promising national junior squad member, Mike Shaw. Peter McGrath had another excellent game for Checkers. The previous week he scored 21 points and followed this with 10 in a sound all-round display. Seven other players were included in Checkers’ scoresheet, which gives some idea of the bench depth.

The previous week Mairehau outlasted Y.M.C.A. to win in the second spell of extra time, but the same dedication was missing when it was needed on Saturday. Brian Fifield, Peter Kuipers, Steve Paterson, and Murray Weir had outstanding first halves, but with the possible exception of Kuipers, their form fell away when it was needed.

Twenty-eight points was a good illustration of Kuiper’s value, but Fifield was equally as good in defence and picked up 14 points. Bede Hall was a quick and effective guard. However, Mairehau still misses its captain, Mike Seaward, who injured a cartilage at the Easter tournament and is likely to be out for the season. Aranui 77 Rangiora 53 Aranui: K. Ritsma 22, T. Costain 15, D. Moir 13, D. Hill 12, N. Costain 9, G. Harrison 4, A. Timu 2. Rangiora: M. Knox 16, P. Hobbs, J. London both 10, A. Whearty 8, A. Robson 5, A. Baxter, C. Boot 2 each. Half-time: 33-26 (Rangiora). Aranui and Rangiora provided a game of complete contrasts. Rangiora was composed and on top in leading, 33-26, at half-time and then fell apart-in the last two quarters. In the last 20 minutes Aranui scored 51 points to Rangiora’s 20 and in the'last few minutes Rangiora just went through the motions and Aranui scored nearly every time it had possession. The loss of the captain, Alan Robson, with an ankle injury late in the first half, and the inexperience of four B graders were the main factors in Rangiora’s collapse. Still, this did not take away Aranui’s sound second-half display and a well deserved 24-point winning margin. Aranui established an early superiority, with Korry Ritsma being particularly prominent. After 14 minutes Aranui was on team fouls and Rangiora’s composure and steadiness left them with a 33-26 half-time lead. However, Aranui was in a class of its own in the second spell and in the last quarter Rangiora’s resistance had dwindled into something approaching a social basketball attitude.

Ritsma’s display had two sides. He had indifferent patches in the second and third quarters, but his performance in the other quarters atoned for these lapses. His 22 points were well taken. Phil Hill (12) had a useful game and the Costain brothers, Trevor (15 points) and Neville (9), added strength, along with Darryl Moir (12), in a sound team performance. Apart from a disastrous second half, there were still several worth while individual Rangiora displays. Malcolm Knox top scored with 16, while the two guards, Paul Hobbs and John London, got 10 each.

P W L F A Pt Checkers 2 2 0 113 109 4 University 2 2 0 133 125 4 Aranui 2 1 1 158 149 2 H.S.O.B. 1 1 0 86 61 2 Mairehau 2 0 2 128 132 0 Rangiora 1 0 1 53 77 0 Y.M.C.A. 2 0 2 105 114 0