Basketball Reps. Gained Valuable Experience At N.Z Tourney

Chronicle (Levin), 2 September 1948, Page 7

Basketball Reps. Gained Valuable Experience At N.Z Tourney

Though the Horowhenua basketfiall representative team which entered in the second grade section of the New ZealancL lournament just concluded at New Plymouth did not have the success of previous years, it gained valuable experience from the games played. The second grade section was a large one and the standard of play was high. This year Horowhenua fielded a number of young players who were new to the tournament and what they have learned should stand them in good stead next year.

The local team was unfortunate this year in losing, on the Saturday before the tournament, the •services of Janet McClune, an active forward and good goalie, and Noia Gordon, a quick dexence. J Their places were taken by M. j Batten and A. Jacobs, both of whom were to nave travelled to I Rotorua with the Horowhenua B team. The best games played by Horowhenua were those against Waikato (won 13 — 12), Rotorua (lost 20—21), Hutt Valley (lost 14—15) ancl Poverty Bay (lost 9^-15) . j These were very close and were j won or lost by a narrow margin | after a keen struggle. The game against Nelson, which was lost 11 : —18, was a particularly fast one 1 and of great interest for Nelson, who had just defeated the leading j team, Tauranga. I The weather was not good and4 on wet days games were marred

by poor passing. The most consistent and outstanding Horowhenua p'.ayers were the three defence, June Parr, June Roberts and Muriel Winiata. These girls gained considerable praise for their many clever interceptions. Their good footwork and alertness saved Horowhenua time and again. The centres and forwards played well but did not possess the speed of their opponents. Defeat this year has not dampened the spirit of the girls and ali have expressed a desire to begin practice for next year's tcurnarment at the commencement of the season. If 110 • other benefit has been gained from the 1948 games, this enymsiasm to practice is sufffcient, for all reccgnised it to be their greatest need. j Misses Chapman-Cchen and Hills accompanied the team, as Jdelegates and team managers.