DOMINION BASKETBALL PLAYERS

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 173, 25 July 1938, Page 5

DOMINION BASKETBALL PLAYERS

ASSEMBLY IN WELLINGTON The New Zealand basketball team, which sails for Australia on August 4, assembles at Wellington on July 25 for 10 days' intensive training. A team was chosen after me tournament in Christchurch in 1936, but arrangements for a suitable time were not made with the Australian association, and the visit was postponed till this year. A suggestion that the team tour New Zealand in 1937, play provincial teams and give exhibition matches was rejected by the majority of associations. The New Zealand team will compete in the All-Australia Interprovincial Baske.ball Tournament to be held in Melbourne. As the New Zealanders , will arrive about five days before the tournament starts, a country tour has been arranged for them. This shouid be of great benefit and give them confidence in playing under Australian rules, under which all the games in the tournament will be played. A match will also be played under New Zealand rules against a team trained by Miss El. M. Hull, who visited New Zealand last year as a delegate from Australia and was present at the tournament in Auckland, afterwards visiting many associa f ions. Thum-nail sketches of the New Zealand players are:—

E. Neame began her basketball career at Technical College, graduating to Collegiate, for which club she played fourth grade in 1934. In 1935 she played in the second grade for one month and was then promoted to first pade. She represented Southland in Wellington in 1935, and was included in the South Island team. In 1936 she played for Southland at Christchurch and gained a place in the first New Zealand team. Last year she again represented Southland at the tournament in Auckland and was chosen for the New Zealand team.

L. Mehaffey played basketball at High School, being in the senior team which made such a good showing in the first grade competition. She joined and lias represented Southland at Dunedin, Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland during the years 1934-1937. She has been included in the South Island team for the past three years and was chosen as a member of the original New Zealand team in 1936. Last year she was selected again for the New Zealand team to visit Australia. M. Matangi (captain), fine In either the forward or defence thirds has represen'ed Taranaki. Wellington and Auckland, and has gained North Island honours at each New Zealand tournament at which she played. Her years of representation cover the following:—l93o and 1931 (Taranaki), 1932 (Wellington) 1933 (Auckland), 1934 and 1935 ’(Taranaki), 1936 and 1937 (Auckland). She was captain of the Taranaki team and vice-captain of the Auckland team, and also holds Au-kland and New Zealand University Blues. She was a member of the Victoria University Club in Wellington.

•T. Mitchell (vice-captain), is the well-known and popular captain of the Wellington East O.G. senior A team, champions of 1937, and cap'ain of the Wellington team In 1935-36-37. She also represented this province in 1932, 1933 and 1934, being a member of the first Wellington team to bring back the New Zealand Cup—l 934. She is a strong, reliable defence, ever ready to change tactics when required. Her cheerful nature should be much appreciated by the team.

J. Wilson was in the Wellington B 1 team in 1930 and 1931, and was * selected for the 1932 A team as a defender. When in 1936 she changed 1 from the defence to the forward third, she again gained honours, and repre- - sented Welling on in 1936 and 1937, ■ gaining North Island honours both : years. She is speedy and active, and at present is shooting accurately. ' F. Southon represented Canterbury B in 1933, and since then has been in the A team. Her consistently good play in centre has made her noticeable in the last two or three tournaments, and her type of play should { fit in well wjth the Australian game. E. Howard, formerly Otago, but now in Wellington training at the Dental Clinic, represented Otago in 1936 and 1937, gaining South Island honours. Last year she represented Wellington and was selected to represent the North Island. She is a fast, elusive forward, and an accurate s>ho:. R. Butcher, a strong defender, comes from Hawke’s Bay, for which province she played from 1934 to 1937 inclusive, and also holds a North Island badge. Her quickness in intercepting should be an asset to the team. M. Howe, Wellington, first represented the province in 1933 as a forward, and in 1936 and 1937 was chosen for her excellent centre play, i She is brilliant in quick interception and ever ready to make openings for her defence. This season her standard of play has been consistently high. M. Martin, Auckland, is another centre who has been particularly strong at the last two tournamen's, gaining North Island representation. ; M. Tangye (Auckland), although having been a member of an Auckland B team, was a member of the Auck- , land A team for the first time last , year, when she played a good, open forward game. She was one of the I most accurate forwards at the tour- . nament. | E. Sin'lair, of Otago, is the youngest member of the team. This player’s record shows that at the age of 13 she was a member of the Otago B i team, and at 14 had attained a place ' in the Otago A team which played in > the 1935 tournament. She again rep- > resented Otago in 1936 and 1937, gaining her South Island badge last year 1 when only 16. She is a fine defender, s her speed, height and anticipation givs ing her many opportunities for bril- , liant interceptions.

SIDE FOR AUSTRALIA