INDOOR BASKETBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 9, 19 September 1944, Page 5

INDOOR BASKETBALL

BAY OF PLENTY CHAMPIONSHIPS

WHAKATANE DEFEATS ALL

COMERS

Nearly 250 spectators lined 1 up t and evening, at the Winter Show Buildings to witmess the first Bay of Plenty Championship matches which •were held on Saturday. Both nxen'si and ladies* Whakatane "teams scored' decisive victories ove/r all visiting teams, and in the finals secured both championships* The popularity of the game, amply evidenced by the spectators proved without a doubt that the game has come to stay. The standard of the visiting playvers, was high, most of them being experienced exponents of the art their defeat was a real triuipph for the local teams, who reached an unexpected form in holding off all comers. Certainly there were no hollow victories. The Ngongotaha ladies team was the popular fancy particularly after their impressive, display in the afternoon but after the first quarter of the semi-final the, issue wasnever in doubt, Whakatane playing ,\vith a combination, and precision which was a delight to watch. Undoubtedly the. best game in tho afternoon in the men's tournament was R.N.Z.A.F. v A.T.C. t both Rotorua teams, in which the Air 'Force won by 8 .points, to 3. The "winners, were expected to eliminate iWhakatane, No. 1 in the semi-final at. night; but once again the local team produced better /orm and in a hard fast match emerged the victors by 16 points to 6. Final Matches Tauranga, who entered the fina? after defeating A.T.C. met Whakatane No. 1 in a match of four •quarters of 10 minutes each. The speed of the game, like the ladies' brought forth continual ap' plause and cheering from an excit' •cd crowd and Whakatane's superior combination gave them the chani' pionship by 57 points to 25. Most prominent for Whakatane in this match were A. G. Fisher, W. J. McKenzie and R. Moore, who by reason of their superior height had an added advantage and did not hesitate to exploit it to the full.

The final of the Ladies' TournamentWhakatane v Ngongotaha, re' suited in a popular win for the local team by 34 points to 20. .Following were, the members, of the championship winning teams:—■ Whakatane No. 1 (Ladies' Championship Winners): B. Heaslip (Capt) O. Coburn, J. Bluett, J. Garlick, S. Cleaver. Whakatane No. 1 (Men's Championship Winners): A. G. Fisher •<Capt), W. J. McKenzie R. Moore, L. Rose.nfeldt f A. R. Knights. Popularity Evident There is no doubt, that the game has- come to stay. Spectators who "Were seeing their first game were full of praise for the sport and organisation is under way to place the game on a sound and, permanent footing. IT interest can be aroused sufficiently, a Business House Tournament will be staged shortly as. a finish to this season. The programme for Saturday went •off without a hitch, play being prac tically continuous with not more than one minute between matches. Officials- did a big job very and the thanks of the Association are due to all those who assisted so ably. Extra games including a Mens v Hadies match among the teams eliminated iJ| the. earlier rounds; were played, and an impromptu dance with Fit. Sgt. Len Parker giving out on the piano spelled the close of a very enjoyable evening. The results in detail of the. games played were as follows:—Men's Championships First Round: Tauranga 23 v Whakatane No. 2 6; R.N.Z.A.F. 8 v 'A.T.C. Rotorua 3; Whakatane No. 1 28 v A.fT.C. 12; A.T.C. No. 1 26 v A.T.C. No. 2 9. Second Round: Whakatane No. 1 16 v R.N.Z.A.F. Rotorua 6; Tau-. ranga 12 v A.T.C. 7. Final: Whakatane No. 1 57 v Tauranga 25. Ladies' Championships First Round: Whaliatane No. 2 12 v Tauranga 10; Whakatane No. 1 19 V R.N.Z.A.F. Rotorua 16; Ngongotaha a bye. Semi-final: Ngongotaha 18 v Whaikatane. No . 2 2. Final: Whakatane No. 1 34 v Ngongotaha 20.