BASKETBALL NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 92, 20 April 1939, Page 22

BASKETBALL NOTES

PRACTICE GAMES

WELL ATTENDED

SIX COURTS AVAILABLE

The Saturday practices arranged by - the Wellington Basketball Association to enable players to become conversant with the changes in the rules have been most popular and much appreciated hf the teams. The last of these prior to the opening tournament t will be held at Mt. Cook School next r Saturday, and it is expected that the HMfeftiprity of teams, will make full use of a good practice before commence in earnest. Meme executive' will be in atcourts from 2 p.m. and, available, all teams can getting a good. game. J^^^^^^Hfc TOURNAMENT. season will be opened 29 with a handicap innovation this year will be an open outside the association to enter. The tourrun in two grades. following handicaps:— senior A, B, and A grade scratch, B grade third grade 5 goals. Junior, fifth, and sixth grades, with handicap between each grade. entry of outside teams will no give the committee some thought handicapping, but the fresh play stimulate interest among the FINAL DATE OF ENTRIES. The Wellington Association draws the attention of teams to the fact that entries for the grade competitions must be in the hands of the secretary by April 22, otherwise a late entry fee will be incurred. These are necessary to permit of the drawing up of the rota of matches, but names of players need not be registered until May 6, prior to the first championship v, matches. , .; An excellent outdoor court is avail■"vjiMe for practice every Thursday night from 7 to 9 o'clock. Inquiries may be made from the association. SENIOR A GRADE. So far, it appears likely that the senior A grade will have the usual ■ six or seven teams, Training College, University, Awatea, Wellington East Old Girls, Technical Old Girls, and Island Bay O.S. These last two are uncertain, Technical Old Girls considering the advisability of asking

for a regrading to senior B, and Island Bay 0.5., last year's senior B champions, not yet having decided j whether to go up to senior A or to have another year in senior B. Previously, the senior B championship team automatically became graded to senior A, but the decision of this year's, annual meeting to allow a team to stay a further year in senior B grade may cause Island Bay to alter their plans. Practically all the senior A teams report changes in their personnel, and this year's championship should be harder to win than ever. Wellington East Old Girls, although lacking M. Wilson, will be almost as formidable a side as ever, and with University doing so well at the inter-university tournament, they will be strong contenders for the title. Kia Ora, although losing F. Connor, M. Blake, and M. Simmons, have gained R. McKendry (ex-Canterbury representative), and it is expected that their nine will be a hard one to beat. Awatea also continue to be well to .ne fore, and once again will cause some uneasy moments to their opponents. Towards the end of last season Training College improved greatly and it is hoped that they have still further improved. TOURNAMENT REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington's 1939 team to defend the New Zealand Cup will see many new faces, quite apart from those necessitated by loss of, or improvement in, form. Of last year's twelve players, at least five are not available this year. F. Connor, defence, M. Blake, centre, and E. Averton, forwai'd, have moved to Westport, Hamilton, and Nelson,, respectively, and no doubt will be valuable acquisitions to those associations. M. Wilson, probably the most outstanding defence player in New Zealand last year, has retired from the game, and she will be sadly missed. J. Grainger, 1939 Wellington captain, has gone abroad for two years, and her absence from the forward line will be noticed. It is gratifying to report that F. Connor (now Mrs. Dawson) is doing good work coaching and playing in the Buller Association, and her experience should be a great asset to this association. M. Blake is also helping o,n the game by coaching in the Waikato Association, and the result of this should be seen in the improved standard of play at the next tournament. It is certain that only by the assistance of such experienced representative players after retirement can the fine points of the game be passed on to the junior players. HUTT VALLEY ASSOCIATION. The official opening tournar#ent of the Hutt Valley Association will take place at Petone Central School on Saturday next, games commencing at 1.30 p.m. The patroness, Mrs. J. W. Andrews, will perform the opening ceremony at 3 p.m.