Wins for top three teams

Press, 26 June 1989, Page 26

Wins for top three teams

All three top sides had predictable wins in the division one women’s basketball competition at Cowles Stadium on Saturday morning. The defending champion. Aranui, maintained a twopoint lead in the championship, beating Burnham 57-36, while University thumped Butlers 79-56 after trailing 1121 in the middle of the first spell. Halswell outpointed Rangiora 77-60 in a high-scoring match', but the bottom-placed Rangiora showed it is capable of causing an upset or two before the season ends. Aranui 57, Burnham 36 Aranui: A. Webley 12, B. Marshall 10, V. Cowley 9, D. Knops 8, W. Lester 4, J. Holmes 4, L. Richardson 4, T. Beukenholdt 4, T. Costain. Burnham: C. Hall 13, M. Dunn 6, J. Chesley 6, T. Ropata 6, L. Williscroft 3, M. White 2. Half-time: Aranui, 23-12. Referees: Sharyn Harrow and Graeme Wellington. Aranui took 6min to settle down and tighten its defence on Burnham. Expecting an easier game, Aranui intro-

duced its bench-warmers earlier than usual, with Andrea Webley and Belinda Marshall responding well to the challenge to lead Aranui' to a 23-12 lead by halftime.

Burnham put in its usual gritty effort, but with Aranui keeping Maria Dunn well contained and varying its own defensive patterns, Burnham had trouble in penetrating. Claudia Hall had a good game, varying her moves and pulling up for a nice jump shot to net 13 points. Lois Williscroft and Puhi Milner marshalled Burnham’s efforts, while Dunn was restricted to six points.

Aranui maintained its ascendancy in the second spell with Di Knops leading Aranui to a 48-28 lead after lOmin, but the scoring slowed noticeably in the final quarteer. Webley (12) and Marshall (10) finished with top honours while Vicki Cowley marshalled Aranui’s play well. University 79, Butlers 56 University: C. Patterson 20, D. Lintsen 14, R. Buick 12, N. Hanham 12, J. Harris 9, A.

Campbell 6, R. Van der Monde 6. Butlers: L. Scammell 13, M. Mullany 10, J. McGrath 10,1. Hartley 7, R. Duncan 7, B. Palmer 6, N. Hail 3. Halftime: University, 36-30. Referees: Carol Fahey and Darrel Flynn. Butlers set about its early play with determination and helped by some lacklustre efforts by University eased out to a 13-9 Head after lOmin. Butlers increased its lead to 21-11 with some good Play. Diana Lintsen lifted University’s efforts with good rebounding and strong midcourt support play. She also contributed 14 points to lead University’s fight-back. Charlotte Patterson contributed 20 points, while Nicky Hanham and Lintsen helped create a six-point advantage (36-30) at halftime.

University made its move with controlled teamwork early in the second spell, pulling away to lead 49-36 after 7min.

University stretched its lead in the last quarter against some dispirited defence by Butlers.

Halswell 77, Rangiora 60 Halswell: R. Forde 18, M. Collins 13, S. Thomas 12, S. Elliott 11, R. Walker 10, T. Byron 7, N. Guenelo 4, J. Russell 2.

Rangiora:. J. Fitzpatrick 24, F. Watts 10, T. Ellis 7, K. Weils 7, A. Woodham 6, G. McFarlane 6. Half-time: Halswell, 42-34. Referees: Bruce Scoullar and lan Graham. Halswell gained an early advantage of 12-2 which it maintained for much of the game. Rangiora, with young Jane Fitzpatrick rebounding and shooting strongly, slowly reduced the margin before levelling at 26-26 in the sixteenth minute. Halswell’s fleet-footed Raylene Forde ran in four out of her nine baskets to give her team a 42-34 edge at halftime. Halswell further increased its lead in the second spell, with five players finishing in double figures. Fitzpatrick finished off well to gain her best tally of 26 points, and took a leading role in Rangiora’s performance.