University’s excellent display

Press, 26 April 1988, Page 32

University’s excellent display

University seems almost certain to have its name enscribed on the Alan Hoben Trophy, the initial-season championship for Canterburysenior men’s basketball.

After a somewhat slow start at Cowles [Stadium on Saturday afternoon. the students' roared away in the second half to defeat High School Old Boys. 176:48.

Other winners were Butlers. 62-58. river Aranui, while Rangiora [had a convincing 74-43 success against a rather lack-lustre Checkers side. |

Butlers came from behind to defeat Aranui,; which again ran out of steam in the final 10 minutes after {having a 3930 advantage ■ at half-time. Tight marking I by Aranui, particularly on the successful Butlers shooter, fvlatt Hall, in the first half gave promise of an overdue Aranui success. But it could not -maintain the pressure. Hall! relished the freedom and finished up with 27 points, the blest of the day. Rangiora enjoyed the indifferent marking [of Checkers and raced to an impressive victory It was “something of a fun game for Rangiora. with the tali foiwjard. Lance Dixon, getting 20 points, and a quick guard !Paul Newell, 17. , University's display was bv far the best of tlje day. It had some problems; against Old Boys in the first quarter, but it was a minor; lapse and it completely dominated the second half. It has few stars, although a ' former league player. Ralph; Lattimore, scored 26 points on Saturday. It plays together as a team

University and Rangiora now share the lead at the top of the table, being unbeaten in three : matches, while Butlers has won two out of three and Old Boys one match from a similar number of games.'ikranui'and Checkers have yet to register a win. Generally the scoring was low. but the standard is still promising for so early in the

Rangioya 74, Checkers 43 Rangiora: L. Dixon 20, P. Newell 17, R. and!M. Lines, both 10, A. Robson 6, P. Hobbs and N. Meeten, both 4, R. Whearty 2, D. King 1. J. Mac Kay 15, R. Burgers 10, D. Taylor 8, J. Salkeld 4] D. Baird, K. Deal and W. Cooke, all 2, Halftime: 38-14 (Rangiora). The referees were Messrs Barry Dent and Paul Ray. After tt e first five minutes there was (never a doubt that Rangiora ! would defeat Checkers land it did so (in style. 74-43. Checke-s is not having! a good season and appears I to have lost j its way from the promise lof recent years. Rangiora !almost doubled jits half-time I lead. 38-14, [to cruise to 1 31-point advantage at the fir ish. In the I second half it was

something like a fun; match on Rangiora's part.! while Checkers laboured to contain an increasingly confident opposition. Lance Dixon shot 20 points for Rangiora in his generally reliable manner, whil'e Paul Newell got 16. anti the brothers Lines 10 apielce. John Mac Kay (15) and Rudi Burgers (10) { were Checkers'. best players. But generally it was a disappointing team effort. University 76.

Old Boys 48 University: R. Lattimore 26, J. Deeley 11, M. Shaw 10, A. Romano 8. D. van Heyiningen 7, D. Paul and Thodey, both 4, D. Dekker, C. Round and D. yeldon, all 2. I

Old Boys; C. Forbister 13, J. Caidwell and H. Thomson, both 8, T. Salkeld 6, G. Lang 5, P. Connor and D. G-rocott, both 4. Half-time: 36-20 (University). ! The referees were l)lessrs Paul Ray and Kevin Fgstier. University scrambled- for a time against Old Boys, surprisingly trailing by 6-10 after six; minutes. However, the University coach. Bob Bishop, then began to ring! the changes and it was not long before the students took the lead and that was virtually the end of the game. ( University, playing; controlled basketball, led: 36-20 at [ half-time, but Old] Boys recovered slightly in the third quarter to be only 14| points aw-ay. 42-56. This was the last real Old Boys challenge and it weakened appreciably in the last five minutes to finish

up 28 points in arrears. University plays the team game better than any other Feam in the competition. With players like Ralph Lattimore (26' points), John Deeley (111 and Mike Shaw (10) around it usually dominates both the front and back boards.

Chris Forbister (13 pointsi had a fine game for Old Boys, although he tired towards the end. while John Caldwell and Hugh Thomson, both eight points, saw a lot of action. Butlers 62 Aranui 58 Butlers 62 (M. Hall 27, P. Kearney 8. C. Dobbs 7. J. Campbell and J. Moira, both 6, S. Paterson 4, R. Gwilliams and J. Ray. both 2. Aranui: 58 (P. N’ouata 13. A. Timmu 11. R. Davis 10. M. Corkery 8, H. Timms 6, T. Taylor 4, T. McGill and C. Penney, both 2, R. Scamell). Half-time: 39-30 (Aranui). The referees were Messrs John Grocott and Ken Kilgour. Butlers and Aranui were in reverse roles on Saturday Usually. Butlers start with a hiss and roar, while Aranui comes from behind. It was the opposite this time. Aranui. with a considerable amount of youthful enthusiasm. led 16-5 after eight minutes and then 21-20 early in the second quarter, when Butlers' Matt Hall, the competition's leading scorer was being like meat in the sandwich and rarely able to get in the clear.

Butlers was nine points. 3039. behind at half-time. However, the greater ex-

penence of Butlers then came to the fore. .As Aranui tired and Hall got more room, the gap narrowed. In the ninth minute of the third quarter Hall scored to give Butlers a 47-45 advantage. .

After a minute of the last quarter. Butlers had opened a lead of seven points, 60-53. It was then on team foul problems and played it "cool" for the final couple of minutes. Hall, who is proposing another overseas trip: in the next few weeks, is the most successful shooter in club competition. Once be got away from the shackles of close marking, he completely dominated the second half. His 27 points now brings his three-match competition total to 99. something of a Canterbury record. Hall has the ability to shoot off either hand or foot and is a matchwinner. something akin to Kelvin Duff (Old Boy’s) in recent times.

Butlers had plenty of backup. Peter Kearney (8). the, captain. Chris Dobbs (7).-; John Campbell and Jason Moir (both six), worked well in the second spell. The match again proved: that Aranui misses persever- ; ence. It starts well and then loses momentum in the last! half, chiefly because of inex-' perience under pressure.: Paul Nouata, often lacking in; court-time in recent seasons, was prominent for Aranui. gaining 13 -points, in a competitive performance.

A lack of fitness at a crucial stage was Aranui’s biggest drawback. It should never have allowed Butlers to get into the game.

season. Con petition table P W L F A Pt Rnngiora 3 3 ■ tl 216 183 3 University 3 3 0 234 159 3 Butlers 3 2 1 194 162 2 Old Bovs 3 1 2 181 196 1 Aranui 3 0 3 165 212 0 Checkers 3 0 3 149 207 0