Win puts Checkers top of table

Press, 21 April 1986, Page 24

Win puts Checkers top of table

Admiral Lodge Checkers now heads the Alan Hoben Trophy senior men’s Christchurch basketball championship after a convincing 65-55 win over Vistalite High School Old Boys at Cowles Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It was a success that vindicated the policy of the club, several seasons ago, to create a junior programme which would enable Checkers to be a prominent challenger for championship honours later on.

With the assistance of officials and coaches the likes of John Inkster, Tony McFarlin and Steve Quarles, as well as at various times Clyde Huntley, the policy is now paying handsome dividends.

Checkers’ performance was the best of an indifferent afternoon. It had to' be, for Old Boys had a useful lead mid-way through the first half and then became obsessed with a mid-court offencedefence that allowed a spirited Checkers guardline plenty of opportunities for turnovers. The difference between' the two teams was quite emphatic. Old Boys was too laborious in its buildups, while Checkers showed greater speed and flair.

Checkers is now unbeaten in its three games, but Butler Auto Spares, which had the bye the previous week, is also undefeated in two games after “coasting” to a 79-69 success over Continental Caterers Rangiora. Aranui, last season’s main champion, and the team hardest-hit by the

unavailability of its league players, had its first win of the season over University A, 84-65. A concerted squad practice on Thursday evening seemed to do the trick for Aranui. Previously the team had been scoring well but was lacking in two factors, namely converting close to the ring, and sustaining its effort

It was a different story on Saturday. The player mainly responsible for Aranui’s resurgence was the former Canterbury player, Korry Ritsma, still a little sore with a groin injury, but who managed the highest score of the day, 31 points.

In club basketball Ritsma, who at 1.90 m plays many centimetres above his height, can always be relied on to get 20 points or more. He did his job on Saturday with typical Ritsma skill and reserve. Shortly he leaves for a holiday in the Netherlands.

After the third series of games, Checkers has emerged as the favourite forthe first-of-season championship. Checkers’ consistency, namely through growing, experience, is proving unsettling for most of its rivals, but it still has the unpredictable and often brilliant Butlers to get through.

The clash between these two teams should decide the Hoben championship.

While Ritsma was the outstanding individual scorer of the day, three other players scored 20 points or more. Hugh Thomson (Old Boys) had an excellent

first half, over all he totalled 22 points, and then faded away; Lance Dixon got 20 for Rangiora in a performance of highs and lows, and his Butlers rival, Bill Duggan, got the same scoring line as a very solid utility player. Inaccuracy of passing is one of the main defects in the competition. Every team is at fault, with the possible exception of Checkers. Still, it is early days.

Particularly evident so far is the lack of discipline, player-wise. There is jut not enough consistency. Some of the offenders are on the fringe of league participation, while others are close to it

Perhaps, in these cases it would be well to remember the adage: You learn your trade before going out into business for yourself. However, there are some pluses. Generally, the over-all standard of club competition has increased markedly in recent years, mainly because of the influence, of the national league.

There is a lot more skill, particularly from the younger players, and the speed of the game has increased 50 per cent. These two facets make for a much better spectacle. Results:

Butlers 79, Rangiora 69; Checkers 65, Old Boys 55; Aranui 84, University A 65; University B a bye.

Butlers 79

Rangiora 69

Butlers: B. Duggan 20, B. Hall 15, C. Dobbs and C. Green, both 12, J. Bosch 9, S. O’Leary 7, G. Nuthall 4.

Rangiora: L. Dixon 20,. P. Newall 16, D. Ruske 14, R. Whearty 7, A.- Robson 6, D. King, M. Knox and K. Schaschlng, all 2. Half-time: 43-29 (Butlers).

Butlers flirted with danger on several occasions before beating Rangiora 79-69. Big Butlers leads at various times were absorbed by periods of complacency which got Rangiora back into the game, but there was always the feeling that Butlers had control.

The over-all advantage in height was Butlers’ greatest advantage; also there was a greater urgency when it chose to play basketball and not fiddle round. There were more mistakes than good points for both sides, the passing, in particular, often

being wild and ill-timed.

Butlers led 33-30 after 13 minutes of the first half and 39-24 after 19 minutes to end leading 43-29 at half-time. Then came a customery Butler lapse after a 50-33 advantage after two minutes of the second half.

At one point Butlers’ advantage was only a couple, of points, and after 13 minutes Rangiora trailed 55-60. Butlers then reactivatedprevious early control and that quickly extinguished Rangiora’s hopes.

Butlers was on Its best behaviour in the first half, having only three fouls. It ran into trouble in the second half with 11, but the Rangiora foul count over all was higher, 18. Bill Duggan played probably his best game of the season in scoring 20 points for Butlers in the utility role. The same can be said of the guard, Bede Hall (15), and Chris Green (12) was his usual consistent self.

Chris Dobbs, 12 points also, had a useful game, while the ever-present tall figure of John Bosch (9) caused a lot of problems, particularly to Lance Dixon, inside the keyhole.

Sam O’Leary, a highlymotivated forward, who took a break from basketball last year, got seven points and continues to improve. An inability to sustain several comebacks was Rangiora’s greatest flaw. This was mainly caused by not playing to its strengths, namely the 2.02 m forward, Dixon.

He saw little of the ball in the second half and, perhaps, out of frustration, was fouled out in the last minute. He still managed 20 points. The young guards, Paul Newall (16) and Dean Ruske (14), matched, and at times bettered, the Butlers’ guardline, while others to play soundedly were Rod Whearty (7) and the captain, Alan Robson (6), although both would have done better with more court time.

The referees were C. Fahey and P. Ray.

Checkers 65,

H. 5.0.8. 55

Checkers: M. Shaw 17, T. Brunel 14, S. Edwards 10, M. Corkery 7, K. Greenfield and P. Ward, both 6, J. Mac Kay 4, M. Rainbird I. H. 5.0.8.: Thomson 22, J. Fairweather and G. Lang, both 12, P. Dew 4,

C. Cowie 3, D. Grocott 2. Half-time: 39-28 (Checkers). The expected match-of-the-day between the previously unbeaten Checkers and Old Boys teams turned out to be Just that After a slow start and being down 15-24 after seven minutes, the young Checkers side gradually outran Old Boys to win 65-55. It was a good Checkers performance. From a hesitant start it kept running at a rather mediocre Old Boys defence and after leading 39’2B at half-time kept the pressure up to consolidate a winning advantage. ■ Steve Quarles has done a good coaching job with his relatively young Checkers team and there should be more to come, namely the winning of the Hoben series. He keeps the momentum going and does not allow the opposition to fall into its own pattern; it is Checkers which ’sets the style.

Once Checkers settled on Saturday there was no question who would win. Old Boys looked ponderous in comparison and as their confidence dwindled Checkers poured on the pressure. Old Boys disappointed. For a start they kept the ball moving reasonably freely into, the forwards, but very quickly the guards were unable to seek a loophole through a tight Checkers de-' fence.

Added to Old Boys’ woes, was an increasing number of mistakes in the second half land the falling off in performance of its two "king ’pins,” Hugh Thomson and John Fairweather. Their (sagging efforts reflected in a downturn of Old Boys performance.

As usual it was a consistency of team performance that won the game for Checkers. Mike Shaw had an excellent game In the forward line for 17 points and is maturing into a player worthy of a chance at league status. Terry Brunel (14) is a livewire guard and is having his best season; Steve Edwards (10) and Maurice Corkery (7) compliment a sound club team, while “P.J.” (Peter) Ward and a relative newcomer, but a promising one, Kevin Greenfield, a guard, are their equals. Both scored six points. From its usual control and percentage basketball, Old Boys fell away. Thomson, who scored 22 well taken points, mainly from the out-

side, had an indifferent second half, but he got few opportunities. At times the guards appeared they were the only Old Boys players in the game. Fairweather (12), last year's coach of the Checkers team, started well but then appeared to tire. Glen Lang (12) had one of his better games.

The referees were R. Henwood and C. Fahey.

Aranui 84,

University A 65

Aranui: K. Ritsma 31, L. Dunstan 16, A. Aitchison 10, P. Nouata 9, M. Casey 6, R. Davis 6, T. Costain and P. Hili, both 3, T. Taylor 2. University A: R. Walker 14, P. Connor and G. Wemyss, both 8, D. Burtensbaw and N. McMillan, both '6, M. Harris and A. Romano, both 4, C. Treleaven 3, A. Ellis and M. Hutchison, both 2. Half-time: 44-38 (Aranui). A rigorous training session on Thursday evening and the appearance of the usual 20 points-plus Korry Ritsma made all the difference to the main championship holder, Aranui, in its clash with University A. In a high scoring game, with Ritsma getting 31 points, Aranui won 84-65 after leading 44-38 at half-time. Apart from Ritsma’s effort — he will leave shortly for a holiday in the Netherlands — the game was noted for the spreading of individual scorers. Nine players scored for Aranui, while 10 figured on the University score sheet.

The match was a freeflowing affair, featured by high scoring, team fouling and several individuals having to retire from the court because of their high foul count.

These included Phil Hill and Steve Schroeder in the second half.

Aranui loves the running game and used the fast break well. After being down 11-12 after six minutes, Aranui recovered a lead 27-16 in the eleventh minute with Ritsma starting to dominate from round the keyhole.

Aranui’s 44-38 half-time lead dwindled in the tenth minute of the second half, but 57-50 was as close as it got. After that it was virtually all Aranui.

Apart from Ritsma, there were several sound individual

performances from several Aranui players. > Lloyd Dunstan stayed after training on Thursday evening to practise his shooting, something of an ‘Achilles heel” and benefited with 16

points; Aub Aitchison got 10, and Paul Nouata, who has traded his darts for a basketball this season, scored nine ■in an ever-improving performance. University’s Russell

Walker, who top scored with 14 points, is a much underrated player, but as a pivot to a new and inexperienced side, he is getting the chances he deserves. Paul Connor and Greg

Wemyss, both eight, and David Burtensbaw and Neil McMillan (6) add strength to a University side that will only get better. The referees were R. Milligan and J. Grocott.

P W L F A Pt Checkers 3 3 0 190 134 3 Butlers 2 2 0 162 133 2 Aranui 3 1 2 214 234 1 H.S.O.B. 2 1 1 141 131 1 Rangiora 3 1 2 174 196 1 Varsity B 2 1 1 104 105 1 Varsity A 3 0 3 157 209 0