Aranui comes from behind
The defending club champion, University, went close to beating Aranui in the key opening game of this season’s championships section of the men’s division one basketball competition at Cowles Stadium on Saturday.
Aranui, which trailed by 11 points twice during the game, came from behind to beat University, 66-65, in the closing moments. In the other games High School Old Boys outran Butlers, 8167, and Checkers beat Rangiora, 66-47. Larry Hubbard, Aranui’s tall United States player who has been recruited for the Canterbury division two team, topped the scoresheet for the day with an easy 31 points. John Mackay notched 18 for Checkers while Van Heyningen (University), Hugh Thomson (Old Boys) and Mark Rainbird (Butlers) slotted 17 apiece.
Aranui 66 (L. Hubbard 31, C. Dobbs 11, P. Mouata 7, R. Davis 4, P. Hill 4, H. Timms 4, D. Watson 4, C. Pennay 1) beat University 65 (D. Van Heyningen 17, D. Paul 15, P. Schwaiger 12, B. Wells 7, A. Heifc._ 6, J. Deely 2, T. Thodey 2, W. Dellow 2, D. Dekker 2). Half-time, Aranui 29-28. Referees, J. Grocott, W. Poulter.
University, with one win in the Alan Hoban competition, showed much more determination in an effort to defend its title. It is rebuilding its moves after losing the services of its coach, Bob Bishop, with Mike Shaw taking over the position. Hubbard commanded both boards, using his extra 15cm to good advantage. He made University work the ball with speed to get an opening as any : ill-chosen shots . were I quickly ejected.
Van Heyningen ran in five baskets for University to level 15-15 in the twelfth minute but five minutes later Hubbard had pushed Aranui ahead 23-17. Two baskets apiece from Phil Schwaiger and the speedy Paul put University ahead, 28-27 in the twentieth minute, but Hubbard landed two free throws to give Aranui the advantage at half-time, 29-28.
With strong crowd support for University its team effort moved into top gear, running the ball precisely and methodically at Aranui. Seven players landed baskets as University moved out to a 48-37 lead in the ninth minute. Paul maintained that 11-point margin with two more timely shots. Aranui’s bench began to fire up, sensing the match slipping away. Paul Nouata slipped his marker for three baskets while Chris Dobbs, momentarily free of the close attentions of Paul, sunk a timely threepointer to aid the cause.
Hubbard returned to the fray to enable Aranui to close the gap to 59-60 in the eighteenth minute. University, unable to penetrate Aranui’s defence, then tried to consume time, holding on to a two-point lead entering the final minute.
University’s Richard Davis fouled out as Hubbard levelled the match 65-65 with only seconds remaining. Hubbard then sank the bonus shot to give Aranui victory. High School Old Boys 81 (Hugh Thomson 17, C. Foubister 13, P. Conner 12, D. Robinson 10, G. Lang 9, I. MacFarlane 8, T. Taylor 6, D. Grocott 4, B. Fifield 1, J. Caldwell 1) beat Butlers 67 (M. Rainbird (17, J. Campbell 15, B. Kerr 10, W. Suggan 9, B. Scammell 5, J. Ray 5, J. Moir 4, D. Colee 2). Half-time, Butlers 36-35.
Referees: Nick Warren and Peter Crowhen. Old Boys showed good form in the early stages of its clash with Butlers, with Hugh Thomson and Paul Conner leading the scoring to put the side ahead, 20-13 in the thirteenth minute. All five first line-up members scored for Butlers.
The match tightened up in the second quarter with many needless fouls, Old Boys were the main culprits. Butlers made' good use of the charity shots, sinking nine of 11 attempts to close to 27-27 in the seventeenth minute, with three more points from six attempts only minutes later.
Old Boys then sank several good baskets before the break to close the gap to 36-35.
Chris Foubister (Old Boys) and Mark Rainbird (Butlers), led the battle in the opening stages of the second half. Butlers opened up a four-point lead with baskets to John Campbell and Brian Kerr, but Hugh Thomson marshalled Old Boys’ efforts, and it was leading 61-52 entering the ninth minute.
Two three-pointers from Glen Lang and Thomson pushed Old Boys to 73-61 in the thirteenth minute. Butlers became rattled in the closing minutes, fouling heavily in desperation. Old Boys however missed all 11 of its free throws.
John Campbell spoiled his 15-point game with a needless intentional foul as he bundled his marker out over the endline. Rainbird (17 points) rebounded strongly while Kerr and Bill Duggan foraged relentlessly for Butlers.
Thomson finished with 17 points, Foubister collected 12 before fouling out early, Connor showed some speed to score 12,
while the newcomer, Dene Robinson, showed determination in scoring 10. Checkers 66 (J. Mac Kay 18, D. Baird 11, M. Corkery 10, D. Howard 8, B. Guerin 7, J. Salkeld 4, S. Duggan 2, M. Hutchins 2, K. Deal 2, G. Ottman 2) beat Rangiora 47 (D. Ruske 14, L. Dixon 9, M. Lines 8, R. Lines 8, N. Meetan 5, A. Robsin 2, P. Hobbs 1). Half-time, Checkers 33-23. Referees: Dale Dunlop and Bruce Martin.
Three-pointers to John Mac Kay and David Baird gave Checkers an early lead of 12-6 after six minutes.
Checkers hustled quickly and effectively, eliminating the height advantage Rangiora had with its three tall players, Lance Dixon and the Lines brothers, Malcolm and Richard.
Three quick baskets gave Checkers a vital 1 flpoint lead, 33-23 at the break. Paul Hobbs and Dean Ruske shared the playmaking role — both were prepared to run the ball at speed against Checkers — but Checkers hustled well and left Rangiora pondering how to break through. Dixon was limited to just nine points and the Lines brothers to only eight each while the quick-shooting Ruske snapped 14 points. All 10 Checkers players scored, led by Mac Kay with 18 and Baird 11, while Maurice Corkery marshalled Checkers' efforts with a useful 1 flpoint contribution. Dean Howard also worked hard at both ends. Checkers maintained its half-time advantage, working hard on all aspects of its game. It led 46-38 after 10 minutes, 5742 after 15 minutes qnd wons 66-47.
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