Basketball keen on second div. team

Press, 17 December 1988, Page 38

Basketball keen on second div. team

By

FRANK DUGGAN

Canterbury is likely to enter a team in the New Zealand second division men’s basketball league championship next season guaging by the reaction of Thursday evening’s Canterbury Basketball Association’s annual meeting. After the recent annual meeting of the New Zealand Basketball Federation in Wellington, highlighted by Otago’s earlier acceptance of being included in the Countrywide league competition by the executive, and then having the nomination thrown out on the vote of the country’s delegates, the question of a “new look” men’s second division was “put on hold.” Now it looks as if the men’s second division will be revamped, with the league being split into two divisions next season and the area division winners have a playoff and the winner playing the last-placed first division team in a promotion-relega-tion series. The Canterbury president, Mr Russell Henwood, explained to Thursday’s meeting that 24 teams had shown interest in competing in the second division. “It could end up with 12 teams, one division being North Islandbased, with the exception of Wellington, which would be included in a southern zone,” he said. “Such a format would cut down on expense.” It is expected applications will be called in the next few weeks. Mr Henwood was guarded on the end result. “First, a decision has to be made whether such a move is warranted, choosing appro-

priate playing dates and then finding a sponsor,” he said. “At a recent meeting of league delegates, Canterbury was approached regarding a second division team and we showed interest," he said. “It falls down to a question of finance, which means budgeting.” Mr Daryl Symonds asked if the Canterbury under-23 team would be the second division side. “Perhaps the bulk,” replied Mr Henwood, “but it would almost contain others. It would basically be a feeder ground to the A team.” The meeting was told that moves are afoot to change the formula of some aspects of Christchurch club basketball. Apart from the main league teams, men and women, which will retain a high profile, the various club championships will come under scrutiny in the next few weeks. The most important suggestion is that senior women’s basketball matches be played on Wednesday evenings, allowing the league players to play club games mid-week. There are others: ® Members of the senior men’s league team will not be allowed to play club matches during the duration of the league season. (However, it is proposed that another club competition be staged after the league finals to allow them to compete for their clubs). • A revamp of the South Island Easter tournament which has been losing ground in the last couple of years because of the counter-attrac-tion of other tournaments. • Cowles Stadium in Christchurch will have a

greater workload next season, because Pioneer Stadium has restricted basketball to one court. • Another plan is to play only senior men’s and women’s matches at Cowles Stadium on Saturday afternoons, doing away with early morning and late afternoon games. Clyde Huntley, the Canterbury captain in recent seasons, has signed a contract for next year and Kenneth Perkins, another American who played for the province last season, is also expected to sign again shortly. “If he doesn’t, there are plenty of others,” said Mr Henwood. The 1989 Canterbury executive is very similar to last season. Mr Henwood, recently returned from the United States where he was manager of the New Zealand Junior men’s team, was reappointed president. Messrs Warwick Hobbs (senior vicepresident) and John Duggan (junior vice-president) were also elected unopposed. Mr Doug Irving, who was appointed executive-director in April of this year, will also take the responsibility of secretary-treasurer. Mr Henshall will again be patron. Ms Bernadette Daly and Mr Darrel Flynn retained positions on the executive, while two newcomers are Ms Louise Richardson and Mr Ray Thomson, although the latter two are well known. Clear backboards, similar to those used in league matches, will be installed on both Cowles Stadium courts next season, while a ceilingextended scoring clock is also planned for 1989 on No. 1 court.