Championship form shown by Aranui

Press, 7 May 1984, Page 35

Championship form shown by Aranui

Last year’s champion, Big Softie-Aranui, fought off a Mairehau last-quarter rally to win, 49-39, in the main game of the women’s division one basketball competition in Cowles Stadium on Saturday. Admiral Lodge-Checkers had to work hard to beat Continental Caterers-Rangiora, 53-43, while Halswell staved off a late challenge from a weakened University side to win, 37-36. Burnham had the bye. Over all, the games lacked the sparkle shown by all sides in last week’s opening matches, but several sides were in disarray by the nonappearance of their league players. Aranui 49, Mairehau 39 Aranui: M. Grimwood 11, V. Cowley 10, A. Pule 9, L. Richardson 8, A. McMullan 7, T. Costain 2, A. Bermingham 2. Mairehau: M. Cattance 13, I. Lee 8, Kim Smith 6, A. Fidow 5, V. Howard 3, Karen Smith 2, J. Lamont 2. Aranui started strongly with another handy performance by Vicki Cowley, who scored several delightful baskets. Moira Grimwood capped off another robust performance with controlled play about the court. Grimwood, an Aranui B team player, showed good anticipation and was adept at turning defence into attack. She also relished driving wide gaps in Mairehau’s zone defence. Angela Pule used her high jumping ability to advantage, anticipating and intercepting well for Aranui. Margo Cuttance led Mairehau by example, with strong penetrating runs and helped keep Mairehau in the hunt. After trailing 17-29 at half-time, a much more organised team effort resulted in Mairehau challenging Aranui’s hold on the game, but Aranui responded with a good tight defence. Isobel Lee was another player to work hard for Mairehau, while Viv Howard and Kim Smith were well contained.

Halswell 37, University 36 Halswell: M. van Vugt 8, T. Harrington 7, L. Scott 6, S. Elliott 6, K. Siave 6, G. Stanbury 2, Z. West 2. University: K. Richardson 18, G. Adam 10, J. Burrows 6, J. Jones 2.

University lacked any fire in its game, but was handicapped greatly having to utilise several B team players which had earlier won a fast encounter

over Rangiora B, 62-12. Halswell’s honours were evenly shared in the scoring department with gritty performances coming particularly from Marinda van Vugt and Kathy Slave. A former Checkers player, Sally Elliott, marked her return to A grade basketball with a steady game. University led 10-7 after 12 minutes, but Halswell ran to a 19-14 lead at half-time with steady teamwork. Halswell built on its lead in the opening period of the second half, but tended to rest on its laurels. Lack of discipline nearly lost it the game as University challenged strongly in the last four minutes. Karen Richardson showed good speed with the ball to notch 18 valuable points. She received good support from Gay Adam and Julie Burrows. Checkers 57, Rangiora 43 Checkers: B. Carr 13, M. Mullany 12, B. McLeod 11, M. McCarty 6, C. Heremaia 5, T. Whittaker 2, J. Ward 2, S. Constable 1. Rangiora: M. J. Ives 16, S. Blackadder 15, J. Harris 6, P. Rollinson 2, C. Winter 2, W. Hawkes 2. Checkers controlled the opening play with precision teamwork, helped by accurate shooting from Barbara Carr. Mary McCarty showed much promise, finishing off several good moves, while Sharon Constable and Beth McLeod controlled play from the rear. McLeod showed many of her old skills, regularly faking with a quick flick of the head, a drive around her marker and then releasing accurate longrange shots that were successful. Marama Mullany and Trina Whittaker, two of the many promising youngsters coming through Checkers’ development programme, also toiled hard.

Checkers, although leading 32-18 at half-time, failed to assert its dominance and were nearly outplayed by the enthusiastic country girls. With the energetic Sandra Blackadder working overtime, Rangiora clawed its way back into the game, reducing the gap to 3743 after 10 minutes.

Checkers tightened its defence to shut out Rangiora late in the game. Mary Jane Ives found some of her old form with four baskets in the first spell and broke up Mary Checkers’ attacking moves in the second.