Experimental basketball team

Press, 22 September 1987, Page 48

Experimental basketball team

By FRANK DUGGAN Experimental rather than exploratory was the term used by the coach of the New Zealand men’s basketball team, Bob Bishop, shortly after he had announced in Christchurch yesterday his 10man squad to tour the United States for two weeks in November. On its 12-match tour, New Zealand will travel many thousand of miles, by plane and bus, ranging from Los Angeles, Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, North and South Illinois then to Fort Worth where the final game will be played on November 23. New Zealand has never experienced such a whistle-stop tour. “It gives us no time to work out playing prob-

lems, but hopefully we will do well,” said Mr Bishop last evening. “It is going to be a test of character and fitness.”

Apart from one or two reasonably surprise selections, the 10-man New Zealand squad does contain players of experience.

lan Webb (Canterbury), and Chris Simpson (Nelson), are the only South Island players.

Webb was assured of a forward spot after sound games in the series against the Soviet Union and Australia. Simpson, however, has improved greatly with more playing time since moving to Nelson from Canterbury before the end of the first found.

With an incumbent guard for many years, Tony Smith (North Shore), being not available because of studies in the United States, Simpson came into contention. It was obvious from a discussion with Mr Bishop during one of the recent internationals that Simpson was in line for a New Zealand spot? The other player who was not available, also because of studies in the United States, was Neil Stephens. Two other former South Islandtvplayers to be included were Gilbert Gordon ’ (Wellington), and Glen Denham (Waikato), who has retained the captaincy. ,

Denham, formerly of Otago, intimated before

the start of the season that he wanted to play for Canterbury but he later changed his mind. He is a much fined down figure from his Otago days and that has enabled him to become one of New Zealand’s outstanding basketbailers.

Duncan Taylor, formerly of Timaru but now with Palmerston North, was the unlucky player.

The squad is: Denham (Waikato, captain), I. Webb (Canterbury), C. Simpson (Nelson), F. Mulvihill, G. Gordon (Wellington), B. Vaitoe, M. Clarke (Auckland), ,W. Meehl (Ponsonby), M. Graham (North Shore), and P. Pokai (Waitemata).