CHANCE
TO SWEEP OTAGO
6 JUNE 2001
by Piet Van HasseltThe WestpacTrust Canterbury
Rams go into Thursday’s game against the
Otago Sports Institute Nuggets with a chance to
sweep the regular season series match-up between
the two teams.
The match promises to be a classic southern
battle, bringing a high level of intensity with
the added provincial pride on the line.
Canterbury previously beat the Nuggets in a high
scoring free-flowing game 118-110 in Dunedin
three weeks ago. One of the positive aspects for
the Rams was the full-court pressure it was able
to place on the young Nuggets guard-line,
resulting in easy lay-ups. The Rams starting
guards were ‘on fire’, heating up
Dunedin Stadium despite playing with the
temperature gauge reading only three degrees at
tip-off! Dave Langrell and Carlo Varricchio both
set career highs with 32 and 27 points
respectively.
A victory on Thursday is vital for the Rams
playoff chances, after a promising two game
winning streak was broken by a close loss to
Auckland at home. The Rams will be looking to
play the run-and-gun game and pressure the
Nuggets at every opportunity. Canterbury will
also try and utilise their height and weight
advantage in the key with big forwards John
“Pope” Whorton and Andrew Gardiner
muscling up with the Nuggets forward-line.
Whorton has been dominating the statistical line
for the Rams leading the team in points (22.4),
rebounds (10.0), minutes (36.6) and field goal
percentage (63.2%). Varricchio is leading the
team in assists with 3.6 per game and is tied
with Ruscoe as the team’s best ‘ball-thieves’,
both averaging 2.6 steals per game. As a team,
the Rams lead the league in steals with 18.8 per
game.
The Nuggets languish at the bottom of the NBL
table having lost their first five encounters
this season. However, this young hustling unit
possesses a ‘never say die’ attitude
and are capable of causing upsets.
The match on Thursday is the first of the most
demanding week of games for the Rams this season.
They will play 3 games in 4 days with a North
Island away double-header over the weekend. On
Saturday the Rams play competition leaders
Waikato, and then travel to Napier to take on the
Hawks on Sunday afternoon.
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