Basketball Comeback?

At the beginning of 1975, it looked as though the Victoria A team would be but a pale shadow of its 1974 greatness, when it won both the Big Eight and National Club Champoinships, and then went on to perform very creditably at the Australian Club Champs. Backcourt whizzkid Captain John Fouhy had retired for 1975. Pressing demon and swingman Mike Zino was also out, recouping lost credits and cash. Guard stalwart and team intellectual Tom Hyde had emigrated to Auckland, and Coach (and back-up guard) Lloyd Sanders was a doubtful starter.

Of those remaining, could National Representative John Saker gain added poise to totally dominate under the boards? Could National Representative Peter Sewell overcome injury to reproduce his sparkling shooting form of yesteryear and still captain a coachless team? Could Mike Dunleavy assert mid-court dominance in a big man running game? And could Kevin McGrattan became the awesome Rebounding Machine?

Of the new players, Chris Sharp and Bill Ashworth were both fluid athletes, needing room to move in, while Grant Smith and Vic Paulson excelled in dour, tight struggles. What therefore would be the Victoria style of play? A slow game, grinding the opposition down under the boards, with help from Sewell and Zohrab from outside? Or would they give free rein to the all-new back-court combinations?

The first skirmish at Napier over Easter did not answer the many vexing questions. Playing the Final against arch-rivals Coca-Cola, Victoria began conservatively, as a result finding themselves behind by 21 with 17 minutes to go. The gauntlet was thrown, the press applied, and within 7 minutes to go it was 65-all. However with Saker fouled out the momentum could not be maintained, Victoria losing 84-77.

The following weekend at Master-ton injuries, Bacchus and the attempt to play a disorganised running game led to a 32-point rout at the hands of arch-arch-rivals Marist. "Quo Vadis, Victoria? were the words on everyone's lips.

The Long March south began, and the next weekend in Greymouth, after eking out several unconvincing ten-point wins. Victoria crushed the much-vaunted Nelson Old Boys team in the final, at one point leading by as many as 29 points. Primi inter pares were Saker, Zohrab and McGrattan, and the Victoria frontline was ready to take on the world.

Lloyd Sanders and Mike Zino had by now sloved their problems and were available, and two weeks later Victoria trekked to New Plymouth where they won a thrilling Final against by now arch-arch-arch-rivals Marist, 80-76 in ext extra time, after the scores were tied at the end of regulation time. Victoria were playing fluid, full-court basketball.

The stage was now set for the third match against Marist in the Battle of the Giants of the regional Big Ten Competition, the final dress rehearsal before the National Championships at Tauranga over Queen's Birthday weekend. Both teams lacked key players: Orchard of Marist, and Sewell of Victoria. Both teams would press, but would it be zonal or man-to-man? Newtown Stadium was packed and the atmosphere electric and the tip-off took place.

Both teams played man-to-man presses: an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation. Marist were playing energetically, while the Victoria machine spluttered, and it was only Victoria's renowned defence that gave them a 4 point half time lead. With Saker fouling out, Marist edged to a 6-point advantage with 3 minutes to go, when Coach Sanders threw in the Full Court Zone Press: Marist could not resist the pressure and Victoria prevailed 83-81.

Thus Victoria have a 20-2 record with the National Chanpionship looming nigh. Eager to add some Auckland scalps to their belt, especially that of Coca-Cola for the early-season defeat, Victoria must be counted among the favourites for Tauranga. But whether it can match its 1974 triumph, we will know only on June 2nd.