University keeps club basketball title

Press, 12 September 1988, Page 18

University keeps club basketball title

By

FRANK DUGGAN

The University of Canterbury team is again the senior men’s club basketball champion.

It really won it a couple of weeks ago and then went through the motions of playing its last two games. Last Tuesday evening it lost to Rangiora, always a contender, by a couple of points.

Then, to cap a most impressive year, University beat High School Old Boys, 60-55, in a match of fluctuating fortunes.

It was like a league grand final night at Madgwick (Wellington) or Chase (Auckland) stadiums, taking away a couple of thousand spectators.

The last matches were for the purists, the devotees of top club basketball. University and Mr Bishop deserved to win the championship. When Mr Bishop took over the coaching duties two years ago he hoped to win the club championship in three years. "It came a lot sooner,” he said.

The basic need was enjoyment. “I think they got it and that is when the team really started to play well.” Apart from praising his team, Saturday’s final was a bitter-sweet moment for Mr Bishop. “I got fired as the national coach because I wanted too much,” he said. “Between $50,000 to $75,000 is needed annually to run a satisfactory New Zealand men’s team, which, I think, is not too bad when you are expected to compete on the international scene.” Now, with renewed confid-

ence after University’s string of successes, Mr Bishop is planning ahead. He has been nominated for the Canterbury men’s league coaching role, replacing Gary Pettis, who retired a few weeks ago. Mr Bishop is undecided whether to carry the nomination through. “I will sit down and think about in the next couple of days,” he said. The Canterbury Basketball Association executive will make a decision on team coaches this evening. University’s ultimate goal was only one of several features on Saturday. It was almost like keeping the best to last. The three matches were intense and but for strict umpiring it could have got out of hand. Robin Milligan, off to Seoul today to administer at the Olympic Games, a first for New Zealand, and Nick Warren, had a busy time in the UniversityOld Boys clash and did it quietly and confidently. It was not an easy assignment. ’ University led 28-16 after 12 minutes and looked like giving Old Boys a “bath.” Old Boys came back and trailed 32-33 at half-time.

University started the second Tialf in similar fashion to the first, then stumbled and Old Boys came back. In the ninth minute Old Boys led 43-42, then 49-47 with nine minutes left. University was still under control, however, and kept up the pressure. This formula' has been a winning one for about six

months and the last fiveminute University “clip” was no different. Basically, it was good basketball, forthright and with a touch of flair.

It cemented the long-held opinion that “when Ralph’s off, University is off.” This was certainly not the case in the earlier AranuiButler match when Mark Rainbird (Butlers) was a dominant figure, along with Howard Timms (Aranui) in a stop-go affair. Rainbird scored 34 points; Timms got 22. Both picked' up many rebounds. It was anybody’s game up until the last two minutes when Aranui’s consistency eventually paid off, winning 83-78. Rangiora’s decisive 72-59 win over Checkers confirmed the Butlers’ coach, Bob Manthei’s view that next season Rangiora and Butlers will be among the top contenders. Michael Lines (Rangiora) enriched a rapidly-improving image with 22 points, while Hugh Thomson (Old Boys) got 19, John Salkeld (Checkers) 16, a similar figure to John Campbell (Butlers).

One of the notable scorers was Paul Nouata (Aranui) with 20 points, the result of a sound game. Results:

Rangiora 72, Checkers 59; Aranui 83, Butlers 78; University 60, H. 5.0.8. 55. Individual team results:

Rangiora 72, Checkers 59

Rangiora: M. Lines 22, L. Dixon 12, P. Hobbs and A. Robson, both 10, R. Lines 6 and P. McAllister, both 6, P. Newall 4, R. Whearty 2. Checkers: J. Salkeld 16, J. Mac Kay 9, T. Brunnel and D. Baird, both 8, D. Taylor 7, K. Deal and R. Burgers, both 4, C. Free 2, R. Baird 1. Halftime: 34-25 (Rangiora). The referees were Ms Sharyon Harrow and Mr Kevin Fastier. Aranui 83, Butlers 78 Aranui: H. Timms 22, P. Nouata 20, M. Corkery 12, C. Dobbs 10, A. Timu 8, R. Davis 5, T. McGill, C. Perry and B. Scammel, all 2. Butlers: M. Rainbird 34, J. Campbell 16, B. Duggan 10, B. Kerr and J. Ray, both 6, M. Lint 4, R. Gwilliams 2. Half-time: 41-36 (Butlers). The referees were Messrs John Grocott and Keith Milligan. University 60, H. 5.0.8. 55 University: D. Paul 16, A. Heiford 12, T. Thodey 8, B. Wells 7, ,M. Shaw 6, A. Romano 5, D. van Heyningen 4, R. Lattimore 2. H. 5.0.8.: H. Thomson 19, C. Foubister 10, C. Cowie 8, P. Connor 6, T. Salkeld and D. Grocott, both 4, G. Lang 3, P. Dew 1. Half-time: 33-32 (University).

The referees were Messrs Robin Milligan and Nick Warren.