Aranui keeps within challenging distance

Press, 25 August 1986, Page 23

Aranui keeps within challenging distance

Aranui decisively beat Edgells-Halswell, 71-49, to keep within challenging distance of the competition leader, Admiral Lodge Checkers, in the main championship game of the women’s division one basketball competition at Cowles Stadium on Saturday. Charisma-Y.M.C.A. proved too strong for Continental Caterers Rangiora, 67-49, while Rebels, of Mid-Canter-bury, continued their improved efforts, this time upsetting Burnham, 49-46, with another strong second-half performance. Checkers had the bye, reducing their lead in the competition to just two points.

Aranui will have to concentrate its efforts on this evening’s clash against the vastly improved Burnham team before thinking about next Saturday’s match against Checkers in the final round. Back-to-back wins for Aranui would force a play-off to decide the championship, providing Checkers also beat Y.M.C.A. this evening. Placings in the championship section of the competition are.—

Disciplined defence and strong teamwork allowed Aranui to dominate its match against Halswell. Though it was reduced to only four league players, Aranui had too much depth and will to win while only Marian Bain and Sally Elliott played with any enthusiasm for Halswell.

Brenda Atchison and Ann Price dominated the offensive boards in the first quarter taking Aranui to a 16-8 lead after nine minutes.

Bain kept Baisweil's effort honest in the next quarter while the Aranui captain, Louise Richardson, chimed in with some good baskets to put Aranui ahead, 32-21, at halftime.

Shona Richards put in another sound game, sinking several three-pointers in the third quarter and Aranui’s teamwork continued to dominate the game. It steadily increased the lead to 54-32, but was contained in the last quarter, after being handicapped by team fouls.

The former national and Canterbury representative, Pat Barry, made her first appearance of the season to assist Aranui to victory. Scoring details.— Aranui 71, (S. Richards 15, B. Atchison 13, L. Richardson 12, A. Price 12, V. Cowley 8, T. Beukenholdt 7, T. Costain 2, P. Barry 2). Halswell 49 (M. Bain 12, S. Elliott 11, S. Bennie 8, M. Van Vuuren 6, M. Collins 6, C Lhightfoot 3, J. McEwan 2, K. Paul 1. Referees: J. Grocott and P. Crowhen. Rebels 49, Burnham 46 Rebels continued last Tuesday’s fine performance when they outpointed the strong Burnham team in a close encounter. Rebels attacked strongly from the start, pushing ahead, 14-2, with Sue Francis to the fore. Meanwhile, Burnham struggled to find any teamwork without its play maker, Rhonda Milner, who was on holiday. Slowly Burnham picked up the threads. Lyn O’Connor, in her third game this season, helped puli it back into the

game. Burnham dominated the last five minutes to go ahead, 22-20, right on halftime.

Rebels led 47-42, with two minutes remaining. A surprise three-pointer by Yvonne Crichton-Hill gave Burnham a glimmer of hope in the nineteenth minute but a determined Rebels defence held out for a narrow win.

Rebels 49 (L. McGrath 25, S. Francis 10, R. Forde 8, A. Campbell 4, L. Forsyth 2). Burnham 46 (P. Milner 9, L. O’Conner 9, A. Teki 7, Y. Crichton-Hill 7, O. Cook 6, J. Thomson 4, J. McGrath 4). Referees: J. Grocott and M. Hawkins.

Y.M.C.A. 67, Rangiora 49 Y.M.C.A. opened strongly against the slow-starting Rangiora side. Donna Broughton drove in close with relative ease while Lee McLintock and Isobel Hartley shot accurately with some good perimeter shots. Y.M.C.A. lead 20-6 after nine minutes but Rangiora, inspired by some good penetrative play by Liz Mosely, steadily reduced the lead. However, Hartley pushed Y.M.C.A. further ahead, 35-20, by halftime.

Rangiora’s young players, Michelle Pipe, Penny Belworthy, Leona Stanicich and Andrea Smith, showed character in the second spell to contain the more experienced Y.M.C.A. players. At times, the play became a little heated.

Y.M.C.A. 67 (L. McLintock 17, I. Hartley 16, D. Broughton 16, P. Turnock 8, J. M Slocombe 6, J. Lamont 4). Rangiora 49 (L. Mosely 19 R. King 9, A. Smith 8, R Edyvean 4, P. Belworthy 4, J. Harris 3, M. Pipe 2).

Referees: B. Martin and P Turnock.

P W L F A Pt Checkers 10 9 1 590 447 18 Aranui 10 8 2 649 451 16 Halswell 11 7 4 594 531 14 Burnham 9 5 4 430 408 10 Y.M.C.A. 10 3 7 516 573 6 Rebels 10 3 7 427 560 6 Rangiora 10 0 10 421 657 0 Aranui 71, , Halswell 49