Nine from S. Island in basket side

Press, 25 July 1985, Page 48

Nine from S. Island in basket side

By

FRANK DUGGAN

Nine South Island players have been included in the 20-strong list of trialists for the New Zealand men’s basketball team. The list, announced yesterday by the new coach, Bob Bishop, of Christchurch, includes four Canterbury players, John Rademakers. John Hill, Dave Edmonds and lan Webb. Rademakers has made it known that because of business commitments, he will not be available for the trials in Hutt Valley from Augst 4 to August 6, and also the internal tour which will follow. However, Rademakers is likely to make himself available for the New Zealand team, which will play Australia (in Australia) in a three-match world championship qualifying series in October. Other South Island trialists include Nick Costley and Colin Crampton, of Nelson, Euan Lockhart and Glen Denham, of Otago, and Duncan Taylor (Timaru). Stan Hill is a notable inclusion in the squad. The former Canterbury player, who is now attached to D.B. Auckland after several years in the North Island, carried out something of a running war with the previous coach, Peter Schmidt, saying that he would never again represent New Zealand if Mr Schmidt was coach. Obviously Mr Bishop’s appointment has changed his mind, although it is likely that the “iron” man of New Zealand basketball had every intention of representing his country this season, but played a cat-and-mouse game with a decision until almost the last moment. Mark Clarke, of Wellington, is another player in-

eluded in the squad, who will not be available for the trials. The tall, young forward has to be in Honolulu bv August 5 to re-regis-ter with the Brigham Young University of Hawaii. Six players were not available, Peter Logan, Rewi Thompson, Neil Stephens (overseas) and Paul Ogiley. John Saker and Dave Hrstich, New Zealandbased players. Mr Bishop and his assistant. Keith Mair, of Timaru, have included five players who have never played for New Zealand. They are Joe Faiumu and Peter Pokai (Porirua), Taylor, Crampton and Neil Swindale (Auckland). Gilbert Gordon (Wellington), is expected to be fully fit to take part in the trials after a league season interrupted by injuries. The former Canterbury and University club player will be joined by another University club player in Crampton, who returned to Nelson after the end of last season’s Christchurch club season. The squad is a mixture of youth and experience (Hill is aged 29), but when the final 10 or 12 member squad is announced at the end of the trials, it is more than likely that Mr Bishop will stick to proven players sooner than take a gamble. The trialists are; Tony Compain, Stan Hill, Alan Ovens, Neil Swindale (Auckland); Nick Costley, Colin Crampton (Nelson); Glen Denham, Euan Lockhart (Otago); Gilbert Gordon. David Mason. Gilbert Gordon (Wellington); John Rademakers, Dave Edmonds, John Hill, lan Webb (Canterbury); Eric Howard, Tony Smith (Hamilton); Joe Faiumu, Peter Pokai (Porirua); Duncan Taylor (South Canterbury).