BASKETBALL

Southland Times, Issue 23182, 24 April 1937, Page 19

BASKETBALL

AUSTRALIAN VISIT UNLIKELY The first evening tournament will be held on Thursday, April 29. Entries will close today. There will be two sections, senior and junior, and teams will be handicapped. Ideal basketball weather favoured the opening of the competition last Saturday, and for the beginning of the season play was quite satisfactory. In the first grade the game between St. Mary’s and Collegiate A was the best match, and the score, 11—7, fairly indicates the strength of the teams. St. Mary’s secured a lead early in the game and maintained it throughout. Its forwards worked well, and M. McGrath was shooting accurately. M. Stapleton in the centre third is a player who has greatly improved and she held her own against her experienced opponent, E. Shepherd. In both centre thirds there was bunching—players did not seem to have settled down to their places and all rushed the ball. Rata had an easy victory over Kiwi, the latter team being disorganized by the absence of D. Lainchbury in the centre. It seemed to have no confidence and did all sorts of stupid things. The forwards returned to their old habit of standing back, a position, which necessitates a long high pass from the centre, easily intercepted by good defenders. D. Pomeroy for some reason stopped playing and just stood about the court for a while. Then the defenders would not throw to space. Time and again one threw directly at Betty Ingram, instead of to where she would naturally run for the ball. B. Ingram is fast and has had representative experience, so surely her team mates could rely on her. R. Perry played well in Rata s defence third and M. Shand, filling a vacancy in the forward third, distinguished herself by the number of goals she shot. In the second grade Rata and Wallacetown had an exciting game, the latter winning by one goal. The Wallacetown forwards have a good understanding and have the advantage of height. Rata forwards were quick but not accurate in their shooting. M. Baty in particular seemed to be having an off day in finding the ring, though her court work was good. Wallacetown has made a good beginning and its promoted fifth grade players should improve after a little experience in this grade. High School has a team of small girls, much smaller than the school usually fields, but they are quick and keen and had a good win in their first match. The team played as a team, not as a collection of individuals, and seemed to thoroughly enjoy its game. The three forwards were especially outstanding. Pirates had two decisive wins to its credit—in the second grade and the third—an encouraging start for the season, and Makafewa playing on the home courts, won both matches, only, however, after a hard struggle in each case.

In the fourth grade St. Peters and Rata had a very good game, though St. Peters was definitely the superior team. These girls handle well and play with a good understanding of each other s play. This was particularly noticeable in the forward third, where H. Moore, R. Breayley and E. Perks played well. June Naismith, in the centre, is a promising young player. The Carnival

The carnival princesses selected by ballot last Saturday were Ethel Neame, Joyce Kelly and Dorothy Meffin. Their colours will be red, gold and green, and flags of these colours will be flown both out at the courts and from McGruer Taylor’s building in town. Books of votes will be obtainable today, and now everybody should get busy and work for the princess of her choice. The queen of the carnival is to be selected before the carnival begins so stall money will not count —only that obtained from votes. Clubs are reminded, however, that they may hold card evenings or raise money in other such ways, and that it is quite legitimate to put this money into votes. Votes will be numbered and there will be three secret lucky numbers. The buyers of these particular tickets will receive a prize. There will also be a prize for the girl selling most votes. Besides selling votes, clubs should get busy at once collecting material for their stalls. Each club may have all the goods it collects on its own stall—cakes, vegetables, produce and fancy goods. There will be a prize for the club which has the best stall—or rather two prizes, one for clubs with less than three teams and one for those with more—and in judging quantity and quality of goods will be considered, as well as arrangement or decoration. A baby show is also to be arranged and a grand parade of basketballers in uniform, in which we hope the country associations will join.

Central District players are working hard to make their tournament on Coronation Day a success and would welcome entries from town teams. They are specially anxious to have the town first grade teams, because it is by meeting better players that their own will improve, and Central has hopes of bringing the President’s Shield for minor associations back to Southland. New Zealand Tour

Arrangements are being proceeded with for a tour of New Zealand. The Australian tour is apparently unlikely to eventuate, though the New Zealand executive states that it is still awaiting definite official advice. In the meantime, an itinerary has been approved for a tour of New Zealand, and players are being asked to secure leave between June 1 and July 16. The Otago Association has protested against the

New Zealand tour on the grounds that the publicity gained by such a tour would not be very much greater than that from the yearly tournament, and that the cost of the whole tour to the New Zealand Association, to say nothing of the extra expenses those associations which are represented in the New Zealand team are put to in sending players to Wellington, would be greater than could be justified by any benefits accruing. The Southland delegates at last council meeting advanced just such arguments and this year’s executive likewise feels that the expense is by no means justified. However, the decision that a New Zealand team tour the Dominion, in the event of the Australian visit not eventuating, was arrived at at a meeting of the council, and presumably the executive must carry it out, unless convinced that the majority of associations have in the meantime changed their views. Ido not know how much discussion was given to the matter or whether delegates went to the council meeting prepared with the views of their associations, but it seems quite likely that once away from the excitement of a tournament —many delegates have teams to consider as well as association business —other associations also might think that all aspects of the situation had not been sufficiently considered. Southland will suffer particularly. Four out of the nine girls of last year’s representative team go on the New Zealand tour. Even if after that they can again obtain leave to go to Auckland for the tournament they will not have practised with the team and combination must suffer. Probably the chances of success of a Southland team are reduced 40 per cent. Some members of the executive think the expense of sending a Southland team to Auckland —about £lO0 —is not warranted in the circumstances.

Southland has not missed a tournament since the association was formed and a very green team composed entirely of school girls competed in Christchurch, 10 years ago. Most players would be sorry if the Maroons were absent in 1937. As last year’s winner Southland naturally wants to defend its title, and it can be done if every basketbailer will make every effort to raise the money. It is a good chance, too, for players who would not ordinarily be in the running, to gain representative honours. .