Basketball University tighten grip on trophy

Press, 23 May 1988, Page 27

Basketball University tighten grip on trophy

If any further proof was needed to cement University’s position as the best team in Canterbury senior men’s basketball this season, then the students’ easy 65-45 win over Checkers at Cowles Stadium on Saturday showed that it has something of a mortgage over the Alan Hoben Trophy. It was University’s sixth successive win and it will take something of a minor miracle in the next few weeks to stop the students from going through the two rounds of the competition unbeaten. University was never really at full stretch against Checkers. It kept a comfortable buffer of points from the outset and was well in control at half-time leading 30-22. This advantage allowed the full bench to be used, with most of them getting points. Checkers did reasonably well up to the last quarter, then faded against the consistency and expertise of a University team which is still improving and looking hot favourite to win both the Hoben Trophy and the cham- , pionship series. Checkers has yet to win a match this season, although there was sufficient evidence on Saturday to believe that it will break the drought in the coming weeks. ■Rangiora maintained its second ranking with an easy 87-47 win over a new-look Butlers side. Rangiora’s only loss this season has been to University and it appears the only team to threaten to knock the students off their perch. The loss of Chris Dobbs and Matt Hall, former Butlers players of many seasons, revealed the former champion team’s inexperience. However, the newcomers showed signs that once they adjust to the standard of the higher grade they could cause some trouble for the more favoured teams.

High School Old Boys kept their third spot in defeating Aranui, 80-67, in a match more notable for the falling away of Aranui’s standard in the last quarter. Results: Old Boys 80, Aranui 67; Rangiora 87, Butlers 47; University 65, Checkers 45.

Aranui 67 Old Boys: P. Connor 18, T. Salkeld 16, H. Thomson 14, C. Cowie 13, J. Caldwell 11, G. Lang 5, C. Forbister 3. Aranui: R. Davis 12, P. Nuata, C. Penny and A. Timu, all 10, R. Scammali and H. Timms, both 8, T. Taylor 4, T. McGill 3 and M. Corkery 2. Half-time: 31-aIL The referees were Ms Sharon Harrow and Mr Bruce Scoullar. The Old Boys-Aranui match was a stop-start affair, with frequent foul calls against both teams and featuring Aranui’s collapse in the final quarter. Aranui held its own for three-quarters of the game, sharing the half-time lead, 31-all, but then fading quickly in the last 10 minutes to eventually lose, 67-80. Old Boys owed their success to greater consistency, particularly in the back and centre courts. Five Old Boys’ players set the tone, headed by Paul Connor (18 points), who has made big contribu--tions this season, Tony Salkeld (16), the captain, Hugh Thomson (14), Craig Cowie (13), who appreciated more playing time, and an astute guard, John Caldwell (11). Rangiora 87, Butlers 47 Rangiora: A. Robson 27, M. Ellis 23, R. Lines 10, M. Lines 8, P. Hobbs 6, L. Dixon 5, K. Schashing 4, D. King, N. Meeten and R. Whearty, all 2. Butlers: J. Campbell 21, S. Paterson 10, J. Meir, M. Lint and J. Ray, both 4, R. Gwilliams 2. Half-time: 34-20 (Rangiora). The referees were Messrs Robin Milligan and Russell Berry. Several new Butlers players came away with encouragement, even though Rangiora always had control, extending a 34-20 half-time advantage to 87-47 at full time. Rangiora had too much consistency and exnerience for a now youthful Butlers

side and played its full bench in another sold team performance. Ten . Rangiora players got on the score sheet, headed by its captain, Alan Robson (27 points) and Michael Ellis (23). Rangiora was quick to spot flaws in Butlers' defence and rebounded two to one. The only area where Butlers competed on a par with Rangiora was in the guardline. It sadly lacked height and experience on the boards and its shooting average would have been barely 30 per cent. Robson stood out for Rangiora and it was his best game for some time. Ellis is improving with experience and the Lines brothers, Richard (10) and Michael (8), both played well on defence. University 64, Checkers 45 University: T. Thodey 14, D. Dekker, A. Heiford and D. van Heyningen, all 8, A. Romano 6, R. Lattimore and D. Yeldon, both 4, D. Paul and B. Wells, both 2. Checkers: R. Burgers 20, D. Taylor 8, J. Mac Kay 7, D. Baird 3, W. Cook and K. Deal, both 2, J. Salkeld 1. Half-time: 30-22 (University). The referees were Messrs K. Fastier and John Grocott. University always had control of its game against Checkers, finishing with a 6445 success, featured ‘mainly by an increase in tempo in the last quarter. Checkers trailed 22-30 at the interval, but that was about as close as it got, and its performance tailed;off in the last 10 minutes. University controlled the . match from the outset and its combination from the back; court to the front always; had Checkers on the wrong foot. Bob Bishop used his bench freely and there were few flaws in a good all-round team effort. l ; Tim Thodey (14 points), led University’s scoring' and wa? ably assisted by David Dekker, Adrian Heiford j and Diederik van Heyningen, all with eight points. i Rudi Burgers was the pick of the Checkers players land deserved his 20 points as well as many rebounds. Dean Taylor (8) and John Mac Kay. (7) also had useful matches.'

The competition table is: p w L F A Pt University 6 6 0 474 324 6 Rangiora 6 5 1 442 383 5 Old Boys 6 4 2 430 413 4 Butlers 6 2 4 373 461 2 Aranui 6 1 5 401 457 1 Checkers 6 0 6 356 440 0 H.S.O.B. 80,