Grand final likely in competition

Press, 20 August 1984, Page 25

Grand final likely in competition

Vistalite High School Old Boys’ comprehensive 84-58 defeat of the competition leader, Butler Auto Spares, and Aranui’s 64-57 win over Businessworld Computers-Univer-sity at Cowles Stadium on Saturday has set the stage for a possible three-way fie for the Canterbury senior men’s basketball championship after scheduled final matches this Saturday. Old Boys and Aranui are now only two points behind the leader, Butlers, and after their winning displays last Saturday, one or both could make the step to grab a share of the lead. Old Boys will play University on Saturday and should win; the Butlers-Aranui clash should be closer, but the odds favour Aranui. The last time the two teams met in’ the* championship qualifying rounds Aranui won, 56-47. The Canterbury Basketball Association wisely set aside Saturday, September 1, should a grand final be needed, and this looks likely to be the case, although if Butlers did manage to beat Aranui the championship would be Butlers’ alone. Should Butlers, Old Boys, and Aranui finish by sharing the lead afi.r Saturday, the selection of the two grand finalists will be resolved by the association, possibly after conferring with the Basketball Federation. If the decision on the finalists is on a winning or losing percentage basis, , provided Aranui beats Butlers, it is likely Old Boys and Aranui will play off for the championship. However, until Saturday’s matches are resolved the issue is still up in the air. Old Boys, so long Canterbury champions but who have spluttered and stuttered for most of the year, have reached a pinnacle at the right time. Saturday’s performance in swamping Butlers was vintage Old Boys. They stamped a mark of authority on the match in the second half which clearly indicated that they are on the right course for yet another title. Aranui had some uneasy moments before drawing away from University in the last 10 minutes. University is always a hard team to beat and could have made Aranui’s task more difficult but for shooting horrors under the basket in the second half. In a scrappy grading match, Admiral Lodge-Checkers took fifth place when beating Continental Caterers-Rangiora, 6660. Dave Usmar (University) and Bert Knops (Aranui) both scored 23 points, while the Old Boys’ players, Kelvin Duff (22) and Dennis Barry (21), were other leading scorers in an afternoon of tense and often abrasive displays, featured by Ken Jones (Butlers) being ordered off after three minutes of the second half against Old Boys. Jones was called for an intentional foul in a one-on-one situation under the boards, but several seconds later the referee, Mr John Grocott, changed his decision to a disqualification alleging a punch had been thrown. The only punch that appeared to have been thrown was by the Old BOys’ player, and that was out of court Earlier in the afternoon, the former New Zealand, Canterbury, and Exchequer SaintsWefiington player, Mike Stokes, was cleared to play for Butlers. Stokes had made his first appearance for Butlers on

Wednesday and, as a result, the University coach, John Caldwell, appealed against the transfer and also about a referee’s decision. Both appeals were dismissed, the association saying that Stokes had a clearance, but that he would need to play four matches for his new club before being allowed to play in a grand final, if one was needed. Stokes will leave today for a holiday in Australia. Results: Aranui 64, University 57; H. 5.0.8. 84, Butlers 58; Checkers 66, Rangiora 60; Mairehau a bye. Points: CHAMPIONSHIP

Aranui 64 University 57 Aranui: B. Knops 23, J. Rademakers 18, K. Ritsma 10, N. Costain 6, T. Costain, P. Hill, A. Timu 2, G. Harrison 1. University: D. Usmar 23, C. Crampton 14, K. Eriksen 6, B. Alexander, P. Mulvihill 4, R. Evans 3, J. Caldwell 2, N. Crampton 1. Half-time: 28-all. The experienced hard core of the Aranui team, John Rademakers, Bert Knops, and Kory Ritsma, had the last say in a tight clash against University, but the latter has. only itself to blame for going down by five points. In the first five minutes of the second half, University missed 14 shots directly under the basket and in the end that was the difference between winning and losing. Aranui welcomed the let-off and gradually eased ahead to a winninfg advantage. Although it was not Aranui’s best display of the season, it was sufficient to harbour hopes of again beating Butlers on Saturday and sharing the championship lead. After several indifferent efforts since the end of the league season, Knops recovered something like his best form and in a solid, all-round display top-scored with 23 points. Rademakers (16) lacked his usual high rate of consistency, but his outside shooting still made him a danger while Ritsma (10) was solid both in offence and defence. Dave Usmar (23 points) was outstanding for University and was mainly responsible for University sharing a 28-all score line at half-time. His consistency of shot was in marked contrast to his clubmates, who would be lucky to have a 20 per cent success rate. Colin Crampton (14), Keith Eriksen (6), and Bill Alexander (4) had useful games but their shooting was often astray. More composure under the boards would have made a great difference. Old Boys 84 Butlers 58 Old Boys: K. Duff 22, D. Barry 21, J. Whelan 14, H. Thomson 12, M. Searle 9, C. Cowie 4, A. Mancqta. 2. Butlers: A. Bennett iSf, Dobbs 11, K. Jones BJM. Turner 7, B. Duggan 6. J.

Bosch, M. Stokes 5. Halftime: 38-30 (Old Boys). Old Boys had a point to prove against Butlers and did it in no uncertain terms. Earlier, in the championship qualifying rounds, Butlers had beaten the reigning champions by 25 points and Old Boys avenged the defeat with perhaps their display of the season. Old Boys’ winning margin of 26 points was not only clearcut but showed that they have recovered form at the right time and look outstanding contenders for championship honours. The match was only in the second quarter when Old Boys took an advantage. Old Boys led, 38-30, at half-time, and but for a brief third-quarter Butlers rally when the scores closed to 49-41, there was only one team in it. From the seventh to the fourteenth minute in the second half Old Boys scored 20 points to Butler’s six, a clear indication of Old Boys’ superiority and an ever-in-creasing number of Butlers mistakes. Kelvin Duff (22 points) was well guarded for most of the match, but did well, particularly in the latter stages, to top score. Dennis Barry (21) was astute as ever from the outside and a quick stealer of the ball in mid-court. John Whelan (12), Hugh Thomson (12), and Marty Searle (9) added considerably to a fine team performance, while Al Manco, although he scored only two points, was outstanding at centre. Butlers beat itself. It abandoned its successful quick-run-ning game for a static build-up style which has proved a failure in the past. The' tactics suited Old Boys admirably and Butlers paid the price. Poor shooting, in addition to the indifferent form of the guards, did not help. Andy Bennett scored 17 points under difficulties. He got poor service and generally had to make the most of his chances. Chris Dobbs (11) made a lot of mistakes, as did most of the mid-court players. The experience of playing the former international, Mike Stokes, was a failure. The departure of Ken Jones through disqualification was the final nail in Butler’s coffin, but Bill Duggan (6) and to a lesser extent John Bosch (5) never stopped trying, and these two forwards, with Bennett, were the only Butlers players who looked like matching the skilled Old Boys’s side. Checkers 66 Rangiora 60 Checkers: C. Huntley 12, P. Ward 11, T. Brunel 10, M. Shaw 8, M. Eder 7, B. Asjwortb, R. Burgess, S. Edwards, P. Martin 4, P. McGrath 2. Rangiora: L. Dixon 16, P. Hobbs 14, R. Wheary 10, M. Knox 8, K. Boot 6, P. Burns, P. Nathan, N. Ruru 2, Half-time: 37-31 (Checkers). Checkers had little difficulty in winning an uninspiring grading match against a somewhat disjointed Rangiora side, the success placing Checkers in fifth place. Checkers led, 37-31, at halftime and its coach, Tony McFarlin, in probably his last match with the team before devoting more time to junior basketball next season, indulged in the luxury of giving each of his big bench of players a run in the second half. This enabled Rangiora to close the gap, although the result was a’foregone conclusion a long time Before that Ten Checkers players scored points, the most for any team in one match this season. As usual, the captain, Clyde Huntley, led the way, this time with 12 points — removes below his usual figures. Peter Ward (11) and Tim Brunel (10) played solidly, as did a newcomer, Rudi Burgess (4), who shows promise as a forward. Lance Dixon (16), Paul Hobbs (14), and Bob Whearty (10) were the pick of the Rangiora players, Dixon under the boards and Hobbs in the guard-line being always a source of concern to their opponents.

P W L F A Pt Butlers 3 6 2 580 526 12 Aranui 8 5 3 565 522 10 H.S.O.B. 8 5 3 579 552 10 University 8 3 5 505 510 6 Grading competition Checkers 8 4 4 576 609 8 Mairehau 7 2 5 517 512 4 Rangiora 7 2 5 416 487 4