Ashburton Courier: February 11, 2021

SPORT
28 Ashburton Courier, February 11, 2021
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Busy season for basketball boss
LINDA.CLARKE
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Basketball fans who come along
to watch Ashburton College
senior teams’ home games this
season will have achance to
win $100 if they sink ashot from
half­way.
That’s one of the changes
ushered in by the new
president of Basketball Mid
Canterbury and Ashcoll senior
boys’ coach Mark ‘‘Roasty’’
Douglas.
He has long believed
basketball is the best sport on
the planet and he wantsto
share it with as many people as
possible.
Roasty says it’s asport that
offers opportunities to players
of all abilities,from those
wanting to playfor an American
collegetothose wantingtoplay
with their mates; and everyone
gets to be part of aglobal
basketball family. Evenifyou
don’t think that Le Bron James
is the greatest player of all
time.
The sport is gearing up for
another season and Roasty will
be busy.
Ashburton College will be
holdingtrials soon for its senior
boys’ and girls’ teams and his
son Brad will be hoping to
retain his place in the side.
Roasty says it bringsback
great memories of his own
playingdays when his dad
Gavin was acoachtoo.
‘‘Someofmyearliest
memories are playing
intermediate and miniballat
the sports hall. Iremember the
old man coachingand
managing the teamsIgot into
over the years. They are some of
my bestmemories, with blokes
like Tim Kenny, Wayne
Eddington,Rocket Rodgers and
Regan Stills.’’
Gavin was also president of
the basketball association.
Roasty is lookingforward to
the season ahead, especially
the Thompson Trophy and
WhelanTrophygames for the
Ashcoll sides.
This year will see new halftime
entertainment for home
games.Roasty’s jewelleryshop
Mark Douglas is primed for abusy basketball season and he couldn’t be happier.
Robilliards is putting $100 on
the line for lucky punters who
can nail ashot from half­way;
one spectator willbepulled
randomly from the crowd in the
girls’and then boys’ games to
have ago.
The secondary school sides
have been partofabig growth
in numbers playing the game at
Ashcoll. Last year nine sides
took part in competitions from
Timaru to Christchurch.
Pip Johnstonwill coach the
girls’side this year, while
Summer Anderson will take the
juniorgirls and Ben Ditmar the
juniorboys. AndrewShepherd
remains the teacher in charge
of basketball at the school.
The seniorboys’ side will be
aiming for aspot in division one
of the Thompson Trophy­the
competition has doubled since
it started and there are 24
teamsthis year,split into three
divisions. They are amixture of
teamsdevelopingtalent and
teamsrecruiting talent.
The school sides will also be
playing 3x3 basketball.
As presidentofBasketball
Mid Canterbury, Roasty keeps
an eye on growing the game
outside the school too.
Intermediate grade miniball
gets under way on March 1, with
games at OxfordStreet and EA
Networks Centre.
‘‘Last year we had 24 teamsin
this competitionbut they
missed playing because of
covid. We are expecting big
numbersbecausethey’ll be
keen to play.’’
To co­incidewith the start of
this competition,BBMC is
bringing down top national
coach Lori McDaniel, Wildcats’
coach Mel Downer and top
referee RebeccaMoon to run
coachingsessions.
Amixedsocial grade is
currentlyunder way,with nine
teams playing at OxfordStreet,
and the men’s senior
competition willrun again on a
Wednesday night starting in
April.
Roastysaid BBMC ran its
youth competitions free last
year, in responsetocovid
difficulties.
DRAWS
Softball
Hampstead Slow Pitch:
Friday12th February:
6.30pm: Devon Tavern
D.1:
S&Giggles Vs The
Reigning Champs.
6.30pm: LaserElectrical
D.2:
Laser Attack VsHawkies
Hawks
6.30pm: First National
RealEstate D.3:
Marines&Angels Vs
HakatereHitters
MidCanterburySoftball
Association:
Saturday 13thFebruary:
T­ball under7s:
9.30am: T.1:
Hampstead School Vs
Rakaia School
9.30am: T.2:
Borough School Vs
Tinwald­Longbeach
Schools
T­ball under 9s:
9.30am: T.3:
Hampstead School Vs
Rakaia School
9.30am: T.4:
Netherby School Vs
Hinds School
Under 13s:
9.30am: D.2:
Fairfield Vs Regent
Cinema Hampstead Braves
9.30am: D.3:
DemonsVsPanthers
Under16s:
11.00am: D.2:
AshburtonSubway
Hampstead AllStars Vs
Fairfield
DemonsBYE
Senior mixed:
1.00pm: D.2:
DevonTavern Hampstead
Heat VsDemonsRebels
1.00pm: D.3:
Fairfield RagamuffinsVs
Panthers
3.00pm: D.2:
DevonTavern Hampstead
Phoenix Vs Fairfield
Ratbags
AshburtonGolf Club
Saturday/Sunday13/14
February
TheHarvey Norman 2day
tournamentwill be held.
Thedraw will beposted on
theGolfClub website and
posted at the club.
Stay fit &earn $$$
at the same time
Softball on at Argyle Park
Spend a couple of hours every
Thursday delivering the Ashburton
Courier and Realty in the Hampstead
and Netherby areas.
Enjoy the fresh air, stay fit and reap
the health benefits!
Relief and permanent delivery
staff are also needed.
Phone Mary todayon308 7664
to get startedoremail
mary.summerfield@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
2350760
Nathan Johnson, of Fairfield Ragamuffins, in action during Mid Canterbury Softball senior
mixed play competition against Hampstead Heat at Argyle Park on Saturday. The Heat went
on to win the game 12 to 6. In other play the Panthers beat Fairfield Ratbags 21 to 10 and
Devon Tavern Hampstead Phoenix beat Demons Rebels 9to8.
PHOTO TONI WILLIAMS