Americans Too Good For S.I.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31108, 11 July 1966, Page 10

Americans Too Good For S.I.

“The Press” Special Service

INVERCARGILL.

The San Jose State College men’s indoor basketball team overwhelmed South Island, 81-23, in the opening game of its 10-match tour, at Invercargill on Saturday.

The Americans bewildered the South Island team with their finely disciplined basketball.

Durand (11 points), and J. Gleason, S. Schl'ink and P. Newell (10 points). A former Southlander, D, Sharp was the most impressive of the South Island players. He scored six points, as did D. Chariett, of Nelson.

Right from the start they established their superiority, scoring 14 points in the first three minutes. Although the South Island team fought hard there was never any doubt that San Jose would win by a substantial margin. But with 44 points on the board at half-time, the Americans preferred to make a game of it, and even stood off South Island players on occasions so that they could shoot. The performance of the South Island team must have been disheartening to New Zealand hopes in the forthcoming three tests for five of the team are in the national 11-man training squad. Defensive Experts The Americans were expert on defence, and although the South Island players managed to get in promising attacking positions, they could not score as easily. The defence between the two teams was as great as the score suggests. San Jose moved into attacking positions With startling speed, and H blocked another plan was used. The South Island, on the other hand, had to rely on a clever exchange of passing between the guards and the centre to combat the Americans effective fuM court press. San Jose, with an average height of 6ft 4ta, made full use of this advantage to control both baskets. But tt was also superior in all other aspects of play: ball handling, passing and shooting.

The star of the team was a 6ft 4:n Negro, S. T. Saffold, who top scored with 14 points. His uncanny anticipation of play left the crowd gasping but his ability to set up movement was just as valuable to his team. Other high scorers for San Jose were C. Denzer and R.