Canterbury in disappointing early form

Press, 11 March 1985, Page 26

Canterbury in disappointing early form

By

FRANK DUGGAN

The 3ZM Canterbury men’s basketball team scored 106 points compared with 3ZB Otago’s 84 points in a preleague game at Cowles Stadium on Saturday evening, but as a prelude to its hopes for Countrywide first division honours this season Canterbury’s effort was somewhat disappointing. Scoring a century of points is something of an achievement at any time in basketball, and Canterbury’s 22-point margin was the biggest it has achieved over Otago in recent seasons.

Still, there were several disturbing aspects, particularly on the offence, and the chief coach, Darrel Todd, has only a few weeks before the league programme opens to develop set attacking patterns to compliment the already established and successful “run and gun” style of the guards. The indecisiveness of the forward line was one of Canterbury’s main flaws last season and is unaltered. After the match Mr Todd explained that recent squad training had involved fitness and the players getting to know one another. “We’ve not looked at offence patterns, but this will change immediately,” he said. “Tonight the players virtually played it by ear and used their experience and knowledge of last season. Now, with the first game behind us, it’s down to getting combination and using the best of our undoubted qualities.” Canterbury never looked like losing. However, until the last 10 minutes it made heavy work of what should have been little better than a serious workout. As expected for the first game of the season there were many mistakes, but Canterbury’s errors were too many to make excuses for some individuals; they should have known better. The American centre, Eddie McLeod, and three Christchurch club players, Hugh Thomson, Kelvin Duff and lan Johnson, made interesting debuts for Canterbury. The lean, 2.05 m figure of McLeod was often prominent under the boards, particularly when he became accustomed to the pace and skills of the guardline. He top-scored with 30 points, mostly from in close where his height was a telling factor. However, he will have to pick up his work rate when it comes to the hurly-burly of the national league. The three new club players obviously suffered from nerves, particularly Thomson and Duff. Thomson was the pick of the trio. Once he finally lost his timidness he played solidly, while Duff, who was

included in the starting five, chose to be a link sooner than go for points. A former Otago player, Johnson’s two brief periods on court were not sufficient to get a line through his real worth. Of the established players — lan Webb was not available — Andy Bennett, the captain, Clyde Huntley (27 points), and to a lesser extent Bert Knops, had useful games. A fit-looking Bennett was perhaps the pick. For once John Hill was given the opportunity of some bench time, but he still figured in the most controversial incident of the match. After nine minutes of the second half, the Otago captain, Glen Allen, swung ana connected with a right cross to Hill’s left eye. Allen was given his marching orders, while Hill had to put up with a cut and a ballooning left cheek bone.

- Spasmodic sums up John Rademaker’s efforts. However, he was not alone in making mistakes and foul calls against Canterbury were virtually par for the course in the first half. Canterbury was in foul trouble after only six minutes and altogether ran up 15 misdemeanours in the opening half. Canterbury led 50-40 at the break. Otago ran up eight fouls in the same time.

It was Otago’s turn in the second half, being on team fouls after nine minutes and getting 11 altogether, while losing the top-scoring Glen Denham (23 points) with three minutes left. Canterbury cut the foul total to 11 in the second half. Huntley hd an earlier night than usual when he fouled out with two minutes remaining. By then the result was a foregone conclusion. Otago paid dearly for indifferent shooting. This added to a game of frequent idle periods. Yet Otago showed sufficient quality to rank it among the leading second division teams this season. Denham, his fellow national players, Euan Lockhart, who has returned from Nelson, and John Conrad had good games for Otago. Denham was reliable close to the key-hole. At one stage in the middle of the second half, Denham scored 11 points “on the trot” and Lockhart proved an elusive figure in the guideline. Conrad, now aged 38, proved something of an embarrassment to McLeod under the boards on occasions, and still retains his touch, particularly when he sneaks in shots from behind the boards. Last season Canterbury and Otago scored one win apiece in pre-league season’s games. However, there is some doubt whether the return match will be held in Dunedin next weekend. Robin Milligan, New Zealand’s top referee, who handled

Saturday’s game with Nick Warren, said after the game that he was concerned with the lack of knowledge shown by the players towards the new rules which have been introduced this season. “I think coaches will have to take time out from training to explain fully what they are all about,” he said. He was referring particularly to the new free throw rule.

"I guess the only way they will find out is the hard way,” said Mr Milligan. Scores: Canterbury: 106 (Eddie McLeod 30, Clyde Huntley 27, including four three-pointers, Bert Knops 15, John Rademakers 11, including two threepointers, Andy Bennett 10, Kelvin Duff, Hugh Thomson, both four, John Hill three, lan John-

son two). Otago 84 (Glen Denham 23, John Conrad 19, Euan Lockhart 14, Glen Allen, Robbie Torrance, including one threepointer, both 11, Kelvin Freeland, Brent Chapman, Peter Mulvihill, two each). Half-time: 50-40 (Canterbury). The referees were Messrs Robin Milligan and Nick Warren.