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The Spike or Victoria College Review 1938

Basketball Club

page 73

Basketball Club

Continuing the upwave in basketball that has characterised Victoria College in the last few years, the 1938 team took a prominent place in the Tournament and in the Senior A Grade competition. Now that Auckland's stranglehold on the Basketball Shield has at last been broken, Victoria may repeat the northern College's run of victories. Never before has any College but Auckland won in successive years. Should V.U.C. add 1939 to 1937-38 they will be doing no more than reflect the keenness of the club as well as the rising level of Wellington's basketball.

More than half the successful Tournament team was new to Easter clashes, the one goal victory over Auckland being the result more of fitness and combination than experience. N.Z. Blues were awarded to Nora McLaren, Joy Osborn, Marie Walker and Rosamund Drummond. It must have been very difficult indeed to sort out these four from such an evenly balanced team.

In the Grade Competitions the year was much more successful than has been the case for some time. The regular Saturday team was the same as the Tournament team except that Grace Kniveton played in place of Joy Osborn and Janet Grainger came in to June Withers' place when the latter went over to Training College. Nancy Bullen and Enid Broad played in some games.

The team finished third in the competition to Wellington East and Kia Ora. In the last game V.U.C. defeated Kia Ora 24-23, a fitting climax to a keenly contested season. Victoria also defeated Wellington East, the champion team for the year, in the King s Birthday Competition. Three players were chosen to represent Wellington in the annual Basketball Competition at Timaru. They were Janet Grainger, who was elected captain of Wellington, Erice Overton and Marie Walker. Altogether the Senior A Team made its mark in the city.

The Senior B Team, consisting almost entirely of players new to the club, met with little success in the competitions, but gained the experience which makes future Tournament players. The proportion of freshers playing is very high and some show the ability to make Victoria a factor in Easter contests for the next few years. Winning the Basketball Shield means points for the Tournament Shield—a considerable lift. Competent coaching and consistent practice should make this certain for a keen V.U.C. Team.