Testing time for basketball league teams

Press, 8 April 1988, Page 23

Testing time for basketball league teams

By FRANK DUGGAN Canterbury and Nelson will provide something of a local derby when Ithey open the Countrywide (national men's basketball league season at Trafalgar Centre, Nelson, tomorrow evening. They are (the only South Island teanjsiin' the national 10-team championship which will extendi to the finals at Auckland op August 13. Canterbury has made the finals in recent years, while Nelson has figured in mid-table. However, this does not distract from the rivalry between the two teams which has extended over ' many years. In the last couple of seasons Canterbury has been dominant and a similar situation should) happen tomorrow. However, playing at Trafalgar Centre is something quite unique for visiting teams and Nelson has upset many more favoured teams on its own territory, mainly because of the tightness of the court. [Canterbury's preparation fqr the initial league game has been slightly restricted because of a lack of suitable competition; on the other hand Nelson is something of an unknown quantity. It has had no pre-season matches and this [could be a telling factor if a final quarter crunch should eventuate. I Canterbury defeated second division Otago in two matches before going north last weekend for the North Shore tournament. It finished runner-upj to Saints (Wellington) and Improved with every match. Saints, last year's champion! (Canterbury finished second), had to p’ull out all the stops to win the final against an ever-improving Canterbury side which looks destined ito make the final four teams for Auckland. | Canterbury's coach, Gary I is [pleased with the [ progress 1 of his squad. He [ would hajve liked to have had i riiore pre-season matches but I js quietly I confident for the season’s prospects. [ The Canterbury squad con- 1 tains tvio newcomers, an [ [Americap j centre-forward, j [Kenny Perkins, 2m in height, [ and a fine all-round player. ' [The other is an off-guard. Maurice! Corkery. who has been a prominent Checkers club pjayer for several [seasons, land deserving of his chance in the top'grade, 1 I

[ Nelson is being coached this season by Bill Dahlberg, the assistant coach of last year’s New Zealand junior team. He replaces a former New Zealand player, Dave Taylor, who coached the team from the inaugural season of the national league until last year. | Nelson has severed its,connection with last year’s imports, Frank Smith, most valuable forward in 1 the league last season, and Carlton Cooper. Smith is playing for Y.M.C.A. Hamilton and Cooper is staying in i the United States.

[ They have been replaced by Curtis Bradley, a 2m forward, who played for California State in the division two college league last American season, and Ritchie McKay at 1.83 m point guard, who the critics are already comparing favourably with Clyde Huntley. A former New Zealand forward, Nick Costley, is looking 'sharp for Nelson in ' pre[season workouts and seems [back to his best after! an [indifferent season last year.

' Chris Simpson, the former (Canterbury player who' went to the United States with the ; New Zealand side last year, is I expected to form a [ good I guard combination i with j McKay and another new sign- [ ing, Danny Williams, a [ former Church College, Hamilton, and Ponsonby player. The rest of the side are ; young, local talent, with the exception of Greg Emerson, a tall forward signed : from Otago University. ! . ! Tony Barnett, Stuart Wallace, and James Campion will be pressing for court time in the forward line and Tony Strange, Gordon Meyer, Andy Bennett. Mike Lucas and Phil Daly, all products of Nelson's junior talent nursery, complete the squad.

The odds favour Canterbury and if the wizardry of the backcourt pairing of Clyde Huntley and John Rademakers get into their their usual act the match should be a thriller.

O Club competitions in. Christchurch will make a start for the new season this week-end. with University (men) and Aranui (women) early favourites for the initial championships before the [ start joj the main title rounds I later on.

i Both teams failed in their respective finals at last weekend’s South Island tournament, but showed enough depth to rate their prospects highly for the coming championships. 1 Five other teams join [University in the men’s A grade competition, High School Old Boys, Aranui, Rangiora, Checkers and Butlers. ■ There are a lot of new faces, and they are mostly young ones having been promoted from lower divisions. The former national coach, Bob Bishop, has University on the right path, and the same ■applies to Steve Quarles (Checkers) and Alan Robson (Rangiora). The other [three 'teams appear a little weaker, [mainly because of team [numbers being weakened by retirements or transfers. | • [Last week-end’s Easter tournament showed that this season's women's division one [club basketball competition should be more evenly matched than in previous years. [ [. Rebels, .of Mid-Canterbury, and Butlers have failed to field a side, but fortunately. University has come put of recess since it folded 'at the end of 1984. This now gives six entries in the division one grade. [ This season's competition will consist of a two| round competition for the 1 Hokan trophy followed by a tworound championship section. As the top 10 league flayers will be required weekly, they [ will not be able to play for their clubs unless they are j the eleventh or twelfth mem--1 ber of the weekly-chosen [squad. Consequently, [several [ teams have been weakened. [ The competition appears to i have one of the largest con- | centrations of new players for [many seasons which' should [augur well for future years, •once they have gained some A grade experience. [ Aranui won three titles last year, but lost its Easter title to Electricity of 'Dunedin which contained mahy Otago league players. ; j , Aranui has been reduced to four regular players, including ; Pat Barry and Diane Knops. Three players, including Adrianna , Benkerholdt and Ann Price, are'going or have gone overseas. It may have the occasional use of a [league player, Tina .ißenk- ! 'erholdt. It has some youthful

replacements shaping well and is narrowly favoured to retain the championship title it has won four times over the last five seasons.

Last year's runner-up Halswell is severely weakened by the loss of three players to the league side but, after a shaky start at Easter, it showed that it still has a side determined to play well. Rangiora, with Phil Whiteside as coach, showed much promise with a youthful line up. Checkers edged out the new University line up narrowly in the opening Easter encounter. Both these teams should [test Aranui.

The sixth team in the grade is Minties which has picked up another three Burnside players and several promising "services” players but, without its three league players available this season, it may take some time to show what it is really capable of. In Saturday’s opening games, Halswell should defeat Minties and University should be too quick for Rangiora, while honours could be even in the main afternoon game between Checkers and Aranui.

• Last week-end, the Canterbury women's league team competed with some success at the Napier Easter tournament. Bill Whelan, the team's coach, was satisfied, almost thrilled, as the team made the tournament final, losing to Wellington, a division one team, that finished third in last year's league. Canterbury lost a section game ’to Wellington by 11 points (78-67) but beat a former rival, Palmerston North, last year’s league finalist, 80-52. It then beat Napier, a former division one side, in the semi-final 64-57, but was eventually soundly beaten in the final by Wellington 104-74. Wendy Lester (nee Kerr), a former South Canterbury player and Mandy Collins were two players that played above expectations. Mr ■ Whelan was particularly pleased on the spread of scoring and the contribution of all team members. Sue Bennett, Sue Bennie, Yvonne Crichton-Hill, Lester, Collins and Shona Salomen (nee Richards) all scored more than 10 points in some of. their matches.

MOTUKARARA TROTTING ASSOCIATION WORKOUTS this Sunday, 11 a.m. start. All classes. Regulation footwear and clothing. Nominations close Friday, 8 p.m. Phone 478-737.