NEW BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION FOR EASTERN BAY AREA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 65, 5 July 1950, Page 5

NEW BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION FOR EASTERN BAY AREA

Direct affiliation to th'e New Zealand Basketball Association has been obtained by Whakatane, Opotiki and Apanui, who have combined to form the Eastern Bay of Plenty Basketball Association. Following trial games at Opotiki on July 15 between Whakatane and Opotiki representative sub-associa-tion teams a team is to be selected to represent the Eastern Bay of Plenty at the Dominion Championships to be held at Palmerston North in August.

This formation of the new association brings into existence two basketball associations in the Bay of Plenty. The other is Tauranga, which includes basketball organisations at the western end of the Bay of Plenty. There has long been a move in 'the Eastern Bay of Plenty to combine basketball under one association and so have direct access to the New Zealand Association and also to be represented at National Championships. Earlier this year both the Whakatane and Opotiki Associations met to consider the proposal. Previous ■ difficulties were ironed out. To give the isolated players further eastward an opportunity it was decided to invite the Apanui Association to join. Application was made to the New Zealand Association and the result is the establishment of a new body, which should do much to further Bay of Plenty basketball.

It is felt at Whakatane that basketball will now go abea'd more Quickly. More girls will probably take an interest in the sport now that they know there is some possibility of attending a New Zealand Championship. Whakatane and Opotiki will still have their individual competitions but will combine when a district team is selected.

Basketball Trials Are Arranged For* Domain Courts Although Whakatane competition basketball matches will be continued on the Domain Courts on Saturday afternoon main interest will centre on the trials to be held at 2 o’clock. Opportunity is to be taken by the selectors to choose a Whakatane team to meet Opotiki on the following Saturday. This game will be the main representative fixture of the year as an Eastern Bay of Plenty team is to be selected from this match to travel to the New Zealand Championships. The draw for Saturday:— 1.15 p.m.: Paroa A v Poroporo A court 1, referee Miss Sisam; Olympics v School A court 2, Miss Keepa; Paroa B v School B court 3, Mrs Shapley. 2 p.m.: Representative trials on court l; Primary B v St. Joseph’s court 2, Mrs Yates; Redwings v Taneatua court 3, Miss Kepa. 2.45 p.m.: Primary A v Primary B court 2, Miss Keepa; Taneatua v Paroa B court 3, Mrs Shapley.