Butlers-Aranui game a shambles

Press, 28 July 1986, Page 28

Butlers-Aranui game a shambles

A one-point win for the leaders, Butler Auto Spares, and two-point advantages for Admiral Lodge Checkers and Continental Caterers Rangiora were features of an absorbing Canterbury senior men’s basketball competition at Cowles Stadium on Saturday.

Butlers defeated Aranui 6463, Checkers won over Haralds University B 50-48, and Rangiora beat University A 56-54.

The Butlers-Aranui game was in distinct contrast with the other matches: It was a shambles. The other matches flowed; Butlers spent 2hr 4min getting its success, marked possibly by a record club foul count, 58, for a game. The referees handed out 30 foul calls to Aranui and 28 to Butlers. Six players reached a maximum of five foul counts, four for Aranui and two for Butlers. The more serious foul count totalled seven intentional and one technical. It was not a pretty sight and more positive and consistent officialdom could have quelled what turned out to be a rather ugly match.

Butlers is now unbeaten in 13 matches, including six in the earlier Alan Hoben Trophy competition. It leads the main championship by two points, two wins, from Checkers, with Haralds in third place a point away. A further point back is Vistallte High School Old Boys, who had the bye on Saturday. Rangiora’s Lance Dixon was something of a one-man “band" in his team’s 56-54 win over University A. He top-scored for the day with 30 points. His height, and skill, enabled him to dominate both the offensive and defensive boards. Korry Ritsma (Aranui) rejoiced in his freedom in the Butlers’ keyhole in the second half to score 26 points. The main Butlers defenders, sitting on four fouls, sat on the bench. Richard Evans, of Haralds, scored 25 points in a first-class display and was the only other player to score more than 20 points. He is grossly, under-rated and, given the opportunity, one of the best "swing” men in Canterbury.

Results: Butlers 64, Aranui 63; Rangiora 56, University A 54; Checkers 59, Haralds 48; Vistallte High School Old Boys a bye. Competition points

Butlers 64,

Aranui 63

Butlers: C. Dobbs 17, B. Duggan and P. Kearney, both 9, J. Bosch 8, B. Hall 7, S. O’Leary and M. Weir, both 5, G. Nuthall 4. Aranui: K. Ritsma 26, A. Atchison and T. Costain, both 8, P. Hill 5, M. Casey, R. Davis and L. Dunstan, all 4, P. Nouata and C. Penney, both 2. Half-time: 35-28 (Butlers). The referees were Mrs G. McFarlane and Mr J. Grocott

A game foul count of 58 did not help the attraction of the Butlers-Aranui match, won in the last few seconds by the competition leader against last year’s champions. For 124 minutes both teams slogged and fouled away and the only relief from boredom was the whistle of the referees. But even then that became too montonous. It was certainly not a match-for the purists.

If it was not the referees’ whistle it was the all. too frequent visits to the freethrowing line by both teams and usually inconsistent attempts at goal that made for a thoroughly boring match. It was only the closeness of the scores that retained any interest

Aranui ran up 30 fouls, 13 in the first half. Butlers got 28 calls, including 15 in the Tirst spell. From the freethrow line Aranui could only convert 23 points from 19 chances, while Butlers had a similar number of chances and scored only 15 points. Six players, four from Aranui and two from Butlers, left the court on a maximum of five foul counts. The first to go ■■ was Lloyd Dunstan (Aranui) seven minutes into the second half, then Bill Duggan (Butlers) .after 14 minutes and a minute later his fellow forward, John Bosch. Aranul’s Phil Hill was off with two minutes left and then two other Aranui players, Trevor Costain'and Mike Casey, in the last minute.

When Bosch and Duggan sat down at half-time they were both on four fouls and it was left to the former Canterbury and Timaru guard, Chris Dobbs, to come to Butlers’ rescue. He did it with polish, 17 points, and was an able leader. Duggan and another forward, Peter Kearney, both got nine points, while Bosch scored eight, and Bede Hall seven.

Korry Ritsma was the player of the match. Not only did he score 26 points for Aranui, but he was also good under the defensive boards. Trevor Costain (8) had one of his better games, as did Aub Atchison, with a similar points total.

Rangiora 56, University A 54

Rangiora: L. Dixon 30, D. Ruske 15, P. Newall 6, M. Hollan 3, M. Knox 2. University: A. Romano 12, N. McMillan 8, P. Connor and A. Ellis, both 7, S. Schroder 6, R. Harris, R. Walker and G. Weymss, all 4, D. Burtenshaw 2. Half-time: 32-aIl. The referees were Mrs C Fahey and Mr B. Martin.

Rangiora’s 56-54 success over University A was due to two players, Lance Dixon and Dean Ruske.

Dixon, a Converse-Canter-bury player, enjoyed his freedom under the boards and scored 30 points with a typical low-key but positive display. Ruske, a young guard, got 15 points and it was his

two-polnter in the last minute that swayed the game. With two minutes left the scores were equal at 54-al). University, under the New Zealand coach, Mr Bob Bishop, In the absence of its regular coach, Mr Keith Mair (the national assistant coach), did well to remain in touch with its more experienced rivals until the vital two minutes. It was a lack of experience, as well as Dixon and Ruske in opposition, that meant the difference.

The game flowed and there were only 30 foul calls, 16 against Rangiora and 14 to University. The spirit of the game enabled the referees, Mrs Carol. Fahey and Mr Bruce Martin, to allow the players to enjoy themselves.’ It was in contrast to the illfeellng on the opposite court between Butlers and Aranui.

Anthony Romano, who switched from Butlers to University this season because he wanted more court time and to be coached by Mr Mair, top-scored for the students with 12 points. He gave a competent display as did Neale McMillan (8), Paul Connor, Andy Ellis (both seven), and Russell Walker (6). With more experience and maturity University will make it Checkers 50, Haralds 48 Checkers: T. Brunel 16, P. Ward 13, M. Shaw 9, M. Corkery 6, J. McKay and M. Rainbird, both X Haralds R. Evans 25, J. Deely, G. Magon and G. Ottman, all 6, J. Price 3, S. Eves 2. Half-time: 24-20 (Checkers). The referees were Messrs W. Hobbs and P. Ray.

Checkers had all sorts of problems against Haralds before winning by two points, 50-48.

Both teams missed a lot of scoring opportunities. A 24-20 lead to Checkers at half-time, possibly one of the lowest interval scores, told the story of a muddling match. It did not improve much in the second half, although Checkers always had-a slight'advantage against an eager opponent The best player of the game was Richard Evans for Haralds. He was the team’s "work-horse,” displaying potential in any role and shooting 25 points. Several team-mates were not that far behind, including the captain, Gary Ottman, Grant Magon and John Deeley, all with six points, although Deeley’s penchant for unnecessary foul cost him in the last minute.

Checkers is not playing well at present It lack urgency and at times appears like a puppet on a string. It is well drilled, but it Is devoid of individual flair; frequent team changes do not appear to allow Individuals a true pattern.

The captain, Terry Brunel, had a fine game in getting 16 points; Peter Ward, until he was fouled out with four minutes left, scored 13; Mike Shaw (9) and Maurice Corkery (6). They could have been used more.

P W L F A Pt Butlers 7 7 0 492 410 7 deckers 7 5 2 439 376 5 Haralds 7 4 3 410 406 4 H.S.O.B. 6 3, 3 406 394 3 Aranui 7 2 6 476 504 2 Rangiora 7 2 5 398 458 2 Uni. A 7 1 6 346 420 1