Basketball Checkers snatch an early victory

Press, 23 April 1979, Page 23

Basketball Checkers snatch an early victory

Beaten In the final of the Faster South Island men’s has* ketball championships a week ago, Jaks-H.5.0.8. tumbled to another defeat in much the same circumstances when the Guthrey Travel first division championship opened at Cowles Stadium on Saturday.

In the Easter final, H. 5.0.8. frittered away a match-winning 16-point advantage by- making the fatal mistake of coasting once it had its nose in front.

Inns of the Pacific University was the winner on that -occasion, and on Saturday it was Checkers’ turn to upset the national club champion side. Checkers looked in danger of being drubbed off the court in the opening exchanges of the game, and after the first 10 minutes of the first half H. 5.0.8. had a commanding lead of 21-10. The side looked slick and efficient, and, bristling with stars as it is, seemed in no danger of defeat from a side that has not been particularly impressive lately.

But Old Boys had not reckoned on a resilience and tenacity that hauled Checkers back from pending defeat to ease into the lead late in the second spell and from then on it was all uphill for the struggling Jaks side. It had lost all its momentum, and Checkers — with a trump card in the tall Lance Dixon, who was the individual star on the court — was content to play out time in the last five minutes.

If Old Boys is to be a force this season, the coach, Tim Guthrie, will have to wring from his players a full game’s worth of effort and not be content with a 50 per cent turn out that can only lead to further defeat.

Jaks only had six players to call on — John Whelan arid John Wright were Injured and Alan Manco was unavailable — but it was no excuse for frittering away the lead it had built up early in the match.

Checkers’ young team responded very well to the demands placed on it by the coach, Carl Dickel, who brought himself on mid-way through the second spell to take part in the win. Others to stand out included the former Jaks player, Kelvin Duff and the stocky Guntis Atvars, who showed why he is taking part in the national junior basketball trials next month with a superb performance. Aranui downed Burnside with a withering late run after it had trailed for much of the match. Burnside, like Old Boys, blew a winning lead in the second spell as Aranui took control of the game.

The third game of the day was another exciting clash between University and Mairehau, with the students coming out on top

after repulsing a late charge by its opponent. Shortly after half time, University had cleared out to lead Mairehau by 12 points, but a gritty effort by Mike Seaward and his team-mates brought Mairehau back into the game. At one stage Mairehau was scoring twice as many baskets as University but the South Island club champion had enough reserves to maintain the lead and win by six points. CHECKERS SURPRISE Checkers 60 (L. Dixon 18, K. Duff 13. G. Atvars 11, A. Miller 9, P. Ward 9). Jaks-H.5.0.8. 55 <J. Hill 22, D. Usmar 13, M. Searle 6, D. Barry 6, B. Teitscheid 6, T. Guthrie 2). Jaks had slipped into a handy lead after only 10 minutes of the first spell. Checkers did not often get a clear shot in as the slick Old Bovs combination bustled its way into the key and took lay-ups with ease. The tall New Zealand representative, John Hill, was making nice baskets with apparent ease, and his fellow- international, David Usmar, seemed to be in control under the boards. But Checkers, through the good works of Kelvin Duff and Lance Dixon, pulled its way back into the game and by half time had whittled Oil Boys’ lead back to 35-27. Dixon had by this time come to grips with Hill and his close and efficient marking of the dangerman did much to nullify his skills. Four minutes into the second spell, Checkers had drawn level at 35-all, and after 13 minutes, with the score at 48-45 in favour of the underdog, Jaks called a serious-looking time. The stem talking had no apparent effect. The Old Boys shots were not finding the basket from the edge of the key, and they could not be taken from closer range because of the tightness of the Checkers marking. Even when the shot was put up, the rangy Dixon was there to take the defensive rebound and it soon became obvious that Jaks had let the game slip from its grasp. Checkers scored 10 points in a row. while Old Bovs dithered about, and even though Hill and Usmar attempted to pull the side back into the hunt—Usmar was eventually fouled off with a minute or two to run—it was too late.

Hill while he picked up 22 points to be the top scorer on the court, appeared to coast for much of the game and did not give a full effort. Usmar contributed 13 points, but did not play up to his best. Dixon, on the Other hand, played an exceptional game. His rebounding was first-class, and he scored valuable points with some vital tip-ins. Duff moved and shot with purpose, and collected 13 points, and good displays were turned

In by Andy Millar, P. J. Ward, and Guntis Atvars. PLUCKY MAIREHAU

University 67 (M. Ruscoe 24. G. Hare 16. C. Stent 8, J. Caldwell 8. R. Ruwhui 6. M. McLeod 3. A. Monroe 2). Mairehau 61 (P. Kearney 10. M. Seaward 10, G. Phillips 10. J. Pickles 9. C. Ritsma 6. N. McCormack 6, M. Stokes 6, P. Van Hout 4).

Mairehau began the game strongly and had slipped into a 14-10 lead after nine minutes, but the University tactic of bustling the opposition from the time of the throw-in and not giving them an easy passage up the court paid dividends. Passes were either intercepted bv some athletic University retrieving, notably the national trialist, Gareth Hare, or were poorly directed under pressure.

Mairehau would not be pushed around, however, and the score see-sawed throughout the first half with only a couple of points betwen them. Neither team could gain a decisive break, but University’s more fluid buildups allowed the team to slip in front for the first time shortly before the Interval. University’s fine teamwork in the second spell enabled if to keep its nose in front, but Mairehau refused to concede and Mike Seaward’s tenacious bustling netted some Valuable points. Mairehau came with a bit of an eleventh-hour rush, but it was too late, and University had won the entertaining clash, 67-61. Matt Ruscoe, the former Jaks player, was an unassuming star of the court. It came as something of a surprise to find he had notched 24 points at the end of the game because he had played so unobtrusively. Hare was far more aggressive in his play, and he was rewarded for a game of endeavour with 16 points. ARANUI LETHARGIC

Aranui 60 (A. Campbell 16. P. Hill 10 T. Costain 10, M. Thoms 7, D. Knowles 6, M. Stevenson 5. R. Atcheson 4 R. Costain 2), Burnside 53 (M. Hall 12, R. Lee 10, B. Fifield 8, B. Cummack 8, G. Bain 6, A. Robson 5. B. Hall 4).

Bumside seized the game from the outset and forced errors on to a lethargic-looking Aranui team that struggled to keep in touch with the match.

After playing some dreadful basketball in the first spell, Aranui had fully earned its 12-point deficit but a revitalised performance in the second spell saw it sneak into the lead for the first time 12 minutes into the spell. Burnside could add only two more, baskets, while Aranui took control and ran out the eventual winner.

Bumside could not find the basket often enough to hang on to the lead it had established early, and did not deserve to win on its second half performance.