Checkers takes title

Press, 1 September 1986, Page 22

Checkers takes title

Admiral Lodge Checkers played with more urgency and determination than its arch-rival, Aranui, to clinch the women’s division one basketball championship at Pioneer Stadium on Saturday. Checkers, which took the national club championship last season, was a decisive winner, 62-55, over Aranui, the title-holder last year. The victory gave Checkers the double of the championship and Patron’s Trophy, which it had won earlier in the season.

The last success for Checkers was in 1982 and its win on Saturday ended Aranui’s three-year dominance. Edgells-Halswell, which had the bye on Saturday, finished third in spite of its recent lack-lustre displays, and Burnham, which had its best A-grade result, was fourth even though it lost to Charisma-Y.M.C.A., 58-36, on Saturday.

The Mid-Canterbury team, Rebels, thwarted a determined last quarter from the luckless Continental Caterers Rangiora to win, 47-43, leaving Rangiora without a win this season.

The honour of leading the season’s scoring went to the hard-working and consistent Y.M.C.A. captain, Margaret Cuttance, who ended with 220 points from 14 matches. She missed several matches through Illness. She averaged 15.7 points a match, her best score being 25. The Rebels sharp-shooter, Lynette McGrath, finished second in the aggregate with 214, but topped the averages with 16.4. She had two 25point match tallies. Tina Beukenholdt (Aranui), with 30, scored the most pionts in a match, and Barbara Carr (Checkers) had a best of 26. ,« Final championship platings

Other leading scorers in the competition: R. Milner (Burnham) 197 points, 14 games, 14.1 average; T. Beukenholdt (Aranui), 194, 16, 12.1; J. Cook (Checkers), 185, 17, 10.9; S. Bennie (Halswell), 181, 16, 11.3; Y. Crichton-Hill (Bumham), 180, 17, 10.6; B. Carr (Checkers), 173, 18, 9.6; L. Erb (Checkers), 167, 15, 11.1; D. Broughton (Y.M.C.A.), 162, 17, 9.5; I. Hartley (Y.M.C.A.), 151, 17, 8.9. On Friday evening, Halswell B captured the division two A title when it beat Checkers B, 55-44, at the Christchurch Boys’ High gymnasium. Both teams finished the

on the court. Halswell C edged out its club mate, Halswell D, 31-29, in a division two B game also played on Friday evening. Checkers 62, Aranui 55 Aranui started strongly, leading 28-24 at half-time, with a good effort from Tina Beukenholdt, Louise Richardson and Adrianna Fenemor. Checkers led out strongly in the second spell. Aranui lacked outside shooting ability with Shona Richardson and Di Martin absent. Jackie Cook again showed her range of ball skills, setting up play and opening gaps in Aranui’s defence. She drew fouls and scored twelve successive points in the middle stages of the second half. She was supported by strong efforts from the league players, Di Woodhouse and Leonie Erb. Sharon Constable finished what was probably her last game of her lengthy career in senior basketball from the coach’s bench. She changed Checkers to one-to-one defence in the last quarter and helped to upset Aranui’s rhythm. Brenda Atchison got Aranui back to 53-55 in the nineteenth minute, before following the hard-working Vicky Cowley to the bench. Checkers’ superiority showed in the tense, last-minute scramble, with Leonie Erb making the match safe. Cook capped a fine match with 23 points. Woodhouse (12) and Leonie Erb (11) made valuable contributions. Checkers 62 (J. Cook 23, D. Woodhouse 12, L. Erb 11, C. Calvert 8, M. Cassidy 4, B. Carr 2, C. Erb 2), Aranui 55 (L. Richardson 12, B. Atchison 12, T. Beukenholdt 10, T. Costain 7, A. Fenemor 6, A. Price 5, P. Barry 2, V. Cowley 2. The referees were S. Harrow and N. Warren. Y.M.C.A. 58, Burnham 36 Donna Broughton’s masterly display gave Y.M.C.A, strong edge over Burnham. She was assisted by a more confident display from Isobel Hartley. Y.M.C.A. was ahead, 30-20, at half-time, and dominated the third quarter. Alona Teki continued her Improved form to give Burnham’s score some respectability in the last quarter. Y.M.C.A. 58 (I. Hartley 17, D. Broughton 15, J. M. Slocombe 8, J. Lamont 7, S. Gabites 7, L. McLintock 4), Burnham 36, (A. Teki 10, J. McGrath 8, J. Thomson 6, C. Williams 4, Y. Crichton-Hill 4, O. Cook 1. The referees were G. McFarlane and M. Hawkins. Rebels 47, Rangiora 43 A makeshift Rebels team had to fight strongly in the last five minutes after its hard first-half efforts. Raylene Forde ran long ' and hard to finish with a

valuable 18 points. She received, good support from Ann Campbell (13) and Greta Shanks (11) in the absence of the ■ accurate Lynette McGrath. Rebels led, 33-23 at halftime. ,

Andrea Smith supported Liz Mosley’s efforts in the second spell as Rangiora fought back.

The former Halswell player, Therese Harrington, filling in for Rebels, thwarted Rangiora’s desperate efforts in the last five minutes.

Rebels 47 (R. Forde 18, A. Campbell 13, G. Shanks 11, T; Harrington 4, L. Deuart I).‘ Rangiora 43 (E. Mosley 12, P. Bellworthy 8, M. Pipe 8, A. Smith 6, L. Stanicich 4, J. Harris 3, R. Edyvean 2. The referees were K. Kilgour and N. Love.

Scoring details of the deferred match were:

Bumham 67 (Y. CrichtonHill 17, C. Williams 14, J. McGrath 10, P. Milner 8, A. Teki 8, O. Cook 6, J. Thomson), Rangiora 59 (J. Harris 18, E. Mosley 10, M. Pipe 9, P. Belworthy 8, A. Smith 6, L. Stanicich 4, R. King 4). The referees were K. Kilgour and P. Bums. J t

P W L F A Pt Checkers 12 11 1 720 544 22 Aranui 12 9 3 772 557 18 Halswell 12 8 4 642 567 16 Burnham 12 6 6 577 593 12 Y.M.C.A. 12 4 8 616 677 8 Rebels 12 4 8 510 651 8 Rangiora 12 0 12 523 771 0