Upset women’s basketball success by Morehu

Press, 10 September 1984, Page 3

Upset women’s basketball success by Morehu

PA Wellington Wellington’s Morehu Centre women’s basketball team survived a protest after its semi-final match and then beat the defending champions, Napier, to win the national club championship at Walter Nash Stadium in Taita on Saturday.

The protest was lodged against Morehu after its tense semi-final win against Rangatahi of Auckland. The Rangatahi coach Aggie Poto, asserted that an intentional foul. ruled against one of her players had occurred after the final hooter had sounded.

Rangatahi was leading by one point at that time and the two free throws for the foul given to Morehu were both converted to give the Wellington team the narrowest of victories. The appeals committee confirmed the referee’s original ruling. Morehu was playing in its first national championship

and ranked only ninth at the outset.

The team was tiny by basketball standards, with only the New Zealand forward, Carolyn Perry, standing taller than 1.72 m (sft 7in). Napier was unimpressive during the first two days of the tournament. but picked up with the arrival of the New Zealand captain, Di Robertson.

However, Napier was no match for Morehu in the final.

The Christchurch club, 'Admiral Lodge-Checkers, coached by Clyde Huntley, went down 51-36 to Don Rovers (North Shore) in a play-off for fifth and sixth platings. Results:

Final: Morehu Centre (Wellington) 53 (C. Perry 20, H. Townsend 10, V. Thompson 8); Napier 40 (D. Robertson 11, J. Richardson, K. Panaho 8). Half-time: 28-25.

Play-off for third and fourth: Boystown (Auckland)

67 (V. Cunningham 33, J. McCulloch 11, M. Poching 9); Rangatahi (Auckland) 53 (M. Poto 23, V. Ellison 11). Halftime: 33-26. Play-off for fifth and sixth: Don Rovers (North Shore) 51 (K. Casey 15, B. Crump 14); Chequers (Christchurch) 36 (J. Cook 12, S. Akkerman 9). Halftime: 22-17. Play-off for seventh and eight: Exchequer St PatsSouthern (Wellington) 46 (C. Kara, S. Rimene, S. Tupu 8); Nash (Hutt Valley) 42 (M. Taituma, J. Ross, K. Dominican 8). Half-time: 21-23. Play-off for ninth and tenth: Porirua 66 (J. McMeekan 15, L. Bradnam 15, D. Wrathall 14, F. Tahana 10); Wanganui 51 (T. Ashworth 14, J. Rowan 15). Half-time: 35-26.