Fine basketball effort

Press, 30 August 1984, Page 8

Fine basketball effort

The New Zealand men’s basketball team made one of its best showings in international competition at Segment, Malaysia, yesterday. Beaten, 72-76, by the Olympic Games silver medallist, Spain, New Zealand tied the game at 64-64 at the end of time. In extra time, Spain's experience proved a telling factor and it won by four points. But not before New Zealand had caused one of the biggest sporting tremors in recent years. Last week, in the first of the three international tournaments in Malaysia, Spain beat Australia in the final at Kuala Lumpur, 82-80.

Last evening the manager of the New Zealand side, Mr Keith Mair, of Timaru, said it was one of the best performances he had seen from a New Zealand side. “The guards were outstanding,” said Mr Mair. “For once on this tour the members of the squad worked as a team, particularly Alan Ovens, of Auckland, who scored 20 points, and Tony Smith, of Hamilton, who netted 16.” Other players to impress were Euan Lockhart, of Nelson, who scored 10 points, and Glen Denham, of Otago. Outstanding rebounders were Dave Edmonds, of Canterbury, and Gilbert Gordon, of Wellington and formerly of Canterbury.