THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE CANTERBURY RAMS
CANTERBURY RAMPAGES 2001

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RECORD 3,500 RAMS FANS
by Piet Van Hasselt

Last Saturday 3,500 vocal Cantabrians congregated in the WestpacTrust Centre to catch the best New Zealand basketballers at the inaugural Burger King All Stars extravaganza. This official attendance figure is a New Zealand Basketball game record.

The crowd was entertained throughout the match by Music DJ extraordinaire Dwayne Francks, an abseiling and spectacularly athletic Nike Crew member, Rams’ Mascot Rambo and courtside commentator John Watson. The game was also telecast live on TV One and the extremely vocal crowd was easily heard on the coverage.

1 ON 1 FINAL:
D.C. COMES BACK FROM THE DEAD

The 1 on 1 championship was contested throughout the Tall Black training camp with Auckland’s Daryl Cartwright and Nelson Giant Phill Jones progressing to the final. Jones had a great start, jumping out to a 4-1 lead. However, Cartwright scored the next four baskets to take home the honours with a 5-4 scoreline!

NIKE SLAM DUNK CONTEST:
WEBBER WINS FANS OVER
scoreboard

Power, athleticism and creativity personified the Slam Dunk contest between six of the NZBL’s best high-flyers battling for the title and the $1,000 winners cheque. Celebrity judges Erin Baker, Scott Molina, Nathan Mauger and Mark Robinson were impressed by the opening rounds awarding high marks to Nelson’s Ben Simmons who jammed over the Scenic Circle Hotels Best Seat in the House. Rams ‘monster dunker’ Salasopo Tulua impressed the crowd with his power-dunking rocking the basket supports. Saints’ Chris Webber grabbed the title after a staggering 360 degree throw-up from long range for a score of 38 out of 40. Afterwards Webber celebrated with an original victory dance and praised the Rams Fans for their support!

3 POINT SHOOT-OUT:
JONES & LANGRELL SHARE THE SPOILS
scoreboard

The three point shoot-out pitted arguably the best eight three point shooters in New Zealand in a demanding test of stamina, shooting accuracy and time management. Many of the contenders fell at the first hurdle, but southern shooters Jones and Rams Fan favourite Dave Langrell qualified for the final. Langrell posted a competitive total on the board with what was believed to be 14 in the final, then Jones spoiled the crowd’s plans by accumulating 16 points and the title. Upon reviewing video tape it was discovered that Langrell had in fact scored 16, meaning the title was shared.

The Award Presentation (live on TV One)
From left: Chris Webber (Slam Dunk Champ), John Watson (Event Director),
Dennis Jones (Burger King NZ CEO) and Terrence Lewis (MVP).
Photo courtesy of Dwayne Francks www.dwayne.co.nz

GAME: NORTH CONQUERS SOUTH TO TAKE BK CUP
by Corey Brown

The North Island All Star side defeated their Southern rivals 75-69, in the inaugural Burger King All Star Game.

The Southern side, dominated by the energetic Mark “Sparky” Dickel, started strongly and took an early lead with Southern stars Tony Rampton and Canterbury Ram John “Pope” Whorton leading an all-out inside court attack in the first quarter.

The North, however, remained in touch thanks largely to Kings’ player Brian “Junk-yard Dog” Gomes who mustered 21 points and 11 rebounds, feeding his players with all the ball they could ask for. At the half-time break, the North had taken a slim four-point lead which they successfully maintained for the remaining quarters. Game MVP Terrence Lewis was lethal from the outside, slotting five 3 pointers to amass 26 points. The Gomes/Lewis display was backed by outstanding athleticism from veteran Willie Burton with 13 rebounds and Paul Henare, who scored 7 points.

For the South, Dickel and Rampton excelled. Dickel shot 7 from 9 free throws to go with his game high tally of 27 points. Rampton reaped 13 rebounds and finished the game with 10 points, while Phill Jones and Whorton scored 9 points each.

Sparky Dickel’s entertaining no-look passes and physical defensive play, combined with Lewis’s hot shooting, ensured a classic encounter full of excitement and highlights. Late in the fourth quarter Northern player and incumbent Tall Black Henare lost a tooth in a clash with Dickel, but remained on-court until the final buzzer.

North Burger King All-Stars vs. South Burger King All-Stars
Date: 02/06/2001   Time: 15:30   Site: WestpacTrust Centre   Attendance: 3500+

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