Minties defeats Aranui, 50-41

Press, 26 April 1988, Page 32

Minties defeats Aranui, 50-41

A determined Minties team outplayed Arami. 50-41, having led all the| way in the women's division 6ne basketball game in Cowles Stadium on Saturday eveniig. Minties team effort carried it through several rough spots in the game, desp te the formidable Ararui line-up. Aranui's forrral national player, Pat Barry, was tied to the side-line bect.use of injury, forcing Aranui to call upon the serviced of league players, Brenda Atchison and Tina Benkenholtit. - • This move, however; caused some concern with the Canterbury roach, Mr Bill Whelan, who prefers his players not U> [play club basketball. I In the other two games, the teams who have in past years dominated the top of the table with Ara ru . both succumbed. caus quite a change in the competition table. University downed Halswell 47-44, sfter Halswell looked like winning at halftime with a ead of 23-15. Rangiora recorded a longoverdue ■ win | by beating Checkers 60-51 after Checkers squandered a 33-28 lead at half-time. | This gives University and Minties a shade in first place on the table for the Patron's trophy, each I-team having

Uli i : ■ won three- games. Halswell and Checkers are' left in the unusual joositionj of neither team having scored a win. i This week, Minties' calibre will be tested again when it meets i Checkers,; while University will have! to do battle w;ith Aranui, who will hopefully (have the i services of Barry ■ back. ' I i Points table after three rounds. — ;

: Minties 50 (M. Henry 22. A. Richards 8, V. Scrimgeour 5, J. Cummack :5, L. Williscroft 4. A. Teki 4, P. Milner 2). l-i ' ! I Aranui 41 (M; Cassidy 12, D. Knops 9, L. Richards’6, V. Cowley 4, M. Fitzgibbon 3, T. Benkenholdt 3, T. Stokes 2, S. Moon 2). Referees, Sharon Harrow and Carol Fahey. Good! defence on -■ Minties’ part proved to be a bonus as the team broke up one attack after! another against the top Aranui side. Aranui was playing with two present and two .former- league players, and two ; other, long-serving Agrade players. Minties’ line-up consisted of no "named" players apart from its regular

‘ I J | play makers, Puhi Milrier rind Lois Williscroft. ! . I | I 1 (Minties ’ edged ; sligh'tly ariead, 12-8. in the first quarter, and only minutes latjer. Marie Henry’ shot two quick baskets to give them aj2o, L lO : advantage. Hl ; (Vicky Cowley and! Ml Gas- [ sidy produced a late; rally 1 in ttxe second quarter, with two baskets a piece, but Miniies pulled clear with some free tlirows to lead 25-18 by half- ■ time. | j ! [Andrea Richards! boosted -Minties lead early! in Ithe second half and an iArdnui surge, led by Dianei Krtops was to little effect because of I lack of back-up. |[ I I i j Minties rotated its! bench to I good , effect with Jill Ciimi mack, Vivian Scrimgeour and Marilyn White all ; working hhrd in support of Milner land Henry. , j Aranui managed to close ! the gap to 33-38 after; 12 ; minutes and looked likely to i catch Minties, but Henry noni chalantly sunk t. ; threeI pointer to lift MintieS morLaie. She sunk several! more I later in the game to! finish with five in her m Hen lallv qf 22. i | University 47 (C. Patterson . 19, J. Harris 10, T. Vhittaker I 6, D. Lintsen 4, S. Francis 4, R. Buick 4). I ; 11 - Halswell 441 t. M. Ivan Vuuren 2, S. Pewhairangi 7, II'• I H i

R. Walker 7, K. Slave 6, D. Dixon 6, J. Slocombe 4, R. Cooke 1, jC. Lightfoot 11. Referees, Russell Berry and Bruce Scoullar. [ I ’ Halswell, anchored by former league player. Rose Walker, and the steady influence of Kathy Siave. kept [a tight control of its defence to thwart University moves. Halswell patiently moved the ball around the’ court and quietly built up a 23-15 lead by half-time. [ In the second spell. University played with more urgency in lits efforts | and a better cohesion among its players. Charlotte Patterson worked hqrd to! free J herself for her favoured jump shot. She slotted seven baskets ini a match tally of 19 andlreceivlid good support from! Justine Harris. Trina Whittaker and Sue Francis. Marinda. van Vuuren managed to penetrate the-Univer-sity defence with an (effective spin-dribble and. supported by the young I I Sheree Pewhairarigi. helped in reaching the win. Rangiora [6O (D. Walker 22, C. McFarlin 7, W. Berry 7, N. Hall 6, G. McFarlane 4, P. Belworthy 4, K. Wells 4, L. Mosely 2,1 C. Buchanan 2, M. Bamberyj2). J Checkers 51 (I. Hartlev 15, L. McClintock 12, D{ Chase 6, S. Schroojl 6, M. Mullany 5, J.

McGrath 3, [ R. van der Monde 2. J. j O’Calllahan 2). Referees. Barry Dent, Noel Love. Plenty of crisp passing among a strong team early in this game gave Checkers! an early lead.'lsobel Hartley [used her quick turn of speed against Rangiora and!, combined with Lee McClintock, showed good potential in the first half. Rangiora increased the pressure on Checkers, but Hartley eluded the defence to run in a further four baskets, giving Checkers a margin of 24-20 after 15 minutes. Rangiora levelled at 26-all minutes later, but Checkers 'rallied to lead 33-28 at :he break. Natalie Ha I and Wendy Berry showed good'potential, lifting Rangima's attack with determined efforts! and setting up the strong Darlene Walker who regularly split open the Checkers’ defence to finish with i match tally of 22. It took unti the ninth minute of the second spell for Rangiora to grab the lead, but it kept e< ging away with Colleen McFarlin giving the side a touch of maturity. In the absence of Barbara Carr, Debbie Chase, Marama Mullany ard McClintock played the key rolls for Checkers but lhe side lacked (he depth on its bench to maintain its early advantage.

1 1 P W L F A Pts Minties 3 3 0 148 123 6 University 3 3 0 166 15'4 6 Aranuii 3 2 1 144 137 4 Rangio ( ra 3 1 2 158 161 2 Checkers 3 0 3 152 179 0 ijalswel! 3 0 3 124 138 - 0