Butlers in champion form

Press, 1 September 1986, Page 22

Butlers in champion form

Butler Auto Spares cemented its position as the Canterbury first-division men’s basketball champion with a convincing 79-73 win over its closest rival. Admiral Lodge Checkers, in the final match of the season at Pioneer Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Butlers won its first top division title for 11 years when it defeated Vistaiite High School Old Boys earlier in the week, 85-63. However, it had a point to prove against Checkers on Saturday. Pride was at stake, because Checkers had been breathing down its neck all season. Passiveness on Butlers’ part let Checkers dominate the middle of the first half, then Butlers recovered to share the lead, 45-all, at halftime.

The first five minutes of the second half was all one way, for Butlers to lead by 13 points. Checkers closed the gap to four points, helped by eight

outstanding three-point shots from . its captain, Terry Brunei. But there was not enough Checkers depth to capitalise, and Butlers played the percentage game in the last few minutes to end its most successful season.

Butlers played 18 matches In the club competition, being undefeated in six games in the original competition, the Alan Hoben Trophy, and dropping only one main-com-petition game in 12, surprisingly to Haralds University. Butlers coach, Darryl Symonds, and captain, John Bosch, waxed enthusiastic afterwards. Both had been members of the last winning Butlers team, until recently known as Y.M.C.A. “There is so much experience about in this side that you just have to remind them of their responsibility," said Mr Symonds later. “They are too good to lose."

Bosch had some memorable moments. He was not as active as against Old Boys on

Monday evening, but he always considered that Butlers had the game under control. Asked about his availability for next season, he remarked that he still had a bit of wear left in his basketball boots.

Old Boys had the distinction of being the only team to score more than 100 points in a game when it gave Continental Caterers Rangiora a drubbing, 108-85. The win gave Old Boys third place in the championship, ' one win less than Checkers.

Aranui had a surprisingly easy win over Haralds University B, 86-57, showing something like the form that gave it the senior title last year.

Alan Robson, the Rangiora captain, was the highest scorer for the day. His 31 points was his best yet Other players to score 20 points or more were Kelvin Duff (Old Boys) 26, Brunel (Checkers) 28, the Aranui trio of Lloyd Dunstan (24), Korry

Ritsma (22) and Phil HUI (20), and Bill Duggan (Butlers) 22. Results: Aranui 86, Haralds 57; 1L5.0.8. IM, Rangiora 85; Butlers It, Checkers 73; University A * bye. Final competition points: P W L F A Pt

Universify A defaulted its last two matches (Butlers and Haralds). Aranui 86, Haralds 57 Aranui: L. Dunstan 24, K. Ritsma 22, P. Hill 29, M. Casey 12, G Penney 6, R. Davis 2. Haralds: J. Deeley 14, S. Eves 13, R. Evans 16, J. Price 8, P. Rainsfieid 6, G. Magen 4, G. McCabe 2. Halftime 33-32 (Haralds). The referees were Messrs Paul Rey and Barry Dent Aranui showed something like its form of old in disposing of Haralds. The students had a 33-32 advantage at half-time. Then Aranui’s captain, Phil Hill, Lloyd Dunstan and Korry Ritsma led the comeback. Aranui scored 54 points in the second half against a tiring University, which could only manage 24 points. Dunstan (24), Ritsma (22) and Hill (20) featured for Aranui, with Mike Casey (12) not far behind. John Deeley (14), Steve Eves (13) and Richard Evans (10) were the pick of the Haralds players. H. 5.0.8. 108, Rangiora 85 HJ.O.BU K. Duff 26, G. Lang 17, T. Salkeld 16, H. Thomson 14, P. Duggan 8, N. Dawson, C. Foubister, D. Grocott, all 6, P. Dew 5, M. Won 4. Rangiora: A. Robson 31, P. Newail 15, C. Kilgour 12, R. Whearfy 10, M. Holland 6, D. King and G Stapleton, both 4, K. Schasching 3. Halftime: 47-38 (H 5.0.8. The referees were Messrs Bill Stanley and Peter Crowhen. Mr Ray Thomson, the Old Boys bench coach, had the luxury of a near full bench, and his players replied in kind, scoring a season record of 108 points. Rangiora kept in touch till

half-time, being down by only nine points (38-47). But in the second half Old Boys went up a Kelviri Duff was in his element He scored 26 points, Glen Lang H; from the outside and Hugh Thomson 14. The Rangiora captain, Alan Robson, led by example and his 31 points was his best tally in the senior grade. He was ably supported by Chris Kilgour (12) and Rod Whearfy (16). Butlers 79, Checkers 73

Butlers: B. Duggan 22, J. Bosch and C Dobbs, both 15, G Green 14, B. Hall 7, P. Kearney 4, M. Weir 2. Checkers: T. Brunel 28, P. Ward 13, J. McKay 12, S. Edwards 8, M. Corkery 6, M. Rainbird 4. Half-time: 45-45. The referees -were Mrs Carol Fahey and Mr John Grocott.

Butlers had a point to prove against Checkers and it did it in style. Checkers had always kept in touch with Butlers throughout the season and if Old Boys had not dropped Its match to the competition leaders on Monday evening, could have forced a play-off if it had beaten Butlers on Saturday. Butlers tied up the championship with its defeat of Old Boys, still Checkers was determined to take the new champion down a peg. It nearly made it Butlers’ greater consistency and experience was the deciding factor.;

The > champions roared away to a 13-point advantage in the first three minutes, stumbled for a while to allow Checkers to get to 71-75 with four minutes left, and then slowed the game to give Checkers no chance.

Bill Duggan top-scored for Butlers with 22 points. He caused havoc round the boards, relishing in an open backdoor. Fellow “Muskateers,” John Bosch (15), Chris Dobbs (15) and Chris Green (13), had important roles to play, as did Bede Hall (7). “A” for effort must go to the Checkers captain, Terry Brunel. He scored eight three-pointers, included in his 28 points, and almost singlehandedly tried to pull Checkers through. Peter Ward (13), played very well, and John McKay (12) was good on offence.

Butlers 12 11 1 78! 670 11 Checkers 12 8 4 830 736 8 H.S.O.B. 12. 7 5 859 832 7 Haralds 12 6 6 669 665 6 Annul 12 4 8 798 823 4 Rangiora 12 4 8 753 826 4 Uni. A 12 2 10 517 618 2