THE EASTERN BAY BAKETBALL TEAM UPSET N.Z. CHAMPS.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 89, 30 August 1950, Page 5

THE EASTERN BAY BAKETBALL TEAM UPSET N.Z. CHAMPS.

Because of the unexpected strength of the Eastern Bay of Plenty team arrangements for the finals of the third grade section of the New Zealand basketball championships were upset at Palmerston North last week. As a result the team was unable to contest the final but it was runner-up for the Rose Bowl awarded to the team with the least number of points scored against it. The team, which was made up of players from Whakatane and Opotiki, returned on Monday. A review of the tournament prepared by the manageress, Miss C. Syverston, is published below: — There were 12 girls in the team: Forwards, N. Rewharewha, H. Amoana (Opotiki), W. Keepa, E. Ranapia (Whakatane), centres, E. Quigg, B. Grant, N. Kelly (Whakatane), defence, J. Ratene, S. Ngaropo (Whakatane, vice-captain), R. Walker, 1.. Peters (Opotiki). In charge of Miss Syverston, Whakatane, manageress, and Mrs Calvert, Opotiki, delegate to the N.Z. Council.

Tiring Trip The girls were very tired on arrival. There was a parade of all teams competing (36) in The Square, Palmerston North on Monday, August 21, at 3.30 p.m. The team had a preliminary practice and workout with South Auckland later.

On the first day of the championships the team met the strongest team in the third division —Canterbury Minor. The team was cold, and very nervous but had the advantage of Canterbury Minor throughout the game and more shots at goal, but were unable to score. This was the only defeat they suffered in the whole tournament, 13-7. Wednesday: In the morning Eastern Bay defeated North Otago 19-9 in a good game, but Eastern Bay had advantage in every part of the court, particularly in their forward crea. In the afternoon game they defeated South Auckland 30-7. The pace was fast with the score 11-4 at half time. South Auckland rapidly tired and the Bay looked very fit and kept up the fast pace, scor!ng 19 more goals in the second half. Many people now began to take notice of Eastern Bay of Plenty, particularly of the young forward E. Ranapia, who played her first game, and whose accurate goal shooting (26 goals out of 32 .attempted shots) contributed greatly to this decisive win.

Thursday: The team was keen to meet Waikato Minor. It was a good even game, fast good passing on both sides. Eastern Bay had a slight advantage, particularly in the centre, where a fast strong, combination had been developed. The team was unfortunate to be without W. Keepa, who had sprained her knee badly, and was unable to play again for the rest of the tournament. During the afternoon the team played a friendly game with Thames Valley, the team finally to win the Third Grade trophy, defeating them 14-12. Here the Bay was unfortunate in losing a second forward, N. Rewharewha, with a badly bruised head, which prevented her from taking any further part in play. From now on N. Kelly, a centre player, went on as a forward, and she rose nobly to the task allotted her.

Still They Fell Friday: The game that was thought the most crucial, versus Te Kawau, which had been playing well, resulted in another victory 24-9. Swift defence work here, particularly by R. Walker, was a feature of the game. In the afternoon Wairarapa had no chance. From the outset Eastern Bay took charge of the game and Wairarapa failed to intercept, the final score 32-16. Saturday: A dull, unjjbterfestihg game against Hawkes Bay, the ball moving unerringly and monotonously down to the Eastern Bay forwards. The score 43-7, to Eastern Bay indicates the superiority, of that team.

This was the final game of the draw.

It had been expected that Eastern Bay would play off for the final against Canterbury Minor or Thames Valley, the winners of the sections. The victory of the latter team put the Eastern Bay out of the contest, in which the runnersup were Temuka, who nevertheless had not quite equalled them in the number of wins. A Manawatu paper published a report that the. unexpected strength of the Eastern Bay team has completely upset the final stages of the third grade contest. When the trophies were presented by Her Excellency, Lady Freyberg, it was announced that Eastern Bay of Plenty were runnersup for the Rose Bowl (won by Canterbury) awarded to the team which

has the least number of goals scored against it. This week will always be remembered by members of the Eastern Bay team. For it was the first sight of top class basketball, refereed by the most highly qualified referees in the country. The girls are all keen to bring back to their team mates at home new methods and techniques of play they have observed, and the correct application of rules to thej greatest advantage. The trip away was'also of travel interest, none of the players had previously visited Palmerston North and not all of them had been as far as Hamilton. <

Team Was Popular Particularly gratifying to 'the manageress in particular, and to the people of Opotiki and Whakatane in general, were the-reports of the people with whom the girls were billeted. Without exception these people attended the games to barrack for Eastern Bay of Plenty. They all had the highest praise fbr the conduct and friendliness of the girls, and said it had been a privilege to billet them. On Sunday morning the hosts drove the girls to visit places of interest in Palmerston North going as far afield as Woodville, and were at the station to bid the team farewell, and to extend to them all invitations to return.

Next year the team and the Eastern Bay of Plenty Basketball Association are keen to participate in the third grade tournament to |be held at Waikato, and are determined that if they do so, they will return with the Kiwi Trophy. "The Association," states Miss Syverston, "would find more public interest of great assitance. Funds are urgently required to provide uniforms on a par with those of other teams, for travelling and accommodation and for suitable courts on which to practice. Given this support Eastern Bay of Plenty should be a team to reckon with in the future in the basketball world."