Haphazard play from Canty against Hamilton

Press, 28 July 1986, Page 28

Haphazard play from Canty against Hamilton

By

FRANK DUGGAN

Converse Canterbury’s indifferent 102-89 success over 898 FM Hamilton at Cowles Stadium on Saturday evening appeared to be a "con” job on the part of the Rams’ coach, Mr Gary Pettis. Canterbury will almost certainly be the top qualifier for the finals in Wellington on August 15 and 16 and, at this time, Mr Pettis is not prepared to disclose his pattern plan. “I will not even do it against New Plymouth on Saturday.” (The game is played in Christchurch.) Mr Pettis was pleased with Canterbury’s performance on Saturday evening, although 99 per cent of the spectators would disagree. It was too haphazard. Chiefly, the defence was at fault Repeated calls from yet another packed stadium of "defence, defence,” fell on deaf Canterbury ears. Also the Canterbury team appeared to be at only half pace, but that may have been a planned ploy of Mr Pettis.

There was never any doubt that Canterbury would win. The Hamilton coach, Mr James Logan, tried his hardest with varying switches of players and play. However, his game plan became unstuck when his leading player, Sam Potter, had to retire with an ankle strain late in the first half. From then on it was reasonably easy sailing for Canterbury, although it gave the impression of struggling. It was not a convincing Canterbury success to ease up to 30 points in the league, six clear of the champions, Exchequer Saints (Wellington), with a further drop of two points to DB Ponsonby and New Plymouth.

These four teams will almost assuredly play in the

final. Depending on the results in the next week, and providing Canterbury defeats New Plymouth this Saturday, Canterbury, as "top dog,” will then play again New Plymouth in the semi-final and then face either Saints or Ponsonby in the final on Saturday, August 16. On Saturday evening against Hamilton, Canterbury made too many mistakes and appeared a half-pace behind its normal self. Also the defence was virtually non existent.

Too much complacency exists in Canterbury at the present time. A few weeks ago it assured itself of a finals position and since then it has been all downhill. Basically it needs a kick to jolt it back to realisation of what is ahead.

"Perhaps I am slightly at fault,” said Mr Pettis. “I have stepped up the training programme and the players appeared tired on Saturday evening,” he said. “They will go through the same drills next week, although it will be tougher. Then we have a break of two weeks with the accent on talking, planning and ‘hyping’ one another for the finals,” said Mr Pettis. Mr Logan’s after-match comment was that Canterbury was too good. “We had our opportunities but missed them,” he said. Hamilton had plenty, but Canterbury more so. Hamilton put up 77 shots from the floor and got 38, 49 per cent in the first half and 50 per cent in the second spell. Canterbury shot 82 times to succeed 43 times, with a 49 percentage in the first half and an Improved 57 per cent in the second spell.

Mr Pettis varied his oncourt five players frequently, no doubt wanting to give every player an equal chance. It did not work. There were too many mistakes, bad passing and equally bad rebounding as well as a lack of anticipation. Canterbury fumbled or bad passed 20 times, recovered 19 times and had 13 assists.

Canterbury’s two Americans, Clyde Huntley and Angelo Hill, top scored. Hill scored 21 points as well as eight rebounds, while Huntley

got 20 under difficulties. Andy Bennett and Graham Timms were perhaps the best Canterbury players. Bennett (16 points) is shooting some almost incredible shots in the keyhole, while Timms (11) is going from strength to strength. The tall, young forward is destined for national representation in a year or two. John Hill had an indifferent first half and then came right, scoring 14 points for the top average of 70 per cent, seven successful attempts from 10. Hamilton’s Chris Carlson won the “man of the match” award for Waikato over Canterbury’s Timms. When fellow American and captain, Potter, had to leave the court with an injury, Carlson did his best to keep the team together and scored 18 points besides.

However, the visitors’ top player was a former Cantabarian, Colin Crampton, recently returned from the World Cup in Spain. The former University of

Canterbury player gave every Rams guard, particularly Huntley, a hard time. Crampton was a pure shooter in Canterbury, now he is an aggressive and abrasive pivot who can still score points. He got 19 on Saturday.

Steve Mold, one of the biggest men in New Zealand basketball, scored 15 in an impressive performance, while another national player, Glen Denham, formerly of Otago, got nine «points, although he was always in foul trouble. Result:

Converse Canterbury: 102 ' (A. Hill 21, C. Huntley 20, A. Bennett 16, J. Hill 14, B. Knops 12, G. Timms 11, J. Rademakers and I. Webb, both 2). 898 FM Hamilton: C. Crampton 19, C. Carlson 18, S. Mold 15, G. Austin 10, G. Denham 9, S. Potter 8, S. Agnew 6, G. Whiu 4. Halftime: 56-39 (Canterbury). The referees were Messrs R. Milligan and N. Warren (Christchurch).