BASKETBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23883, 10 August 1939, Page 5

BASKETBALL

By Attack

"Attack" invites all those interested in basketball activities to forward contributions for insertion in this column. All contributions addressed "Attack," Times Office, must reach this office not later than Tuesday of each week FIXTURES August 12—Otago v. Southland, at Dunedin; Otago B Grade v. Southland B Grade; Otago C Grade v South Otago, at Dunedin. August 22-26—New Zealand tournament, at Invercargill. September 2—Otago C Grade v. West Otago, at Tapanui. September 9—Fourth and Fifth Grade tournaments. REFEREES' THEORETICAL EXAMINATION Advice has been received from the New Zealand Referees' Association that Mr F. Bartlett and Miss E. Ferguson have secured passes in the recent theoretical examination, the former gaining honours. Congratulations are extended to these two on their success REPRESENTATIVE GAMES Otago's first opportunity to try its strength is now drawing near, and by all accounts the 1939 team wiii worthily uphold the prestige of the association. The coach (Miss M. A. Mackenzie) reports that all members of the team are fit and are now combining well. The Southland-Otago name is usually a brilliant exhibition of basketball, and commands much interest. This year/s' encounter should prove just as exciting as any of the past, and will decide the holder of the Southland Cup for the ensuing 12 months. , The B Grade team proved its, strength and found out its weaknesses last Saturday; so that the team taking the field this week will be more experienced, v The game betwen the two B Grade teams should also prove enjoyable and interesting. The C Grade fixture between South Otago and Otago was won by South Otaep last year. The local C Grade team is determined to reverse the re-sult-on the present occasion, so that this game should also prove to be bright and fast. - NEW ZEALAND TOURNAMENT Southland is busy with its plans for the 1938 New Zealand tournament, which will be held in Invercargill, commencing on August 21, with the annual meeting of the New Zealand Referees' Association. Seventeen entries have been received for the tournament. OTAGO B GRADE The Otago B Grade team which travelled to Oamaru last week consisted of the following:— * Forwards.—A. Kay (Findlay's). O. Ferguson (Woolworths), M. Roy (C.F.H.Vand D. Hutton (High School Centres.—P. Mutiner (High School Ex-Girls),, J. Meinung (Forbury), G. I/IcDonald (High School Ex-Girls). Defenders.-rJ. Ingram (Albany), N. Hanlon (Finejey's), D. Turner (High School Ex-Girls) and M. Pye (Training College). Unfortunately M. Cameron (Training College) was not available and the team was further disorganised through a mishap to M. Thompson • Training* College). NORTH OTAGO FIXTURES Congratulations . are extended to North Otago. on its double victory in its annual contests with the mother association. Both games were closely contested, but it was apparent that North Otago was fielding . the surer combinations. The reports of the games were not to hand in time to appear in this column, but will be published later. The visit "was an enjoyable'one, the visitors being entertained to luncheon and afternoon tea. v/hen Mrs W. B. Taverner. president of the Otago association, presented the Taverner and Kinder Cups to the captains of the Oamaru A and B teams respectively. Miss J. B. Wilson, president of North Otago, and Miss Fitzgerald welcomed the Otago members and conveyed best wishes for future representative fixtures. The Otago B and C Grade teams were -also accompanied by Mesdames D. Binning and J. Guthrie and -Misses M Sinclair and H. Abbott... THE SOUTHLAND TEAM The Southland representative team was'recently anonunced, the personnel including a number of players who gain provincial honours for the first time. The choice of E. Neame (Collegiate), B. Ingrani (Rata), L. Mehaffey (Rata), M. McGrath (St. Mary's), A. Pittaway (Rata), V. Fraser (Rata), D. Baird (Collegiate), and L. Barrett (Collegiate) was assured early in the season by reason of previous tournament experience and good,form thus year, but the remaining positions have proved difficult, and the task of the selector (Mr A. Kinross) has been an unenviable one. F. Laffey (St. Mary's), W. Sadlier (Collegiate), and M. Jensen (Collegiate) must all be considered unlucky in failing to fulfil the selector's requirements, as all have been playing exceptionally well this season, particularly since the representative trials were commenced.

The strongest section of the team is undoubtedly the centre division, where E. Neame, A. Pittaway, and V. Fraser work well together, display the necessary speed and knowledge of positional play, and have experience Of tournament play. The fourth player in this section, D. Baird, has been a consistent performer for the last two seasons, and will be a useful unit for the New Zealand tournament meeting. .. With J. Tyrell (St. Mary's) not available for the attack third, the selector gave his attention to Rata and Collegiate's promising forwards, R. Henderson and A. McDonald, securing the third and fourth positions respectively W. Sadlier, of Collegiate, must have been a strong contender for a place in this section, as she has been playing a steadily improving game this year, but she failed in the final test. The two experienced forwards in this division, M. McGrath and L. Mehaffey have been playing outstandingly this year—their accuracy at goal has placed them in a class by themselves, and if maintained should secure them consideration for the Dominion team to meet Australia at the Centennial tournament in 1940. - • B. Ingram will be the mainstay of the defence, where E. Crowe's absence will be felt, just at a time when her game was at its best. L. Barrett, after a somewhat erratic start this season, has settled down to the game, and is returning to the form which gained her a place in the representative team. She combines, well with both B. Ingram and M. Kennedy, who is another player to gain provincial honours for the first time. She has been responsible for many excellent displays this year, and deserves her place. M. McCormick, the fourth defender, makes use of her height', but often at the cost of speed. She has improved in positional play since participating in the representative trials and handles well, but will have to cover ground more rapidly to successfully compete against forwards of representative calibre. In this section both F. Laffey and M. Jensen have given consistent displays throughout the season, and their claims to inclusion may be strengthened in the 1940 season. SOUTHLAND B GRADE The following comments on Southland's B Grade team have been received:— M. Adam is a reliable shoot who ha? shown great improvement during this season. She combines well with her team-mates, and is reliable in any situation which may arise. At times she is inclined to be a little slow at court work G. Maley, probably the youngest member of the team, represented Southland last year. Her play has improved considerably since last year as she has gained more confidence and developed a better match temperament. She is a promising player who has great speed on the court and is a most spectacular shoot. H. McDougall also represented Southland last year. She is a very speedy and reliable court worker, who works bard to keep her colleagues supplied with the ball. Sometimes she is not as accurate as desirable at the goal, but she handles excellently, and holds the forward third together by her speedy passes. J. Swale is another playei who represented Southland last year. She is a reliable centre player who intercepts brilliantly and plays an intelligent game, always coming forward when required. • V. Mortimer is a player and also a former representative who has improved considerably this season. She shows considerable promise and uses her height to advantage in interception. , S. Kynaston is a promising player who is fast in court work and handles efficiently. She has developed rapidly during this season and always plays a reliable game. E. Ingram, a defender who represented Southland last year, has improved appreciably this year. She is fast on attack, and on defence plays a clever game free from personal contact. ....

N. Lee is a player who has displayed excellent form throughout the season She guards her opponents, closely, and. through keeping her eye continually on'4he ball, intercepts brilliantly." --:--■ ■.- v .. ■-. '.- ■ M. Parkinson is a reliable defender Who can be depended upon to play well whenever required. She intercepts excellently arid clears well. . C. Bone is a good defender who plays an energetic game and guards her opponent closely.